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If you don’t know the Betty Davis, prepare to be blown away. With her deep, raw, earthy voice, a knack for stringing together funky riffs, and sexually super-charged lyrics, Davis shook and shocked American soul in the early 70s. As her husband Miles Davis said: “She was Madonna before Madonna, Prince before Prince.” Betty introduced Miles to Jimi Hendrix and psychedelic rock, as well as to 70s fashion; he featured her on Filles de Kilimanjaro and produced some of her prime recordings before the inevitable split. Albums Betty Davis, They Say I’m Different and Nasty Gal included musicians from Sly and the Family Stone and Tower of Power, but failed to chart — only to be rediscovered and celebrated decades after her retirement. Coming somewhere in the lineage between Ma Rainey, Tina Turner, and Donna Summer, Davis more than stands the test of time, she’s an electrifying talent.

Davis has long been an influence on Vancouver based keyboardist, producer, and all-around phenom Mary Ancheta, which has led Mary to this special night at VIFF full of Davis’ most loved tunes, as well as some deep cuts, with Dawn Pemberton on vocals. The live music portion of the event will be followed by a short intermission, and then a rare screening of Phil Cox’s invaluable 2017 film (55 min), made in collaboration with Davis a few years before her death from cancer in 2022.

Mary Ancheta Quintet plays Betty Davis featuring Dawn Pemberton

Dawn Pemberton: Vocals
Mary Ancheta: keys
Tristan Paxton: guitar
Dominic Conway: sax
Drums: Paul Clark

Mary Ancheta is a Canadian Filipina born in Hamilton, Ontario. While teaching at the Ontario Conservatory of Music she received her B.A. of Music at McMaster University. Now living in Vancouver, Mary is a composer and bandleader who has performed all across Canada, in Australia, New York etc,