Sue Palmer and Liz Ajuzie
Sue Palmer & Liz Ajuzie
Sue and Liz have been playing together for almost 5 years, following the end of the pandemic, with Sue’s bigger band, Sue Palmer & her Motel Swing Orchestra, and in smaller groups. Their combination of piano and vocals is irresistible.
Sue Palmer is known world wide as the Queen of Boogie Woogie. Suehas been a presence on the live music scene in San Diego and the world for over 30 years. She was inducted into the San Diego Music Hall of Fame in 2018, had a day named after her by the city in 2008, and won numerous San Diego Music Awards for her bands and albums. She has recorded over 12 albums under her own name, securing an international award from The International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis for Best Self Produced Album (Sophisticated Ladies).
She was the beehive wearing music director and longtime pianist for blues diva Candye Kane, through the 90s, appearing on many of her albums, touring world wide (France, Germany, England, The Czech Republic, Turkey, South Africa, Australia, and more) as well as all over the US and parts of Canada. Sue has also toured Switzerland, Russia, The Netherlands, and Argentina under her own name. Her current Motel Swing Orchestra won the San Diego Music Award for Best Local Recording in 2021 for EP/Vinyl Recording “Movin’ Along,” and have now released a new 45 vinyl album called “Looking for a Parking Place,” featuring 2 original songs, and also a video of the same name.
She had a radio show for 3 years on San Diego’s local Jazz station KSDS 88.3FM, hosts a podcast called “The Motel Swing Happy Hour,” occasionally spins vinyl shows in local clubs (Parttime Lover, Til Two, The Lafayette Hotel), and now writes a column called “Sue’s Spotlight: Women in Jazz & Blues” for the San Diego Troubadour, San Diego’s music magazine. According to Claudia Russell, DJ Extraordinaire on KSDS 88.3FM, “When her heavily jeweled hands hit the 88s, you’re in for a ride!” WATCH OUT: YOU may become a slave to the dance floor!! And, at the end of 2023, the San Diego Union Tribune chose “Eight to the Barre,” a show combining Sue’s Motel Swing Orchestra and the San Diego Ballet, as one of the top Dance Shows of the year! Sue’s band: Sue Palmer & her Motel Swing Orchestra, will be celebrating its 25th year this year!
https://www.instagram.com/suepalmermotelswing
Liz Ajuzie is a Jazz and Blues singer that has been singing for her whole life. As a first generation Nigerian American, she is the second child of Nigerian parents and grew up in a musical household, regularly spinning her parents’ vintage vinyl with her four other siblings.
After growing up across the East Coast, South, and Midwestern United States, Liz moved to California for a chance to experience the West Coast.
Liz’s vocal career has undergone many iterations from singing gospel with her sister, to singing in school choirs, to taking part in musical theater productions. She now enjoys the privilege of exploring different styles of music with various bands around San Diego, California.
Today, you can find Liz belting out songs with the Sue Palmer Motel Swing Orchestra, Liz Ajuzie & The Moodswings. and Marty Conley’s Big Band Express.
Liz draws inspiration from many artists including: Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Judy Garland, Dinah Washington, Mae West, LaVern Baker, and Ruth Brown.
https://www.instagram.com/chinyereliz
