Saffire: The Uppity Blues Women, will celebrate the release of their final CD, “Havin’ The Last Word,” with a live performance at Manasquan’s Algonquin Arts Theatre on Sept. 19, as part of the group’s farewell tour.

With their music, Ann Rabson, Gaye Adegbalola and Andra Faye re-established and updated the long tradition of uppity women blues singers like Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, Sippie Wallace and Memphis Minnie. Mixing first-rate musicianship with equal parts of sass, soul and humor, Saffire unleashed unforgettable originals, composed with humor and poignancy, alongside definitive versions of classic blues songs.

Over the course of six critically acclaimed studio albums, one live album and thousands of shows, Saffire has gone from virtual obscurity to become one of the most successful acoustic blues groups today.

In conjunction with the final album and tour, a new documentary film on Saffire’s incredible story, “Hot Flash,” will be released on July 21. The film will also be shown at select film festivals and available on iTunes.

During the course of the group’s 25-year career, words like “fearless,” “inspiring,” “witty,” “joyful” and “powerful” have been used to describe Saffire’s smart, sassy and deeply emotional blues. “Havin’ The Last Word” will be the ladies’ final declaration together as Saffire: The Uppity Blues Women; the group has decided it is time to move on so they can pursue their own, individual interests.

But Ms. Rabson [pianist, guitarist, vocalist], Ms. Adegbalola [guitarist, harmonicist, vocalist] and Ms. Faye [multi-instrumentalist, vocalist] have plenty to say with “Havin’ The Last Word.”

Saffire: The Uppity Blues Women, burst onto the national music scene in 1990 with the release of a self-titled debut album, after six years of playing locally and regionally.

With the ladies’ brazen, no-holds-barred acoustic blues, Saffire took the music world by storm and earned legions of fans of all ages around the globe. The group quickly went from being local favorites to internationally recognized blues stars, sharing stages with Koko Taylor, B.B. King, Ray Charles and Willie Dixon, who said of the band, “They knock me out.”

National media like People, “Entertainment Tonight,” CNN’s “Showbiz Today” and National Public Radio’s “Weekend Edition” sang the band’s praises.

The group’s debut album, “Saffire: The Uppity Blues Women,” became one of Alligator’s biggest selling releases ever. “Hot Flash,” in 1991, followed by 1992’s “BroadCasting” [with Andra Faye guesting on guitar, fiddle and mandolin], took Saffire to even greater heights; Ms. Faye’s mastery of all things stringed and her country-tinged vocals added a new dimension to Saffire’s music.

Constant touring and increased radio play earned the group new fans everywhere they went. Features in Ms. and other magazines, plus an interview on National Public Radio’s “Fresh Air,” spread the word all across the country.

Their subsequent albums, 1996’s “Cleaning House,” 1998’s “Live & Uppity,” and 2001’s “Ain’t Gonna Hush!” earned the band hordes of new fans and mountains of critical acclaim.

And, in 2006, Alligator released their “best of” CD, in a deluxe edition.

The new CD may be called “Havin’ The Last Word,” but audiences haven’t heard the last of Ann, Gaye and Andra. These three are far from hanging up their instruments, and each will continue to perform. The success of Saffire has opened up a whole new world of possibilities.

With “Havin’ The Last Word,” Saffire’s positive message of strength, joy, love and sisterhood through music will continue to reach all corners of the music-loving world — and that’s saying a lot.

Saffire: The Uppity Blues Women will perform at Algonquin Arts on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 8 p.m.

Tickets to the performance are $30 for adults, $28 for seniors and students, and $20 for children.

To reserve seats or obtain more information, contact the box office at 732-528-9211, or boxoffice@algonquinarts.org. More information can also be accessed at www.algonquinarts.org.

Box office hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Algonquin Arts is located at 173 Main St. in downtown Manasquan.

Algonquin Arts was founded in 1992 as a nonprofit organization to provide cultural enrichment and educational enhancement of the highest quality for the residents of New Jersey’s central region. Programming of Algonquin Arts is made possible as a result of the continued philanthropic support of private citizens and organizations, such as New Jersey State Council on the Arts, OceanFirst Foundation, PNC Foundation, Manasquan Savings Bank, Woman’s Club of Brielle, Investors Savings Bank Charitable Fund, Verizon Foundation, Janice Blanton Plangere & Jules Plangere III, as well as many generous individuals and local businesses.