tag:club44records.com,2005:/blogs/latest-news?p=1LATEST NEWS2024-02-21T09:00:00-05:00Club44 Recordsfalsetag:club44records.com,2005:Post/73568232024-02-21T09:00:00-05:002024-02-24T21:41:34-05:00Interview: Natalie Douglas Teases Her “BACK TO THE GARDEN” CD RELEASE CELEBRATION at Birdland<p style="text-align:center;">The acclaimed singer is performing selections from the album on February 26th</p><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);">By: </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/author/Rebecca-Kaplan" itemprop="url" rel="author"><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);">Rebecca Kaplan</span></a><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);"> Feb. 21, 2024</span></p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/402884/4ba4b977b653cd5a741387806f90f994dd766a0c/original/interview-natalie-douglas-of-back-to-the-garden-cd-release-celebration-at-birdland-1708516300.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" height="512" width="1024" /><p><br>We all have a treat to look forward to this month – acclaimed singer <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Natalie-Douglas/" target="newwinddow">Natalie Douglas</a> is releasing a new album on February 23rd with Club44 Records. </p><p><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Club44-Records-Presents-BACK-TO-THE-GARDENThe-New-Album-From-Celebrated-Chanteuse-Natalie-Douglas-20240208" target="newwinddow">BACK TO THE GARDEN</a><i> </i>contains<i><strong> "</strong></i>golden age standards, pop gems of the Woodstock generation, and special surprises." I spoke to Douglas about the process of recording the album, and what music lovers can expect at her release party, on Monday February 26th at Birdland Jazz Club.<br><br><strong>What was your favorite part of putting this album together?</strong></p><p>It sounds like a cliche, but I’ve enjoyed every bit of it! From the first discussion I had about recording an album with mega-producer Wayne Haun years ago, to this delicious anticipation right before the release, it’s been a blast! I’ve especially loved the moments working in Nashville. I had been there, of course, before last year, but 2023 is my first time working there, and it was a really wonderful experience. I love the Club44 team! The studio days last August putting the finishing touches on the vocals were both a lot of fun and really fulfilling; working with Wayne, recording engineer Leah Schlattschneider and production manager Haley Schlattschneider was an absolute joy. <br><br><strong>How do you feel about your upcoming release party at Birdland on the 26th?</strong></p><p>I can’t wait! I love these songs and can't wait to sing them for a live audience! We began this project with a list of 63 songs - so there were obviously many steps along the way to get it down to these gorgeous eleven tunes. I’m so happy to get to play them with my longtime music director and BFF, <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Mark-Hartman/" target="newwinddow">Mark Hartman</a>, and the other brilliant musicians in my band. Plus, performing is truly my favorite part. I always say what we as singers do is like an electrical current that isn’t complete until the audience is there - they’re a vital part of that electricity.<br> </p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/402884/5d1ed1d89be160b1aba7d4958a2760caa10b8598/original/nataliedouglas-3000x3000-cover-final.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_center border_" height="3000" /><p><strong>The album features a song written for you by Wayne Haun and Joel Lindsey. What was it like hearing it for the first time? </strong><br><br>It was a complete surprise and a thrill. When Wayne and I met in a rehearsal studio to go over song ideas, I had no idea he and Joel had been working on a song for me. I’ve been a fan of their writing for a long time, so I was delighted - not only are they both award-winning, critically acclaimed songwriters, but they’re also really great at writing something that’s both meaningful and tuneful at the same time. I remember being blown away that this song sounded like me - my thoughts, my feelings, and also thought it sounded like it’d be really fun to sing. And it is!</p><p><strong>What was the collaboration process like on that? Who came up with the idea for the song?</strong></p><p>The making of the album has been totally collaborative from the song selection to the first day of tracking in the studio and even the photo shoot with Jeremy Ryan. I really liked all these people when I first met them, but after working with them, I’m happy to say they feel like good friends. </p><p>In terms of their original song, “Love Is The Power That Heals Me,” I wasn’t in on the actual writing of it, you’d have to ask Wayne and Joel. However, based solely on the lyrics, I’d guess the great conversations I’ve had with each of them about life, music, politics, teaching, and the time we’ve spent together gave them the kind of insight they put into writing a song that sounds so much like my inner voice.</p><p><strong>What’s up next for you?</strong></p><p>I have a mix of concerts, teaching and traveling that make up my usual schedule, plus working to promote <i>Back To The Garden</i>. This year, I’m off to Oklahoma, California, London, Nebraska, and Texas with more dates to come - so hopefully I’ll be bringing a live show somewhere near you.<br><br>BACK TO THE GARDEN is available for <a class="no-pjax" href="https://c44.lnk.to/BackToTheGarden" target="newwinddow">pre-order here</a>. It will be available on CD, digital and streaming formats.</p><p>Tickets to the Birdland show on Monday February 26th are available <a class="no-pjax" href="https://cloud.broadwayworld.com/rec/ticketclick.cfm?fromlink=2293332&regid=13&articlelink=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.birdlandjazz.com%2Ftm-event%2Fnatalie-douglas-back-to-the-garden-cd-release-celebration%2F?utm_source=BWW2022&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=article&utm_content=bottombuybutton1" target="newwinddow">https://cloud.broadwayworld.com/rec/ticketclick.cfm?fromlink=2293332&regid=13&articlelink=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.birdlandjazz.com%2Ftm-event%2Fnatalie-douglas-back-to-the-garden-cd-release-celebration%2F?utm_source=BWW2022&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=article&utm_content=bottombuybutton1</a>.</p><p>You can find dates and details of tour dates for Florida, California, London, and beyond at <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.nataliedouglas.com/" target="newwinddow">NatalieDouglas.com</a>.</p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/73319882023-12-29T09:00:00-05:002024-01-11T10:40:30-05:00Natalie Douglas Releases New Single 'Begin the Beguine'<p style="text-align:center;">This is the second single from Natalie’s upcoming debut album for the label, Back to the Garden, scheduled to be released in February 2024.<br><br><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);">By: </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/author/Chloe-Rabinowitz" itemprop="url" rel="author"><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);">Chloe Rabinowitz</span></a><a itemprop="url" rel="author"><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);"> </span></a><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);">Dec. 29, 2023</span><br><br><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/402884/2a53723804feec2baff000a18bf844bde4bfe27e/original/begin-the-beguine-natalie-douglas.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></span></p><p><br><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><span>The new single from celebrated chanteuse </span></span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Natalie-Douglas/" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Natalie Douglas</span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> – the vivacious big band arrangement of the </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Cole-Porter/" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Cole Porter</span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> classic “Begin the Beguine” – available via streaming and digital download today, Friday, December 29. This is the second single from Natalie’s upcoming debut album for the label, Back to the Garden, scheduled to be released in February 2024. The album’s first single, “Trust in Me,” was released in September. Douglas will preview selections from the recording on her <span>25th Annual New Year’s Eve show on December 31 in New York at Chelsea Table + Stage. The album is produced by Wayne Haun, with Joel Lindsey and Sharon Terrell serving as executive producers. Orchestrations are by Wayne Haun, with Joel Mottproviding big band arrangements. </span>Stream or download the new single at </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://orcd.co/club44records-beginthebeguine" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);">orcd.co/club44records-beginthebeguine</span></a></p><p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">“I’ve always loved this </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Cole-Porter/" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Cole Porter</span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> composition,” says Natalie. “In 2017, I began my ‘Tributes’ residency at Birdland with a show devoted to the music of Sammy Davis, Jr., and did a deep dive into his recordings. I had heard several of Davis’s interpretations of this song, but I was completely mesmerized by his 1957 recording of </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Sy-Oliver/" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Sy Oliver</span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">’s arrangement. I’m thrilled to have recorded our version of ‘Begin the Beguine’ based on Oliver’s chart. It thoroughly captures the way music and memory are closely woven together, especially if you’re remembering a night of romance, dancing, and laughter. I just love listening to this… those horns! Plus, now seems like the perfect time of year to release something so joyous!”