by Jason Salerno
Oct. 20, 2025
Hailed by the late and great Quincy Jones as “one of the most dynamic performers in contemporary jazz”, Deborah Silver is redefining the boundaries of swing with her dazzling new album Basie Rocks!. The recording features the legendary Count Basie Orchestra, who join Silver in bringing a fresh, big-band swing to rock and pop classics by The Beatles, Elton John, Peter Frampton, Steve Miller, and The Eagles, while also breathing new life into beloved treasures from the Great American Songbook. With her unmistakable flair, she transforms hits like “Bennie and the Jets,” “A Hard Day’s Night,” and “Every Breath You Take” into dynamic, show- stopping jazz experiences. Palm Springs audiences will have the chance to experience Silver live – albeit sans the legendary Count Basie Orchestra – when she brings her powerhouse vocals and magnetic stage presence to the Purple Room Supper Club for two spectacular evenings on Friday, October 31 and Saturday, November 1 at 6:00 PM. “My gay fans in Palm Springs always tell me I remind them of Karen Walker from Will & Grace!” Silver laughs. “And I take that as the highest compliment. I love her! The only twist is that instead of martini-soaked one-liners, I belt out jazzy tunes.” Deborah Silver explains more.
Quincy Jones once called you “the real deal.”
Deborah Silver: I will always be deeply grateful to Quincy for those words. Coming from someone who understood music on such a profound level, it’s the greatest compliment I could ever hope to receive. But I never rest on accolades. I believe a performer is only as good as their last project and with every new work, including Basie Rocks!, I challenge myself to keep growing, to give more, and to be better than I was the day before.
Basie Rocks! brings the Count Basie Orchestra together with your vocals to reimagine pop and rock classics. What inspired you to marry those two worlds: big-band swing with artists like The Beatles, Elton John, and The Eagles?
I wanted to make a jazz album, but I also wanted it to be different. I was excited to honor the jazz tradition while giving these classics that I grew up with a whole new life.
What was it like being in the studio with the Count Basie
Orchestra?
I felt like a kid in a candy store. The sound, the precision, the history in that room! It was overwhelming in the best way.
When you approached songs like “Bennie and the Jets” and “Every Breath You Take,” how did you decide which ones would lend themselves best to the Basie treatment?
I worked closely with the arrangers, our producer Steve Jordan, and the orchestra’s director, Scotty Barnhart. Before the arrangers even began, we had conversations about the overall vision and direction for each piece. Once those ideas were in place, I stepped back to let them work their magic. When the charts came back, that’s when my role began: shaping them with my own interpretation and making sure they truly swing. My goal was to make something people would enjoy listening to.
The Orchestra is amazing!
It was incredible how seamlessly they embraced these rock classics. They didn’t just play the charts, they breathed life into them, and suddenly Basie Rocks! had this incredible, unexpected soul.
What can fans expect when you bring Basie Rocks! to the Purple Room?
My shows are a full-on party for the audience. For me, it’s about bringing people together and giving everyone in the room a chance to escape the real world for a little while; to feel lifted, to laugh, to smile. And let’s face it, we can never have too many smiles, especially these days!
Performing at intimate venues like the Purple Room gives audiences a close-up experience of your storytelling. How does singing in those spaces differ from recording with a full orchestra?
Whether I’m singing in an intimate room like the Purple Room or recording with the full Count Basie Orchestra, it always comes down to the same thing: the music, the lyrics, and the audience. Every song is about telling a story and making that connection. The scale might change, but the heart of it never does.
What’s your process for shaping a set list?
It’s really about pacing. I never want anyone in the audience to feel bored, so I shape the set list like a journey. There are plenty of surprises and lots of fun, high-energy numbers to keep things exciting, but I also mix in the heartfelt ballads that make people reflect on their own lives. And of course, I love to add a few powerhouse songs where I can really let loose.
You’ve said your gay fans often compare you to Karen Walker from Will & Grace.
My gay fans keep me laughing with that comparison, and I do embrace it in spirit. I think humor is such an important part of what I do on stage. Music can move you, but laughter connects us too. And when you mix in a little glamour and sparkle, it turns the whole evening into a celebration.
Have you figured out what you’re going to wear?
I always say the higher the heels and the bigger the gown, the better the show!
Deborah Silver performs Basie Rocks! at the Purple Room
Supper Club in Palm Springs on Friday, October 31, 2025, at 6:00
PM and Saturday, November 1, 2025, at 6:00 PM. For tickets, visit
https://deborahsilvermusic.com/tour/