Linda Ipanema, also known as the "Queen of Dixieland," is considered one of the foremost singers of Dixieland jazz. She has been in show business most of her life. In addition to stage Broadway musicals she has appeared in leading films, such as, "A Bronx Tale," "The Pope Of Greenwich Village," "Once Upon a Time in America," and in hit TV shows, such as, "Law & Order."

Linda is a long-time member of the prestigious Actor Studio where she has done plays as well as serving as singing emcee of their Christmas shows, in which she delighted her acting peers with her vocal and comedy skills. That inspired her to do a series of cabaret performances, which led to two seasons as the opening act for Ray Romano and other popular comics at the legendary comedy club The Improv in the early 1990s.

She also was vocalist with Bob Cantwell and his band at the Red Blazer, which was instrumental in forming her own band in 1994. Around that time she decided to concentrate on her favorite activity, belting out old-time tunes, and formed her current group Linda Ipanema & the Dixie Cats, which is drawn from the best Dixieland players in the Metropolitan area.

It is a self-contained band with a rhythm section and 3 horns-trumpet, clarinet, and trombone. Featuring Dixieland Swing Music, Linda has performed in all the major clubs in New York City and Metropolitan area, festivals, outdoor concerts, including the Showboat in Atlantic City, as well as in Washington, DC, Delaware, North Carolina, Florida and Norway.

The program is free and open to Westfield Memorial Library and MURAL cardholders. (MURAL cardholders belong to libraries that are part of the Middlesex Union Reciprocal Agreement Libraries. Check our website to see if your library participates.) This program is sure to be very popular, so you must register for the program by visiting the library's website at www.wmlnj.org and clicking on the Online Calendar, or calling 908.789.4090 ext 0. The library is located at 550 East Broad Street.

Founded in 1879, the Westfield Memorial Library-the community's destination for discovery and ideas-engages minds, entertains spirits and facilitates lifelong learning for people of all ages. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday; and closed on Sunday.

For more information call 908.789.4090, visit the library's website at www.wmlnj.org , and sign up for the monthly e-newsletter "Library Loop," or stop by the library at 550 East Broad Street for a copy of the award-winning quarterly newsletter "Take Note."