</span><br><br><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><span>Natalie is not only a fixture on the New York scene, but she also travels the world with her legendary tribute shows, paying homage to some of the greatest singers of our time, such as Nina Simone, </span></span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Stevie-Wonder/" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><span>Stevie Wonder</span></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><span>, </span></span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Dolly-Parton/" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><span>Dolly Parton</span></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><span>, </span></span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Joni-Mitchell/" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><span>Joni Mitchell</span></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><span>, </span></span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Roberta-Flack/" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><span>Roberta Flack</span></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><span>, and more. These shows spotlight Natalie’s range and arc as an entertainer. She has performed over 75 concerts at her home base, the legendary Birdland Jazz Club in New York City, where her picture hangs on the iconic Birdland Wall of Fame.</span></span></p><p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><span>A passionate fan of the music she performs, Natalie is also an advocate and teacher of this artform, imparting her expertise to a whole new generation of singers and musicians. From her work as the Education Director with the </span></span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Mabel-Mercer/" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Mabel Mercer</span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> Foundation, as well as her work as a master instructor with the Jim & </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Elizabeth-Sullivan/" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Elizabeth Sullivan</span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> Foundation and the Eugene O’Neill Cabaret and Conference, Natalie uses music to spread her message of love, diversity and inclusivity to schools and colleges around the country.</span></p><p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><span>Natalie expressed her excitement about becoming a part of the Club44 Records family, “I couldn’t be more thrilled to join forces with the team at Club44 in making a brand-new record. After hearing such great things from so many of my label mates, many of whom are longtime friends, I’m not surprised to find everyone at the label is as kind and delightful as they are talented. Just wait till you hear what we’re cooking up!” </span></span></p><p><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);"> </span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><span>Award-winning producer Wayne Haun is at the helm of this project. Wayne shared, “I first discovered the music of </span></span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Natalie-Douglas/" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><span>Natalie Douglas</span></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><span> while browsing the CD section at Colony Music. I’m a big fan of Nina Simone, and Natalie had recorded a tribute to Nina at Birdland. I had to have the recording, and it did not disappoint! From there, I discovered her other music and became a big fan. I even planned a New Year’s Eve trip to New York just to see her perform live. I had always hoped for an opportunity to produce her and never thought it would happen, so to say this is a dream come true is not a cliché. It’s a very true and very cool reality.”</span></span><br><br><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><span>A&R Director Joel Lindsey chimed in, “Natalie epitomizes the caliber of artist we at Club44 desire to partner with. Her musicality and range are impressive, but her integrity and showmanship separate her from most singers out there. This is a very special record, and I’m so happy to share this music with the world!” </span></span><br><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);"> </span><br><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">------------------------------------------------------</span></p><p><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);"> </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Natalie-Douglas/" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><strong>Natalie Douglas</strong></span></a><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);"> </span></p><p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">is a 21st century vocalist with a strong foundation in the traditional pop vocals of the American Songbook and an equally fierce devotion to the modern jazz, blues, rock, and country influences of her childhood. Like her idol Nina Simone, Natalie is drawn to lyrics that tell a compelling story no matter what genre. She is a thirteen-time MAC, two-time Backstage Bistro, </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Margaret-Whiting/" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Margaret Whiting</span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> Award, and Donald F. Smith Award winner whose portrait hangs on the legendary Birdland Wall of Fame. She has brought concerts and workshops around the world and is an expert instructor for the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, the Sullivan Foundation, and the </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Mabel-Mercer/" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Mabel Mercer</span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> Foundation, where she is also Education Director. She can be seen currently in the award-winning documentary, Sloane: A Jazz Singer, commemorating one of her heroes, </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Carol-Sloane/" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Carol Sloane</span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">, in domestic and international film festivals. </span><a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.nataliedouglas.com/" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">www.NatalieDouglas.com</span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">.</span><br><br><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><strong>CLUB44 RECORDS</strong></span></p><p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">based in the Music City of Nashville, Tennessee – is an independent label which aims to highlight the Broadway, cabaret and jazz genres, preserve the American Songbook and provide a home for artists who represent this timeless music. Following their premiere studio release, Christmas at Birdland, the label has presented Love Notes, the latest album from Tony Award and Golden Globe winner Linda Lavin; Billy’s Place from Grammy Award winner </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Billy-Stritch/" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Billy Stritch</span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">; Act One from rising vocal star </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Nicolas-King/" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Nicolas King</span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">; </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Jane-Monheit/" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Jane Monheit</span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">’s Come What May, which celebrates the international Billboard #1 pop/jazz vocalist’s 20th anniversary as a recording artist; </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Carol-Sloane/" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Carol Sloane</span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">’s Live at Birdland, an intimate set captured at the legendary venue; rising Broadway star </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Julie-Benko/" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Julie Benko</span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> and husband Jason Yeager’s Hand in Hand, an assortment of beloved songs; </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Christine-Ebersole/" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Christine Ebersole</span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">’s After the Ball, a collection of songs reflecting on life, love and family; and Merry Christmas, Darling, the debut holiday collection from Tony Award winner </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Stephanie-J-Block/" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Stephanie J. Block</span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">. Club44 Records also serves as the creative home of many other singers, instrumentalists and writers. All releases are distributed to digital and retail outlets worldwide via The Orchard/Sony Music. For more information, visit </span><a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.club44records.com/" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">www.Club44Records.com</span></a></p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/73219972023-12-15T12:15:00-05:002023-12-20T15:21:04-05:00Broadway's Julie Benko on Originating Her First Role in Harmony — and Why the Story Is 'So Timely' (Exclusive)<p id="article-subheading_2-0">The actress, who won over audiences as the Fanny Brice alternate in 'Funny Girl,' now stars in Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman's 'Harmony'</p><div class="comp article-meta-dynamic article-meta mntl-block" style='-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;align-items:flex-start;box-sizing:border-box;caret-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.95);color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.95);display:flex;flex-direction:row;font-family:"Limerick Serial", Geneva, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;justify-content:space-between;letter-spacing:normal;margin:0px;orphans:auto;padding:0px;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;' id="article-meta-dynamic_2-0" data-tracking-container="true"><div class="comp type--rabbit people-bylines mntl-bylines" style='box-sizing:border-box;font-family:"Limerick Serial", Geneva, sans-serif;font-size:0.875rem;letter-spacing:0.0313rem;line-height:1.25rem;margin:0px;padding:0px;text-underline-offset:0.1875rem;' id="people-bylines_2-0"><div class="comp mntl-bylines__group--author mntl-bylines__group mntl-block" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block;line-height:1.25rem;margin:0px 0px 0.5rem;padding:0px;" id="mntl-bylines__group_2-0"><div class="comp mntl-bylines__item mntl-attribution__item mntl-attribution__item--has-date" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:inline-block;margin:0px;padding:0px;text-align:left;" id="mntl-bylines__item_2-0">
