London-based jazz singer/songwriter Polly Gibbons teams up with the Oklahoma City Jazz Orchestra to kick off Oklahoma City Community College’s (OCCC) 2016-2017 Performing Arts Series Tuesday, Sept. 13, at 7:30 p.m. in the college’s Visual and Performing Arts Center (VPAC) Theater.

Polly Gibbons is one of the most respected and talked about jazz singers of her generation. She is known for her warm, rich, soulful vocals and an innate blues sensibility, bringing her own storytelling and earnest depth alongside her unique humor during performances. In 2006, with no album release to her name, Gibbons was nominated for a BBC Jazz Award.

Polly’s influences are brilliant, broad and inspired — from the poetry of Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen, to the be-bop of Charlie Parker, the deep wails of Mahalia Jackson’s gospel, to the emotional depth of Donny Hathaway, Billie Holiday and Nina Simone; the soul of Marvin Gaye, the blues of Buddy Guy and more contemporary brilliance in the sounds of Prince and D’Angelo. Gibbons’ talent is bound to please audiences of all jazz styles by the end of the night. This summer Polly opened for George Benson and Gladys Knight on their UK tours.

The Oklahoma City Jazz Orchestra is the state’s premier concert jazz orchestra and features top jazz musicians, including members of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, professors of music from several surrounding universities and regional professional musicians.

Many world-class acts will follow throughout the college’s Performing Arts Series this season. Next up will be The Texas Tenors, a trio that brings together the styles of country, gospel and Broadway for an unforgettable performance, Thursday, Sept. 29. For those that seek the Broadway experience, “Once: The Musical,” the National Broadway tour, will take the VPAC stage Tuesday, Oct. 4.

Tickets for Polly Gibbons are on sale for $20-25. To purchase your individual or group tickets, please choose from the following options:

• Online at tickets.occc.edu
• By calling the Cultural Programs department at (405) 682-7576
• In person at the Cultural Programs Box Office

For more information about Performing Arts Series events at Oklahoma City Community College, please visit /pas or call (405) 682-7576.

Oklahoma City Community College opened the doors to the 1,049-seat Visual and Performing Arts Center Theater in early 2014. It features a large atrium with three-story high windows, state-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment and will allow the college to host larger Broadway-style touring productions. The Visual and Performing Arts Center also houses an art gallery and academic center featuring a rehearsal room, library, six classrooms, seven studios, seven labs and faculty offices.

OCCC enrolls more than 20,000 students and has more than 90,000 participants in its various community programs annually. The college is currently the largest adult basic education provider in the state. OCCC offers a full range of associate degree programs that prepare students to transfer to baccalaureate institutions while other degree and certificate programs prepare students for immediate employment. At OCCC, students receive a quality education with small class sizes, dedicated professors and leadership opportunities. Students can choose from more than 80 major fields of study and participate in any of the 40+ clubs and organizations. For more information about OCCC, visit www.occc.edu.