Canada's International Blues Artist to sing U.S. anthem at Memphis basketball game; Shaura S'Aida then heads to Switzerland for Jazz Fest

Toronto-based singer Shakura S'Aida continues to build her reputation as Canada's international blues artist, with an appearance at the International Jazz Festival in Bern, Switzerland, March 14 - her fifth trip to Europe in the last 10 months.

She'll be playing with the Chicago Blues Festival band - with which she toured Europe last November and December - and shares billing with special guests Eddie "The Chief" Clearwater and Billy Branch. Before her flying one-show European trip, S'Aida will sing the
American national anthem at the February 4 NBA basketball game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Houston Rockets.
Her Memphis appearance coincides with the opening of the International Blues Challenge, organized by the Blues Foundation, and in which she placed second in 2008.

Shakura S'Aida was born in Brooklyn, raised in Switzerland and has been a Toronto resident for more than 20 years. On her Swiss concert, she will be singing with a five-piece band including Ken Saydak (who's toured with B. B. King and recorded on dozens of albums), Vancouver assist Russell Jackson and Chicago guitarist Andrew "Jr. Boy" Jones.