<p><br><span>By </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://people.com/author/georgia-slater/" rel="nocaes" data-trigger-link="true" tabindex="-1"><strong><u>Georgia Slater</u></strong></a><br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/402884/37d6b2cc5103c8f5e0aea0dcedb03ff55734c921/original/julie-benko-sierra-boggess-harmony-121323-tout-645c63d6441148428de21cffe9a4f853.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<figure id="figure-article_1-0"><figcaption id="primary-image__figcap_1-0"><span>Julie Benko (L) and Sierra Boggess (R) in Harmony on Broadway.</span> <span>PHOTO:ADAM RIEMER</span></figcaption></figure><div class="comp article-content mntl-block" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;grid-column-end:content;grid-column-start:content;grid-row-end:content;grid-row-start:content;letter-spacing:normal;margin:0px;orphans:auto;padding:0px;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;" id="article-content_1-0"><div class="comp structured-content js-extended-commerce__section mntl-sc-page mntl-block" style='-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;caret-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.95);color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.95);font-family:"Limerick Serial", Geneva, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin:0px;padding:0px;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;' id="mntl-sc-page_1-0" data-sc-sticky-offset="90" data-sc-ad-label-height="24" data-sc-ad-track-spacing="100" data-sc-min-track-height="250" data-sc-max-track-height="600" data-sc-breakpoint="50em" data-sc-load-immediate="4" data-sc-content-positions="[1, 1250, 1550, 1950, 2350, 2750, 3150, 3550, 3950]" data-bind-scroll-on-start="true">
<p id="mntl-sc-block_1-0"><br>Just a few days after <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.instagram.com/jujujuliebee/?hl=en" target="_blank" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="externalLink" data-ordinal="1" rel="noopener"><u>Julie Benko</u></a> gave her final bow as <a class="no-pjax" href="https://people.com/theater/funny-girl-broadway-musical-revival-timeline/" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="2"><u>Fanny Brice</u></a>in the revival of <i>Funny Girl</i>, she headed five blocks down to the Ethel Barrymore Theatre to settle into a new role on Broadway.</p>
<p id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-2">For the first time, Benko, who made her Broadway debut as an ensemble member in <i>Les Misérables </i>in 2014, is originating her first major role on Broadway as Ruth in Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman's <i>Harmony: A New Musical</i>, which opened last month.</p>
<p id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-4">The musical tells the true story of the Comedian Harmonists, a six-person German vocal group in the late 1920s that was disbanded as the Nazis came to power.</p>
<p id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-6">After winning over audiences as an alternate in <i>Funny Girl — </i>first taking over the role of Brice after <a class="no-pjax" href="https://people.com/tag/beanie-feldstein/" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="1"><u>Beanie Feldstein</u></a> left the show and later as an alternate for <a class="no-pjax" href="https://people.com/tag/lea-michele/" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="2"><u>Lea Michele</u></a> — Benko tells PEOPLE it's an "honor" she gets to originate the role of Ruth, a Jewish activist married to a non-Jewish member of the Harmonists.</p>
<p id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-8">Read on for more from Benko as PEOPLE catches up with the star about <i>Harmony</i>, her newly released holiday EP and her time in <i>Funny Girl</i>.<br><br><br><strong>What about </strong><i><strong>Harmony </strong></i><strong>drew you to want to be a part of the show?</strong></p>
<p id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-18">I was really moved by the story and I wanted to be a part of something of real value to say, especially in this time. When I took the role, I was thinking, 'Wow, this really speaks to the rise in antisemitism we're seeing in our country.' I took this role last spring, and we've only seen a huge rise in antisemitic rhetoric and hate crimes and all these things in just the last two months.</p>
<p id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-20">I'm very grateful that I'm working on this project right now because it's really nice to have something to funnel all of my feelings into because the show is so timely and it feels really relevant to what we are all experiencing in the Jewish community today.<br><br>I have had the experience since October 7th, I've had to learn how to handle all of those feelings of holding all of that, the weight of the antisemitism that we're all experiencing in the show and not carry it around all the time. I would sit in my dressing room at intermission and look at Instagram like we all do, and I would see some horrible new occurrence just popping up on my feed and just be filled with so much, so much fear, so much anger, just so full of everything we're going through, despair, all of it.</p>
<div class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block" style='-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;caret-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.95);color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.95);font-family:"Limerick Serial", Geneva, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin:0px;orphans:auto;padding:0px;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;' id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-21"> </div>
<p id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-22"><strong>What has it been like to originate a Broadway role for the first time?</strong></p>
<p id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-24">There have been a million Elphabas or Glindas from <i>Wicked</i>. And they're all following the path that Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth laid down for those characters. They get to decide where you walk, and when you walk.</p>
<p id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-26">When you're originating a role, you decide what feels natural. It's just really creative and I think it's scarier because you're the one who's setting the path when you are originating the role. You get to draw on all the creative skills that you develop as an actor over time. It's an honor.</p>
<p id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-28">That's part of why creating a new character and a new piece is so exciting because you never know what life is going to have for that show down the road. And there will always be a piece of you the material and you get to contribute to something that will live on past you.</p>
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<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/402884/57974ff8879b9e411d3f7bf421773e10953c68d3/original/chip-zien-harmony-121323-8ccb0eed72d7467d9abfee560e66a73c.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><span style="color:rgba(0,0,0,0.65);">Steven Telsey, Blake Roman, Danny Kornfeld, Chip Zien, Eric Peters; Sean Bell, and Zal Owenin in Harmony on Broadway. PHOTO: JULIETA CERVANTES</span><br><br><span class="text-big"><strong>Now that it's been over a month since </strong><i><strong>Harmony is </strong></i><strong>officially on Broadway, how are you feeling?</strong></span></p>
<p id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-33"><span class="text-big">We're settling in really nicely. We're just starting to deepen into everything and relax into everything.</span><br><br><span class="text-big">We're all really close as well. It's a really lovely group of people and so many people are making their Broadway debuts, which is a really lovely feeling to be a part of. There's just so much excitement to be at work every day.</span></p>
<p id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-35"><span class="text-big">Working with Sierra Boggess (Mary) has been just a delight. I've learned a lot from sharing the stage with her. And Chip Zien (Rabbi) is just amazing. He is so good in the show. He's such a great dramatic actor and he's so funny. But backstage, he just is a riot. We never stop laughing.</span><br> </p>
<p id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-39"><span class="text-big"><strong>Are you still in touch with your </strong><i><strong>Funny Girl </strong></i><strong>castmates?</strong></span></p>
<p id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-41"><span class="text-big">I'm in touch with a lot of people. The understudies at <i>Funny Girl,</i> we really bonded and we are on a text thread that doesn't stop. We're with each other forever and go to all of each other's shows, and a lot of them have come to see the show.</span></p>
<p id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-43"><span class="text-big">I recently was doing Duolingo and I had a little sentence come up, I've been doing French and it said, Julie and Lea are going to a party, and so I sent it to Lea [Michelle] and I was like, 'Lea, we're going to a party.' She was like, ‘Sounds great!’</span></p>
<p id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-45"><span class="text-big">She's going to come to see <i>Harmony</i>.</span></p>
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<p id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-49"><span class="text-big"><strong>You recently released a new holiday EP, </strong><i><strong>Christmas With You. </strong></i><strong>What was the inspiration for the project?</strong></span></p>
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<p id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-51"><span class="text-big">It's four songs, three of them are covers. The original idea was to do a Christmas album with all songs by Jewish composers. Then I had the thought of, 'Oh wait, but I am also a Jewish composer and I could contribute.'</span></p>
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<p id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-53"><span class="text-big">I got an idea for this song while I was on the subway, and just started it on my phone and got to the [<i>Funny Girl] </i>theater and rushed to that little closet where I worked on it and wrote it all and sent a little demo I made on my phone to my husband, who I collaborate with.</span></p>
