Bogart has won 20 Washington Area Music Awards for the unique musical style she calls “bluesion.” She performed with her band, the Deanna Bogart Band, in the National Gallery of Art’s Jazz in the Garden series earlier this summer.
How many years have you been doing Jazz in the Garden?
I think this was our third year doing it. And I was really glad. I really enjoyed it.
What’s it like to perform there?
You know, the first time I went, I wasn’t sure, since we’re not jazz, we’re bluesion. It’s very interactive and not laid-back. I was hoping it would work with the beautiful vibe that was there. … It ended up being a beautiful match. I like it more every time I’m there. I don’t even care if it’s hot. … The atmosphere at the gardens is chill and wide-open. … You can make things happen there.
How do you handle the heat and the crowds?
A lot of water.
What’s your favorite D.C. venue to perform in?
D.C., Baltimore and Northern Virginia are home, so there’s a lot of them. … I just love when I get to play at home.
How do you describe bluesion?
My definition is it all grows out the blues; it just doesn’t always end there. … There could be jazz in the blues and blues in the jazz, as well as gospel and funk and rock and R&B — all this wonderful music we’ve been exposed to all our lives. I didn’t want to impose any musical roadblocks on myself, so it can get a little adventurous.
How did you get into music?
I’m not sure if I picked it or it picked me. They say I started climbing on the piano and playing when I was 2. Not that I was a prodigy, but I certainly was drawn to it. – Liz Essley
