settembre, 2026
Billie Holiday Tribute in Rome | September 19, 2026

Orario
Dettagli evento
Billie Holiday Tribute in Rome with Oona Rea 4et On Saturday, September 19, 2026, Oona Rea 4et presents an intense and personal tribute to Billie Holiday at Elegance Cafè
Dettagli evento
Billie Holiday Tribute in Rome with Oona Rea 4et
On Saturday, September 19, 2026, Oona Rea 4et presents an intense and personal tribute to Billie Holiday at Elegance Cafè Jazz Club. Voice, piano, double bass, and drums explore some of the most profound pages of her repertoire in an evening dedicated to attentive listening, dinner, and the emotional power of live jazz.
A Night for Billie: when every song becomes a story
“A Night for Billie” was created as a heartfelt tribute to Billie Holiday, an artist capable of transforming every melody into a personal story.
The voice of Oona Rea enters Holiday’s repertoire without attempting a formal imitation. Her sound, rich in soul and blues nuances, meets the experience of Ettore Carucci on piano, Stefano Nunzi on double bass, and Andrea Nunzi on drums.
The arrangements respect the substance of the original compositions while leaving room for the personality of all four musicians. The project finds its identity in precisely this balance between memory and interpretive freedom.
The Billie Holiday tribute in Rome on September 19, 2026, is conceived as a complete emotional experience: a concert to hear at close range in an intimate setting, accompanied by dinner or a cocktail.
The repertoire: poetry, pain, and beauty
The programme explores some of the most powerful songs associated with Billie Holiday:
- “God Bless the Child”
- “Strange Fruit”
- “Lover Man”
- “Fine and Mellow”
Each composition carries a distinct emotional landscape. “God Bless the Child” combines strength and awareness; “Lover Man” opens a more intimate and vulnerable space; “Fine and Mellow” brings the narrative back towards the blues; and “Strange Fruit” demands attentiveness, restraint, and interpretive depth.
Oona Rea approaches this material with a personal and communicative voice. Her experience across jazz, blues, folk, rock, and pop allows her to move between intensity and understatement while always keeping the meaning of the song at the centre.
The musicians on stage
Oona Rea – vocals

Born in Rome in 1991 and raised in a family of artists, Oona Rea has developed an intense and versatile vocal style. Her music moves through jazz, blues, folk, rock, and pop influences while preserving the improvisation and expressive freedom of jazz.
She has collaborated with musicians including Danilo Rea, Maria Pia De Vito, Paolo Damiani, and Alfredo Paixao. In 2019, she released her first solo album, First Name: Oona, created in collaboration with guitarist and composer Luigi Masciari.
In “A Night for Billie,” her voice meets Holiday’s repertoire through a contemporary, soulful, and deeply narrative sensibility.
Ettore Carucci – piano
A pianist and composer with classical and jazz training, Ettore Carucci studied with Danilo Rea, Ray Santisi, and Paul Schmelling. He received scholarships connected with Siena Jazz, Umbria Jazz, and Berklee College of Music and has performed with numerous Italian and international artists.
His piano accompanies the voice without overwhelming it, shaping harmonies, pauses, and openings for improvisation.
Stefano Nunzi – double bass
A graduate in double bass and an active member of the Rome jazz scene since 2000, Stefano Nunzi has collaborated with artists and ensembles both in Italy and abroad. His projects have included the Nicola Conte Jazz Combo and the NunziBraccoNunzi Trio.
His experience in both vocal and instrumental repertoire gives the quartet a deep, flexible foundation that remains attentive to the singer’s phrasing.
Andrea Nunzi – drums
A drummer and teacher, Andrea Nunzi has developed his jazz language through study, workshops, and collaborations with Italian and international musicians. In 2019, he graduated in jazz drums and percussion from the Licinio Refice Conservatory in Frosinone.
Within the quartet, he works carefully with dynamics, moving between the spaciousness of the ballads and the blues pulse of the more rhythmic pieces.