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<p id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-55"><span class="text-big">He's my arranger and a pianist, and I sent it to him and he said, 'We have to do something with this.' We talked about recording it and then that led to the EP.</span></p>
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</div></div></div></div>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/73219792023-12-15T09:30:00-05:002023-12-20T15:12:56-05:00Holiday Music 2023 Roundup: Caroling With Cher, Brenda Lee, Brandy, Boygenius, Alanis Morissette, Laufey, Chlöe and More<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/402884/4218838ba12aefc15e4034941d7871c197c8427d/original/screenshot-2023-12-15-at-9-24-25-am-png.webp/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><br><span style="color:rgb(103,121,129);"><strong>By </strong></span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://variety.com/author/a-d-amorosi/"><strong>A.D. Amorosi</strong></a></p><p>You have to appreciate the wonder of a holiday season when <a class="no-pjax" href="https://variety.com/t/brenda-lee/" id="auto-tag_brenda-lee" data-tag="brenda-lee">Brenda Lee</a>’s seasonal hit from 65-years-past, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” gets to top December’s Billboard Hot 100 for several consecutive weeks. With that, expect Lee to ride (and rock) into Christmas with Santa on her tail. Christmas? Meet miracle.</p><p>This year’s Christmas season brings with it enough new and old (but reissued) holiday-themed albums, EPs, singles and streams to weigh down Santa’s sack considerably.</p><p><a class="no-pjax" href="https://variety.com/t/cher/" id="auto-tag_cher" data-tag="cher"><strong>Cher</strong></a><strong>, “Christmas” (Warner Records)</strong><br>Really? Cher’s very-first holiday collection after all this time? OK. The wait was worthwhile as the legendary vocalist-actor goes through every sonic genre she’s ever breezed through during her stellar career – pulsating electronica on “DJ Play a Christmas Song,” tender-hearted balladry with “Please Come Home for Christmas,” adult rawk-outs via “Run Rudolph Run.” Plus, she’s quick to play seasonal open house to friends such as Darlene Love, Stevie Wonder and Cyndi Lauper.<br><br><strong>Brenda Lee, “A Rockin’ Christmas with Brenda Lee” (UMe)</strong><br>What seemed like an innocent digital-only EP reissue-collection of five of the Atlanta-native’s finest seasonal songs turned out to presage the first-time No. 1 Hot 100 status of “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” Besides that chestnut and “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “A Marshmallow World,” you also get a contemporary remix of “Rockin’” “reimagined” by Filous. Lee also filmed a new, first-ever video for “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” with fellow one-time hellcats Tanya Tucker and Trisha Yearwood in anticipation of 2023’s EP. (For a more complete collection of Lee’s holiday material, look up the full “Decca Christmas Recordings” album that includes <i>all</i> the Xmas sides she cut in the late ’50s and early ’60s.)<br><br><strong>Stephanie J. Block, “Merry Christmas, Darling” (Club44 Records)</strong><br>The 2019 Tony Award winner for “Best Leading Actress in a Musical” for her star turn in “The Cher Show,” Block shows off the more nuanced corners of her vocal prowess on a charming, unlikely selection of jazzy, holiday tracks such as a “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep”/”My Favorite Things” medley, Club44 label boss Wayne Haun’s newly-written “When You Hold Me in Your Arms (It’s Christmas)” and Ann Hampton Callaway’s wintry, moody “Manhattan in December.”<br><br><strong>Michael Bolton & Mickey Guyton, “Christmas Isn’t Christmas” (Montaigne Records)</strong><br>While this pairing looks improbable on (wrapping) paper, this meeting of the king of raspy, chest-beating MOR rock and nu-country’s warmest velvety vocalist make this season(al selection) bright with its overall sense of epic ascension. Thundering stuff.</p><p><strong>Laufrey, “A Very </strong><a class="no-pjax" href="https://variety.com/t/laufey/" id="auto-tag_laufey" data-tag="laufey"><strong>Laufey</strong></a><strong> Holiday!” (AWAL Recordings America)</strong><br>Though there a scores of softly rendered strings, a tinkling piano and a shuffling, fluid guitar sound that would make Wes Montgomery green with envy, Laufrey’s deep, mellifluous vocals – triple-tracked for harmonic perfection on “Christmas Dreaming” – are the tender hearted centerpiece of this spare, jazzy three-track EP. Not to be confused with the <i>other </i>Laufey release of the season…</p><p><strong>Norah Jones and Laufey, “Christmas with You” (Blue Note)</strong><br>Fast friends and equally bewitching neo-jazz artists Norah Jones and Laufey cozy up to one new, self-written track (the giddy “Better Than Snow”) and the holiday classics “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” (on red vinyl if you buy it from the Blue Note store) with the pair using its hushed vocals and an intimate arrangement of piano and cello to guide its way through the white stuff. Charming.<br><br><a class="no-pjax" href="https://variety.com/t/brandy/" id="auto-tag_brandy" data-tag="brandy"><strong>Brandy</strong></a><strong>, “Christmas with Brandy” (Brand Nu/Motown)</strong><br>Singer-reality television star Brandy has made a point of saying that her new Christmas album is designed for year-round R&B listening pleasure. The fact that she’s co-written a goodly portion of its tracks speaks to that desire, as original songs such as “Feels Different” and “Christmas Party for Two” are smooth, slick soul perfection, complete with syrupy melodies and subtly dip-diving vocals. That said, Brandy knocks the (New Year’s) ball out of the park on Mel Tormé’s “The Christmas Song.”<br><br><strong>Brandy Clark, “My Favorite Christmas” (Warner Records)</strong><br>The country music goddess behind the words and music of Broadway’s “Shucked” pares down her showy sound (but not her lyrics talking up “Radio City, Rockettes and reindeer”) for the chilled melodic romanticism of “My Favorite Christmas.” Honestly, between this and the traditional holiday B-side, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” Clark has never sounded better or more luxurious.<br><br><strong>Adam Blackstone, A Legacy Christmas (BASSic/Black Entertainment Records)</strong><br>The bassist, bandleader and musical director behind more than a few Super Bowl Halftime shows stretched out as a post-neo-soul solo artist this year, and continues that groove for the holiday with fellow travelers such as Andra Day (“Legacy Christmas Time”), Boyz II Men (“Greatest Gift”), Keke Palmer (“Christmas Kisses”) and the Fresh Prince’s pal DJ Jazzy Jeff on the scratched-up “Brother J (Holiday).”<br><br><strong>Boygenius, “The Parting Glass” (Interscope)</strong><br>Suddenly, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without Phoebe Bridgers as, in the past, she’s covered the craggy wintry songs of Merle Haggard for the holiday, and for worthwhile charities. For Holiday 2023, Bridgers, Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus and Irish folkies Ye Vagabonds join forces on the sweet traditional Celtic ballad “The Parting Glass,” in honor of the late Sinéad O’Connor, who recorded the track in 2002 and whose face adorns this single’s cover. As for 2023’s charity, Interscope and all-assembled donate the single’s sales’ proceeds to the Aisling Project, an after-school program for children raised in Dublin’s most disadvantaged regions.<br><br><strong>The Cowsills, “A Christmas Offering from the Cowsills” (Omnivore Recordings)</strong><br>The wonderfully weird and happily harmony-driven, post-psychedelic-era, sibling inspiration for “The Partridge Family” not only tackle a wooly acapella take on “Winter Wonderland.” Susan, Bob, Paul and John Cowsill sing their melancholy way through ruminative, wintry originals such as “Some Good Years” and “Christmastime (Song for Marissa).” Truly impressive stuff, this, be it holiday and beyond.<br><br><strong>Robert Glasper, “In December” (Apple Music)</strong><br>Not-so-straight ahead jazz keyboardist and composer Robert Glasper makes a Christmas album not so different from his kaleidoscopic “Black Radio” series of albums that pairs the funky-but-chic bandleader with a handful of genre-jumbling vocalists and rappers. That means a murky mash-up of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman” with “Carol of Bells” starring actor-singer Cynthia Erivo, an emotional “Memories with Mama” co-written by its featured vocalist Tarriona “Tank” Ball and a rainbow’s worth of colorful, jazz-not-jazzy tones.<br><br><strong>Wheatus, “Just a Dirtbag Christmas,” (Legacy Recordings)</strong><br>Brendan B. Brown’s happily sleazy NY state rock band Wheatus has what sounds like the most uproarious time on this EP punking their biggest hit “Teenage Dirtbag” as it morphs into (what else) “Christmas Dirtbag.” While Brown has doubts as to the effectiveness of Santa’s gift-giving vision on the EP’s lead track, all is well by the time we get to “You Made Me Believe in Christmas.”<br><br><strong>Chlöe, “Merry Christmas Baby” (Amazon Music Originals)</strong><br>Now that Chlöe Bailey is making adult-branded R&B with last winter’s “In Pieces” album, she’s ready for some grown-and-sexy holiday music with her take on Otis Redding’s seasonal soul-ster, Merry Christmas Baby” (used in the opening credits of Eddie Murphy’s new “Candy Cane Lane” on Prime Video) and something sweeter in “Winter Wonderland.”</p><p><strong>Various Artists, “A Philly Special Christmas Special” (Vera Y Records)</strong><br>As if the success of the Philadelphia Eagles’ 2022 holiday album, “A Philly Special Christmas,” wasn’t enough, producers Charlie Hall (from The War on Drugs), Connor Barwin and footballer Jason Kelce recorded a fresh brotherly duet with Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce just in time for his relationship with Taylor Swift and the media frenzy that followed. On a quieter note, the Brothers Kelce tackled a localized version of the Pogues’, Shane MacGowan’ and Kirsty MacColl’s “Fairytale of New York” (now, “Fairytale of Philadelphia”), much to Shane MacGowan’s delight; his last ever tweet before dying read, “Tell them I am knocked out.” Also included in the charitable, new all-Philly Christmas album are local Patti LaBelle, Amos Lee, the Hooters’ Eric Bazilian and Rob Hyman, DMHotep (Sun Ra Arkestra), members of the War on Drugs, Dr. Dog and more.