Hot Club SF with Stella Heath

Experience the timeless sound of Paris with The Hot Club of San Francisco featuring acclaimed jazz vocalist Stella Heath. Inspired by the legendary Quintette du Hot Club de France, this ensemble brings the exhilarating spirit of Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli to life while expanding the tradition with beloved swing standards, French chansons, and original arrangements.

Known for their virtuosic musicianship, joyful interplay, and captivating stage presence, The Hot Club of San Francisco has been one of the premier ensembles celebrating gypsy jazz for decades. Stella Heath is recognized for her historically informed approach to early jazz and chanson, blending expressive storytelling, playful improvisation, and a deep knowledge of the music's cultural roots. Fluent in both the swing tradition and the French songbook, she brings warmth, wit, and authenticity to performances that honor the past while feeling fresh and immediate.

This showcase celebrates the rich musical dialogue between American and French culture and music. From driving guitar rhythms and dazzling improvisation to intimate ballads and infectious melodies, audiences are transported to the cafés of 1930s Paris while experiencing a vibrant, contemporary performance that is as entertaining as it is musically exceptional.

Stella Heath is a captivating jazz vocalist, storyteller, and educator. Equally at home interpreting the music of Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat "King" Cole, Edith Piaf, and the French Hot Club tradition, Heath combines expressive vocals, joyful swing, and an improviser's sensibility with rich historical storytelling that brings audiences into the world behind the songs.

Whether leading her acclaimed productions The Billie Holiday Project, Stella Swings Ella, From Billie Holiday to Edith Piaf, or performing with leading jazz artists throughout the country, Heath creates concerts that are engaging and musically compelling. Drawing on a background in classical voice as well as Shakespearean theatre, she brings warmth, sophistication, and authenticity to every performance. Her lustrous voice, playful spontaneity, and deep respect for jazz history have earned her a devoted following from coast to coast.