A concert that listens to the words as well as the notes
Billie Holiday’s repertoire demands particular attention to the lyrics and to the way every phrase is delivered. In “A Night for Billie,” the music leaves room for words, pauses, and the expressive irregularities that make a story feel alive.
The ensemble does not pursue a monumental sound. Piano, double bass, and drums instead create a shifting environment around the voice, supporting it and responding to its variations.
This quality makes the performance suitable for listeners seeking an experience that is intense without feeling distant: an evening in which the audience can perceive the concentration and interaction of the musicians at close range.
Dinner, cocktails, and a Saturday-night concert
The drink-and-concert package, priced at €30, allows guests to accompany the live performance with a creation from the Elegance Cafè cocktail bar. Homemade syrups, fresh juices, spices, and a collection of more than three hundred spirits define a proposal inspired by the speakeasies of the 1920s.
The dinner-and-concert package includes two à la carte courses selected from starters, first courses, and main courses. The price varies according to the chosen dishes.
The cuisine combines Italian roots with international influences, paying particular attention to Creole and Cajun flavours, seasonal ingredients, and a variety of dietary preferences.
The atmosphere of Elegance Cafè
The room at Elegance Cafè encourages a direct relationship between the stage and the audience. Its acoustic quality makes it possible to appreciate the tone of the voice, the resonance of the double bass, the nuances of the piano, and the dynamic work of the drums.
Soft lighting and warm materials create a setting suited to the character of the concert: intimate, elegant, and free from distraction. It is a fitting backdrop for a special dinner, an anniversary, or a Saturday evening dedicated to music.
In focus: Billie Holiday’s interpretive freedom
The project begins with a defining quality of Billie Holiday’s artistry: her ability to make every song entirely her own.
“A Night for Billie” preserves this perspective. The compositions are not treated as untouchable objects, but as living material entrusted to Oona Rea’s sensibility and the interaction of the quartet.
Respect for the original repertoire therefore coexists with the freedom to reshape accents, phrasing, and dynamics. Each song can develop differently while keeping poetry, pain, and beauty at its centre.
Practical information and reservations
Venue: Elegance Cafè Jazz Club
Address: Via Francesco Carletti, 5, Rome
Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
Venue opens: 6:00 pm
Dinner: from 7:00 pm
Concert begins: 9:30 pm
Available packages:
- Drink and concert: €30
- Dinner and concert: two à la carte courses; price varies according to selection
Reserve your table for “A Night for Billie” and experience Billie Holiday’s repertoire through Oona Rea’s distinctive voice, at the heart of an elegant evening at Elegance Cafè.
Jazz Concert Rome September 19 2026
with
a night for Billie – Oona Rea 4et
Book your table for the à la carte dinner:
Alternatively you can call (39) 3791360278
or (39) 0657284458.
With 2 courses of your choice among starter, first course and main course, the concert is included.
Drink & Concert package also available at €30.
or
FAQ
Are there vegetarian/vegan options on the menu?
Yes, vegetarian dishes are available, and vegan options can be provided upon request.
Can I have dinner during the jazz concert?
Yes, each evening offers either a dinner + concert or a drink + concert option. We recommend booking in advance to secure your table.
Can I purchase a gift card?
Yes, gift cards are available for all scheduled events, except New Year’s Eve and Valentine’s Day.
Do I need to book in advance?
Yes, tables are limited to ensure an intimate and high-quality experience.
How can I stay updated on upcoming events?
You can subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on Instagram and Facebook to stay updated on the best jazz concerts in Rome and upcoming events at Elegance Cafè Jazz Club.
Is the venue accessible for people with disabilities?
Yes, Elegance Cafè is accessible to guests with reduced mobility. Please mention any specific needs when making your reservation.
What time does the concert start?
The concert starts at 9:30 PM, but the aperitivo is available from 6:00 PM and dinner from 7:00 PM.