<br><br><strong>Liam Forde with Billy Stritch, “The Holiday Season” (Ballyhoo Music)</strong><br>Bold jazz-cabaret vocalist and composer Liam Forde pulls a page out of actor-turned-writer Kay Thompson’s (“Eloise at the Plaza”) songbooks for a rare, standalone and decidedly swinging version of her smart, Christmas classic “The Holiday Season” with none other than the toast of New York pianissimo, Billy Stritch.</p><p><strong>Alanis Morissette, “Last Christmas” (Epiphany)</strong><br>Just in time to celebrate a family with a husband and three kids, Morissette’s turns jagged little pills into holiday sweets with a winsome, whimsical four-song EP of modern-day classics: Wham’s “Last Christmas,” John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s “Happy Xmas (War is Over),” and warm traditional tracks such as William Chatterton Dix’s “What Child Is This?” and Katherine Kennicott Davis’ “Little Drummer Boy.”<br><br><strong>Manzanera & Mackay, “Christmas” (Expression)</strong><br>Now that Roxy Music’s co-founding guitarist and saxophonist – respectively – Phil Manzanera and Andy Mackay are done with the glam band’s 50<sup>th</sup> anniversary tour, they can focus on their joined-as-one solo project and some of its more disparate music – such as the first-ever physical (LP, CD) release of their 1989 instrumental album, “Christmas.” Oddly enough, for two Rock and Roll Hall of Fame glitter rockers, their take on traditionals such as “Good King Wenceslas,” “Coventry Carol” and “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” has a shockingly acoustic Appalachian vibe to its proceedings.<br><br><strong>DaBaby, “No Finsta” (South Coast Music Group/Interscope)</strong><br>Jovial Cleveland-by-way-of-Charlotte, NC rapper DaBaby may have dropped the percolating “No Finsta” track as part of the autumn’s “Let’s Do It” EP, but he’s not letting the ho-ho-ho-holiday go by without turning his newest track into a Christmas video’s wonderland filled with Santa hats, red plastic cup revelers, a little seasonal larceny and so much more.</p><figure><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper" style='-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;border-style:solid;border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:"IBM Plex Serif", serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;position:relative;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;'>
<strong>Julie Benko, “Christmas with You” (Club44 Records)</strong><br><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Actor-vocalist Julie Benko has had quite the year-and-a-half. When she wasn’t busy being Broadway’s Fanny Brice in “Funny Girl” (in-between Beanie Feldstein and Lea Michelle) and working for Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman’s finally-on-the-Great-White-Way in “Harmony,” Benko – named among “10 Broadway Stars to Watch for 2023” by Variety – wrote new songs (such as “I Never Had a Christmas with You”) and tackled unique traditionals such as “Tumbalalaika” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” (with her husband, producer and organist Jason Yeager) for her first-ever holiday record. Delightful.</span><br><br><strong>Jimmy Buffett, “Christmas Island” (MCA/UMe)</strong><br>To celebrate the late, great Buffett, the son-of-a-son-of-a-sailor’s holiday album gets its first-ever vinyl release (on seasonal red) with his rich humor intact on originals such as “A Sailor’s Christmas” and “Merry Christmas, Alabama (Never Far from Home)” and salty, island-themed soliloquies such as “Mele Kalikimaka” and “Ho Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rum.”</div>
<p><strong>Hannah Waddingham, “Home for Christmas” (Platoon)</strong><br>The comic star of “Ted Lasso” has a smooth, big singing voice and tackled a handful of brassy holiday classics – and then some – for her recently-debuted Apple TV+ Christmas spectacular. And along with her snazzy, jazzy take on “What Christmas Means to Me,” Waddington welcomes guests to London’s Coliseum such as Sam Ryder, Leslie Odom Jr., Luke Evans, the London Gay Men’s Chorus, the English National Opera and The Fabulous Lounge Swingers, all accompanied by an 18-piece band. <br><br><strong>Seth MacFarlane and Elizabeth Gillies, “We Wish You the Merriest” (Republic/Verve)</strong><br>Speaking of brassy big band ballsiness, smiling “Family Guy” Seth MacFarlane and his longtime, singing friend Elizabeth Gillies do Christmas right (for MacFarlane, a second time) as they jump on 13 Sinatra-like takes on the holiday from Irving Berlin, Hugh Martin, Les Brown and more.<br><br><strong>Bright Eyes, “A Christmas Album” (Dead Oceans)</strong><br><strong>Bright Eyes with John Prine, “Christmas in Prison” (Oh Boy Records/Thirty Tigers)</strong><br>The Christmas holiday’s least likely carolers Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis, and Nate Walcott not only re-release Bright Eyes melancholy seasonal classic on red clear vinyl for 2023, they cover one of the saddest and funniest of the late John Prine’s tales of ordinary madness wutg a sample of “A John Prine Christmas” for that extra lump of coal in your stocking and lump in your throat. “Christmas in Prison” sales will raise money for the Hello In There Foundation which Prine’s family started following his death for the foundation’s 2023 grantees Renewal House, Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, Porter’s Call and the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans.<br><br><strong>Willie Colón, Asalto Navideño II (Fania/Craft Recordings)</strong><br>Fifty years ago, salsa music trombonist/bandleader Willie Colón, vocalist Héctor Lavoe, cuatro player Yomo Toro and percussionists Milton Cardona and José Mangual Jr. turned traditional Puerto Rican Christmas favorites such as “Pescao (Popurri Sambao)” and “La Banda” on their ear with a flavorful country touch of música jíbara, some Afro jazz touches and the brisk vibe of Cuban guaguancó rhythms. Now out on vinyl for 2023, this salsa-riffic “Christmas Assault” is geared only for holiday parties where dancing is encouraged.</p>
<p><strong>Samara Joy, “A Joyful Holiday” (Verve/UMe)</strong><br>Jazz crooners who win best new artist Grammys are few and far between. Like, three. So, to have the low, sultry singing 2023 Grammy victor take on a history of Christmas traditions, old and new, on her freshly-released six-track holiday EP is rapturous indeed. In particular, take note of the smoldering slow “Twinkle Twinkle Little Me” featuring Sullivan Fortner. Just, wow.<br><br><strong>Various Artists, Punk Goes Christmas 10<sup>th</sup> Anniversary Edition (Fearless)</strong><br>If you hurry you can probably still find copies of Record Store Day Black Friday’s 10<sup>th</sup> anniversary double-LP holiday compilation “Punk Goes Christmas” in green vinyl and starring the rough-edged likes of The Ready Set, All Time Low, Yellowcard, New Found Glory, August Burns Red and more. Plus, if you’re keeping track, this is the first vinyl reissue to feature the four bonus tracks which appeared on the deluxe edition CD in 2015.<br> </p>
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<p><strong>Elvis Presley and Kane Brown, “Blue Christmas” (RCA)</strong><br>Spliced together for the first time, Presley’s voice on this version of his holiday classic is pumped higher in the twangy mix, before a handful of loops and loud steel guitar twangs. Nicer though, and not distracting, is how Kane’s shushing baritone acts as a pleasant counterbalance to the King’s weighty voice. <br><br><strong>Coco Jones, “A Timeless Christmas” (Def Jam)</strong><br>The sonorous, quiet storming alto R&B vocalist with a quiver in her (Auto Tuned-up) voice croons her way through a warmly string-laden new jam co-written by Tiyon “TC” Mack and produced by Johnny “JT” Thomas Jr. Jones really likes the holiday season as she dropped a merry version of Destiny’s Child’s “8 Days Of Christmas” for Apple Music’s 2023 “Carols Covered” series, and a sinewy “Silver Bells” for Def Jam’s “Def The Halls” compilation from 2022.</p>
<p><strong>Meghan Trainor, “Jingle Bells” (Amazon Music)</strong><br>Like Coco Jones, the chipper and decidedly more poppy Trainor is a big fan of the holiday season considering she dropped “A Very Trainor Christmas” in 2020 and the “Kid on Christmas” duet with Pentatonix last year. For Christmas 2023, she’s celebrating hard and happily on “Jingle Bells,” and can be found on an even-newer seasonal pairing with Jimmy Fallon for “Wrap Me Up.”<br><br><strong>Various Artists, “Stax Christmas” (Craft Recordings)</strong><br>These Stax Christmas sides – longtime funky favorites of the holiday – have never been compiled in this fashion, let alone in white or red vinyl as they are this season. Along with the ice-cold jittery blues of guitarist Albert King’s “Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin’” and Isaac Hayes’ swanky “The Mistletoe and Me,” “Stax Christmas” features a rare alternative mix of Otis Redding’s “Merry Christmas Baby,” and a barnstorming, previously unreleased version of “Blue Christmas” by Carla Thomas. Mercy mercy, merry merry and all that.</p>
