Trudy Lile's father used to get her off to sleep by singing old World War II songs.
Now she sings those old Andrews Sisters classics herself, and it takes her right back. "And that's what we want to do," she says, "take people back in time to that really early jazz,swing era for 90 minutes."
Three-part harmony singing is not just for older people, she says, it still has great appeal for the children of baby boomers. And of course, jazz fans.
"But it's not just for the jazz community. Swing dancers love it...you also have people that don't know anything about jazz but they know the songs and it has special significance for them," Trudy says.
Trudy, Allana Goldsmith and Poppy Pritchard are Auckland-based trio Sisters of Swing, who specialise in the catchy harmonies of the Andrews Sisters. The original trio and band was established seven years ago. Sisters of Swing and their band will perform on Easter Sunday for the National Jazz Festival.
Favourites include Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree, Mister Sandman, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy and Lullaby of Broadway and Chattanooga Choo Choo. The girls will be dressing the part in Andrews Sisters uniforms and big hair.