</div></figure>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/73160032023-12-02T09:00:00-05:002023-12-07T14:40:53-05:00Listen to the Best Broadway Christmas Albums of 2023<p>Here's what you should listen to this holiday season!<br>By: Michael Major Dec 02, 2023<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/402884/f42793a9ec0983beb356b102cb519bec01ce2a4d/original/listen-hear-the-latest-broadway-christmas-albums-with-new-releases-from-julie-benko-hannah-waddingham-more-1700577532-jpg.webp/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><br>'Tis the season!<br><br>Broadway fans can deck the halls this year with a brand-new lineup of holiday albums to keep their days merry and bright.</p><p>From new albums by <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Stephanie-J-Block/" target="newwinddow">Stephanie J. Block</a> and <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Julie-Benko/" target="newwinddow">Julie Benko</a> to releases from Cher and <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Hannah-Waddingham/" target="newwinddow">Hannah Waddingham</a>, curate your holiday playlist with our list of the best Broadway Christmas albums of 2023.</p><p><strong>Check out a full list of 2023 holiday albums from Broadway best and brightest below!</strong></p><p><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Stephanie-J-Block/" target="newwinddow"><strong>Stephanie J. Block</strong></a><strong> - “Merry Christmas, Darling”</strong><br>Tony Award-winning Broadway star <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Stephanie-J-Block/" target="newwinddow">Stephanie J. Block</a> releases her debut holiday album, featuring her husband, <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Sebastian-Arcelus/" target="newwinddow">Sebastian Arcelus</a>. Merry Christmas, Darling is a lush and ravishing holiday treat featuring both secular and sacred seasonal classics, in addition to new musical discoveries.<br><br><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Julie-Benko/" target="newwinddow"><strong>Julie Benko</strong></a><strong> - “Christmas with You”</strong><br>Funny Girl breakout and Harmony alum <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Julie-Benko/" target="newwinddow">Julie Benko</a> releases a new Christmas EP. The EP features the Yiddish folk song “Tumbalalaika” for Chanukah; a new take on “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and “(I Never Had a) Christmas with You,” an original tune penned by Benko, which is also a duet with Grammy-nominee <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Mykal-Kilgore/" target="newwinddow">Mykal Kilgore</a>. Pre-order the new EP <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/recordings/Julie-BenkoChristmas-with-You-2023-Club44-Records" target="newwinddow">here</a>.<br><br><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Hannah-Waddingham/" target="newwinddow"><strong>Hannah Waddingham</strong></a><strong> - “Home For Christmas”</strong><br>Recorded live at The Coliseum in London, one of London’s oldest and most beautiful theaters, Broadway and West End alum <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Hannah-Waddingham/" target="newwinddow">Hannah Waddingham</a> rings in the season with musical performances of beloved Christmas classics. The album accompanies are brand-new Apple TV+ musical special and features Leslie Odom Jr., <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Luke-Evans/" target="newwinddow">Luke Evans</a>, Sam Ryder, <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Phil-Dunster/" target="newwinddow">Phil Dunster</a> and more special guests.<br><br><strong>Liz Gillies and </strong><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Seth-MacFarlane/" target="newwinddow"><strong>Seth MacFarlane</strong></a><strong> - “We Wish You the Merriest”</strong><br>Broadway alum Liz Gillies and comedian <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Seth-McFarlane/" target="newwinddow">Seth McFarlane</a> lend their voices to a new holiday duets album, including standards like "Here Comes <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Santa-Claus/" target="newwinddow">Santa Claus</a>," "The Christmas Song," "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," "Sleigh Ride," and more.<br><br><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Johnny-Mathis/" target="newwinddow"><strong>Johnny Mathis</strong></a><strong> - “Christmastime Is Here”</strong><br><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Kristin-Chenoweth/" target="newwinddow">Kristin Chenoweth</a> joins <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Johnny-Mathis/" target="newwinddow">Johnny Mathis</a> on his seventh holiday album, "Christmastime Is Here." The album also features "Merry Christmas, Baby," "White Christmas," "When a Child Is Born," and "Blue Christmas."<br><br><strong>Cher - “Christmas”</strong><br><strong>"</strong>Christmas," Cher’s first new studio album in five years, includes 13 songs - several holiday classics and four originals. It also has a star-studded list of musical friends including <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Darlene-Love/" target="newwinddow">Darlene Love</a>, <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Stevie-Wonder/" target="newwinddow">Stevie Wonder</a>, Michael Bublé, <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Cyndi-Lauper/" target="newwinddow">Cyndi Lauper</a> and Tyga.<br><br><strong>Brandy - “Christmas With Brandy”</strong><br>Chicago on Broadway and Cinderella movie alum <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Brandy-Norwood/" target="newwinddow">Brandy Norwood</a> releases her first ever Holiday album. The 11-track project boasts soulful interpretations of seasonal classics like “Deck the Halls” and “Jingle Bells” as well as a selection of holiday originals including the steamy new single “Christmas Party for Two” and “Christmas Gift."<br><br><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Sabrina-Carpenter/" target="newwinddow"><strong>Sabrina Carpenter</strong></a><strong> - “fruitcake”</strong><br>Former star of Mean Girls on Broadway and Disney Channel <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Sabrina-Carpenter/" target="newwinddow">Sabrina Carpenter</a> releases a new holiday collection. The new EP includes 2022's "A Nonsense Christmas," "buy me presents," "santa doesn't know you like i do," "cindy lou who," "is it new years yet?," and "white xmas." The EP comes as she opens for <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Taylor-Swift/" target="newwinddow">Taylor Swift</a> on tour.</p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/73160012023-12-01T09:00:00-05:002023-12-07T14:40:53-05:00Music Review: Julie Benko Brings Home The Holidays With CHRISTMAS WITH YOU EP<p style="text-align:justify;">Jason and Julie have done it again.<br>By: Erin Samms Dec 01, 2023<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/402884/5bcabd0f3f5cea640b9136c08634d6dfac9110f4/original/cover-julie-benko-christmas-with-you.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_center border_" /><br><br><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Broadway star </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Julie-Benko/" target="newwinddow">Julie Benko</a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> has been teasing fans and Christmas enthusiasts for a few weeks, now, with one single and then another, in anticipation of her new holiday EP titled CHRISTMAS WITH YOU. First out was her duet with the extraordinary </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Mykal-Kilgore/" target="newwinddow">Mykal Kilgore</a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">, (I NEVER HAD A) CHRISTMAS WITH YOU (</span><i>read the review </i><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Music-Review-Julie-Benko-Mykal-Kilgore-Make-Us-Glad-Theyre-Having-A-Christmas-With-Each-Other-With-I-NEVER-HAD-A-CHRISTMAS-WITH-YOU-20231014" target="newwinddow"><i>HERE</i></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">) and she followed it up a few weeks later with THE MAN WITH THE BAG (</span><i>read the review </i><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Music-Review-Everybodys-Waitin-For-Julie-Benkos-Christmas-EP-But-For-Now-We-Get-THE-MAN-WITH-THE-BAG-20231116" target="newwinddow"><i>HERE</i></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">). Last night at midnight the entire recording dropped, and the timing couldn’t be better because it’s December 1st and, officially, time to get into the seasonal spirit (ok, some people start when Santa arrives at the Thanksgiving Parade, but not this girl - it’s December 1st or nothing at all). The four-song set that is CHRISTMAS WITH YOU is a wonderful addition to your holiday music collection, with each of the tracks fitting tidily into a different role, and all of them expertly arranged and conducted by Benko’s husband, genius jazz savant Jason Yeager, who has a flourishing career of his own but who is always by Julie’s side as her Musical Director and main squeeze. </span><br><br><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Opening number (EVERYBODY’S WAITIN' FOR) THE MAN WITH THE BAG is pure party play, a swing number with a sweet-sounding band rocking out as they give the velvet-voiced Benko all the support she needs to get the party started. Full of brass blasting, drum licks beating, and the tinkling of the Eighty-Eights, the Yeager treatment successfully conjures the holiday celebration vibe, avoiding the cloying sweetness of many holiday recordings, and just right for the grown-ups, the toe tappers, and the lovers of exquisite vocal performance. The follow-up cut is a sultry, sexy, retro-sounding bluesy duet with Benko and Kylgore singing their faces off on a number for which Julie, herself, owns the writing credits. It seems the Funny Girl is actually a Rennaisance Woman, and (I NEVER HAD A) CHRISTMAS WITH YOU is a new classic that can take the place of some of the older blues numbers that may have become a bit ubiquitous over the years, due to overplay. </span><br> </p><div class="video-container size_xl justify_center" style=""><iframe data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="9jlzdRC0mMU" data-video-thumb-url="" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9jlzdRC0mMU?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div><p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">The two numbers on the EP that are new, as of today’s release, are simply exquisite, and, like the two cuts that have already gotten into our system since their individual releases, they fill a very specific role. The third track on the album is TUMBALALAIKA, a traditional Yiddish composition that Benko and Yeager have preserved in this new recording with artistic determination and joyful precision. Benko, a prominent member of the Jewish community, honors her faith, her people, their history, and their traditions with this stunning and jubilant recording. It is all happiness, listening to Jason and Julie bring the song to life, and it is not only a pleasure to hear music from the world of Jewish music included on this Christmas album, it is a privilege. </span><br> </p><div class="video-container size_xl justify_center" style=""><iframe data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="ULxsKlQvcSk" data-video-thumb-url="" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ULxsKlQvcSk?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div><p><br><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">And, quite finally, the Yeagers close out their mini-exploration into the December holidays with the classic HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS. The song introduced by </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Judy-Garland/" target="newwinddow">Judy Garland</a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> in the 1944 film Meet Me In St. Louis has become one of the most beloved, most popular, most frequently performed and recorded holiday songs in the history of Christmas music. And this girl who has worshipped </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Judy-Garland/" target="newwinddow">Judy Garland</a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> since the age of six, and who has judged, harshly, every performance of this song ever performed, can now report that the </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Julie-Benko/" target="newwinddow">Julie Benko</a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> and Jason Yeager recording of the Martin and Blane classic will forever be second only to that of </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Judy-Garland/" target="newwinddow">Judy Garland</a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">. With a simple piano arrangement that is both heartwarming and plaintive, Jason’s hands on the keys, Julie’s mellifluous voice on melody, and acting skills on lyrics, the recording is a sublime slice of heaven, especially when </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Julie-Benko/" target="newwinddow">Julie Benko</a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"> opts for the original film score lyric that carries the emotional weight of the story: "Until then we'll have to muddle through somehow." I dare you not to cry, and cry, you will. But you will smile, too, because it’s a perfect performance, a perfect recording, and a perfect way to end the holiday EP that you just have to get into your collection. Thanks to Benko and Co., we can definitely declare that the holiday has begun.</span><br><br><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><strong>CHRISTMAS WITH YOU is a 2023 release on the Club44 Records label. It is available on all digital platforms. The Club44 Records website is </strong></span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.club44records.com/" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><strong>HERE</strong></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><strong>.</strong></span></p><p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><strong>Stream CHRISTMAS WITH YOU on Spotify </strong></span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://open.spotify.com/album/4BCzUBQQFROzor7AeasI6x" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><strong>HERE</strong></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><strong> buy it on Amazon </strong></span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CHSLFB6B/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2HFKVVOVMAPQ5&keywords=julie+benko+christmas+with+you&qid=1701434871&sprefix=julie+benko+%2Caps%2C119&sr=8-1" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><strong>HERE</strong></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><strong> for an affordable five dollars and really support the artists.</strong></span></p><p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><strong>CHRISTMAS WITH YOU was arranged by Jason Yeager and produced by </strong></span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Julie-Benko/" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><strong>Julie Benko</strong></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><strong> and Jason Yeager. Jason Yeager's website is </strong></span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.jasonyeager.com/" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><strong>HERE</strong></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><strong> and </strong></span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Julie-Benko/" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><strong>Julie Benko</strong></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><strong>'s is </strong></span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.juliebenko.com/" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><strong>HERE</strong></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><strong>.</strong></span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Writing credits for CHRISTMAS WITH YOU:</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i>(Everybody's Waiting For) The Man with the Bag (Irving Taylor, Dudley Brooks, and Hal Stanley)</i></span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i>(I Never Had a) Christmas with You (</i></span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Julie-Benko/" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i>Julie Benko</i></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i>)</i></span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i>Tumbalalaika (Traditional)</i></span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i>Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (</i></span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Hugh-Martin/" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i>Hugh Martin</i></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i> and </i></span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Ralph-Blane/" target="newwinddow"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i>Ralph Blane</i></span></a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i>)</i></span></p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/73114922023-11-28T08:00:00-05:002023-11-30T11:55:51-05:00Club44 Records Signs Bryan Eng and Releases New Christmas Single<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/402884/6e2acbac75c2d9bc12a480bfdf669acead323ca1/original/santas-favorite-place-to-go.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><strong>Nashville, TN </strong>(November 28, 2023) — Multi-faceted entertainer <strong>Bryan Eng</strong> marks his new alliance with <strong>Club44 Records</strong> by releasing an original holiday single, “Santa’s Favorite Place To Go.” This fun and catchy composition is one that you’ll surely want to listen to again and again, as Bryan shows us all what it means to be a crooner in the 21<span><sup>st</sup></span> Century!</p><p>Bryan shared his sentiments about the new seasonal single, “I wrote this song as a bit of a tribute to my home for the past couple of years, New York City. Growing up in Maryland, my favorite place to go with my family over winter break was New York City. Between the nostalgia and my present experience living here, New York remains the most magical place to spend the holidays. Maybe Santa would agree?”</p><p>Already making a name for himself in various genres of the entertainment industry, ranging from Broadway to movies and commercials, Bryan’s music is sure to gain a lot of attention as he vamps his way into your holiday heart and home.</p><p>Club44 Records A&R Director <strong>Joel Lindsey</strong> says, “When we heard Bryan’s music for the first time, we all knew this was exactly the kind of artist we want to represent our label. He so deftly combines a respect for the American Songbook and the legacy it gives with a youthful exuberance and playfulness. There is no limit to his potential. This Christmas tune is cooler than cool and gives a great sneak peek into what’s coming down the pike.”</p><p>“Santa’s Favorite Place To Go” is distributed exclusively by The Orchard/Sony Music and is available worldwide on all streaming platforms <a class="no-pjax" href="https://orcd.co/club44records-santasfavoriteplacetogo"><span style="color:#0b4cb4;"><u>here</u></span></a>.</p><p> </p><p><strong>About Bryan Eng</strong><span><strong> — </strong></span>Multi-talented jazz pianist, singer and actor, Bryan Eng, is one of the most promising and accomplished entertainers of his generation. With performances on Broadway, at the Kennedy Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Birdland, numerous regional theaters and an ongoing residency at the Carlyle Hotel, the 25-year-old entertainer has already made his mark on the world’s most esteemed stages.</p><p>Eng graduated from Northwestern University where his Chicago acclaim proved inevitable. Maintaining multiple performance residencies and starring at award-winning regional theaters, the Chicago Tribune confirmed, “Bryan Eng is one of Chicago’s bright stars.” Soon, Eng relocated to New York City to join the Broadway cast of <i>Plaza Suite</i> with Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick. Now a New York star in ascension, Eng is featured at the historic Carlyle Hotel while maintaining a rigorous national touring schedule, leading his three groups: the Bryan Eng Trio, the Bryan Eng ‘Circle Room’ Trio and the Bryan Eng Sextet.</p><p><strong>About Club44 Records – </strong>Based in the Music City of Nashville, Tennessee, Club44 Records is an independent label which aims to highlight the Broadway, cabaret and jazz genres, preserve the American Songbook and provide a home for artists who represent this timeless music. Following their premiere studio release, <i>Christmas at Birdland</i>, the label has presented <i>Love Notes</i>, the latest album from Tony Award and Golden Globe winner Linda Lavin; <i>Billy’s Place</i> from Grammy Award winner Billy Stritch; <i>Act One</i> from rising vocal star Nicolas King; Jane Monheit’s <i>Come What May</i>, which celebrates the international Billboard #1 pop/jazz vocalist’s 20th anniversary as a recording artist; Carol Sloane’s <i>Live at Birdland</i>, an intimate set captured at the legendary venue; rising Broadway star Julie Benko and husband JasonYeager’s <i>Hand in Han</i>d, an assortment of beloved songs; Christine Ebersole’s <i>After the Ball</i>, a collection of songs reflecting on life, love and family; and <i>Merry Christmas, Darling</i>, the debut holiday collection from Tony Award winner Stephanie J. Block. Club44 Records also serves as the creative home of many other singers, instrumentalists and writers. All releases are distributed to digital and retail outlets worldwide via The Orchard/Sony Music. For more information, visit <a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.Club44Records.com"><span style="color:#0b4cb4;"><u>www.Club44Records.com</u></span></a>.</p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/72791752023-09-26T22:27:18-04:002023-10-16T10:54:17-04:00CLUB44 RECORDS SIGNS TONY AWARD-WINNING BROADWAY STAR STEPHANIE J. BLOCK<p><strong>CLUB44 RECORDS SIGNS TONY AWARD-WINNING BROADWAY STAR STEPHANIE J. BLOCK FOR HER DEBUT HOLIDAY ALBUM “MERRY CHRISTMAS, DARLING” SET TO BE RELEASED NOVEMBER 3, 2023</strong></p><p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/402884/3000623dd10fd3c6e1385e81fda9ab6c816db3f8/original/img-6437.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><strong>Pictured L to R: Haley Schattschneider, Mary Alice Lovelace, Stephanie J. Block, Wayne Haun, Joel Lindsey </strong><br><br>Club44 Records is pleased to announce the signing of the Tony Award-winning Broadway star Stephanie J. Block to its illustrious roster of artists representing the Great American Songbook. Her debut holiday album Merry Christmas, Darling – featuring both secular and sacred seasonal classics, including a new song written for her by Club44 co-founder Wayne Haun and Tony-winning lyricist David Zippel – will be released on November 3, 2023. The album features a duet with her husband, fellow Broadway star Sebastian Arcelus, as well as a duet with their daughter Vivienne Arcelus. The album is produced by Wayne Haun and Stephanie J. Block, with Joel Lindsey and Sharon Terrell serving as executive producers. Starting Friday, October 6, customers who pre-save or pre-add the album will be able to stream or download the single “Sleigh Ride.” Pre-add or pre-save at https://orcd.co/merrychristmasdarling.</p><p>Stephanie J. Block has established herself as one of the most relevant and versatile voices in contemporary musical theatre. She won the 2019 Tony Award for “Best Leading Actress in a Musical,” as well as winning the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Awards, for her star turn in The Cher Show. Block was also recognized for her role of Trina in Lincoln Center Theatre’s 2016 revival of Falsettos garnering her the Tony Award, Drama Desk and Outer Critics nominations. In 2013 she was recognized with both the Drama Desk and Tony Award nominations for “Best Leading Actress in a Musical” for her portrayal of Alice Nutting/ Edwin Drood in The Roundabout Theater’s production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood.</p><p>Other Broadway credits include Reno Sweeney in the 2011 Tony Award-winning revival of Anything Goes and 9 to 5: The Musical, for which she earned a Drama Desk nomination. She created the roles of Grace O’Malley in The Pirate Queen and Liza Minnelli in The Boy from Oz (opposite Hugh Jackman). Ms. Block is known for her portrayal as Elphaba in the Broadway company of Wicked, as well as originating the role in the First National Tour for which she won numerous awards including the Helen Hayes Award for “Outstanding Actress in a Musical.”</p><p>Stephanie comments, “I mentioned to my daughter that I needed to write a little press blurb about my upcoming Christmas album and she responded ‘OUR Christmas album.’ My initial thought response was to laugh and shake my head, but after a brief moment I realized her comment was exactly right. My wish is for Merry Christmas, Darling to feel like it belongs to everyone. It's been created in love and collaboration and a hope that is for all to share in.”</p><p>Wayne Haun, the album co-producer and label co-founder, adds, “I’ve always been amazed at the way Stephanie interprets a song. The attention to the lyric, the timing, the emotion are all perfect. Until recently, I'd only seen her perform live, but I can now say she brings the same interpretation and emotion into the studio. She brings songs like “Sleigh Ride” and “What Child Is This?” a whole new life. She knows what the song needs and she gives it her all.”</p><p>Club44 Records – based in the Music City of Nashville, Tennessee – is an independent label which aims to highlight the Broadway, cabaret and jazz genres, preserve the American Songbook and provide a home for artists who represent this timeless music. Following their premiere studio release, Christmas at Birdland, the label has presented Love Notes, the latest album from Tony Award and Golden Globe winner Linda Lavin; Billy’s Place from Grammy Award winner Billy Stritch; Act One from rising vocal star Nicolas King; Jane Monheit’s Come What May, which celebrates the international Billboard #1 pop/jazz vocalist’s 20th anniversary as a recording artist; Spencer Day’s Broadway by Day, highlighting creative arrangements of theater standards; Carol Sloane’s Live at Birdland, an intimate set captured at the legendary venue; rising Broadway star Julie Benko and husband Jason Yeager’s Hand in Hand, an assortment of beloved songs; and Christine Ebersole’s After the Ball, a collection of songs reflecting on life, love and family. Club44 Records also serves as the creative home of many other singers, instrumentalists and writers. All releases are distributed to digital and retail outlets worldwide via The Orchard/Sony Music. For more information, visit www.Club44Records.com</p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/72782422023-09-22T09:00:00-04:002023-09-25T09:41:19-04:00POPULAR MUSICAL FAMILY, THE BROWNS, RELEASE NEW CHRISTMAS RECORDING<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/402884/791c16b1f1377fb8f8e857f712f757341b1e90b0/original/brown-christmas-image0.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>POPULAR MUSICAL FAMILY, THE BROWNS, RELEASE NEW CHRISTMAS RECORDING</strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>Nashville, TN (September 22, 2023)</strong> When the musical talents of the legendary City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra are combined with the vocal talents of a gifted family, the end result is a musical masterpiece. Then when all 10 songs are Christmas classics, the project becomes filled with holiday cheer that takes listeners on a joyful and festive journey. </p><p>Just in time for the Christmas season,<strong> Club44 Records</strong> has announced the October 20, 2023, release of a brand new recording from one of Christian music’s most talented families, <strong>The Browns</strong>. Shelly, Michaela, Adam and Andrew, collectively known as The Browns, left their quaint hometown of Le Mars, IA, for the Czech Republic to enlist the assistance of the famed City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra to create a Christmas collection that is sure to become a holiday favorite for many years to come.</p><p><i><strong>Christmas In Prague</strong></i> is a yuletide recording like no other, as it offers both traditional, yet modern arrangements to some of the most popular Christmas classics that have been recorded over the past century. Recorded in the center of Bohemia in the Czech Republic, each song features intricate harmonies and powerful instrumentation that capture the true essence of what Christmas is all about. </p><p>The new release features Christmas classics like “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “Silver Bells,” “O Holy Night” and “Little Drummer Boy.” A special highlight of the recording is “Snow.” “This song has become a holiday staple, not only for its clever lyric and melody by Irving Berlin, but also for its harmonic passages. It’s fun. It’s whimsical and a classic,” <strong>Shelly Brown</strong> states. </p><p>Another special highlight of the recording is “Good King Wenceslas.” “To record an album with the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra,” Shelly explains, “and not pay tribute to the patron saint of Bohemia would be a glaring omission.” The stirring arrangement is complete with dramatic crescendos and pauses to magnify the powerful lyrics to this traditional and heartwarming hymn, written in 1853.</p><p><strong>Michaela Brown</strong> expressed her excitement about the new recording, “Every album we record has a special aspect and story with it. This <i>Christmas in Prague</i> album has been extra special from the beginning. We have two of the best arrangers and orchestrators, Wayne Haun and David Clydesdale. We were able to travel with them to the historic city of Prague, Czech Republic and experience the recording of the orchestra live! We chose classic Christmas pieces that everyone knows and loves, and we are so excited to be sharing this music with you during this special season of the year!”</p><p>Club44 Records label co-founder, <strong>Ernie Haase</strong>, shared his enthusiasm about this new offering from The Browns, “I have known The Browns since they were kids, and I knew when I met them just how special they are. It has been fun to watch as their music career has flourished over the years, so fast forward to this epic recording, <i>Christmas in Prague, </i>and it just confirms what I suspected 20 years ago…they always deliver with great professionalism, great entertainment value and, most of all, unparalleled GREAT family harmony. You’ve got to hear this record!”</p><p>Since 2015, this musical family has enjoyed hosting performances at their very own Browns Century Theater in their hometown of Le Mars. Each season, the family performs to sold-out crowds five days a week during November and December. This year those sold-out audiences will enjoy a little taste of Prague as they visit the quiet town of Le Mars.</p><p>For 20 years, The Browns have brought joy to listeners worldwide with their musical talents, rich family harmonies and exuberant energy. This most recent Christmas recording is sure to bring listeners even more joy for decades to come.</p><p><a class="no-pjax" href="https://orcd.co/christmasinprague"><span style="color:#0000ff;"><u>Pre-add/pre-save </u><i><strong><u>Christmas In Prague</u></strong></i></span></a> today to listen to the beautiful rendition of “Snow.” Distributed exclusively by <strong>The Orchard/Sony Music</strong>, <i>Christmas in Prague</i> will be available on all digital platforms worldwide on October 20, 2023.<span> </span></p><p> </p><p>* * *</p><p> </p><p><strong>Christmas In Prague Track List:</strong></p><p>It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year<br>Snow (from White Christmas)<br>Silver Bells<br>Mary, Did You Know?<br>O Holy Night<br>Pat-a-Pan/Joy To The World<br>Good King Wenceslas<br>Little Drummer Boy<br>Angels Medley<br>We Wish You The Merriest</p><p> </p><p>ABOUT THE BROWNS:</p><p>It’s truly a family affair when The Browns hit the stage with their unmistakable style of Gospel music. Shelly, Michaela, Adam and Andrew exude excitement on the stage and offer an impactful experience to all who hear them. The Browns deliver the powerful message of the Gospel through word and song and captivate audiences of all ages. Known for their fiddle playing antics and vocals, The Browns have wowed audiences around the world. The call to perform has not pushed this Iowa Family to move to a big city. In fact, when not performing, they stay busy on their family farm or at their own Browns Century Theater, where they host various artists and shows year-round.</p><p> </p><p>ABOUT CLUB 44:</p><p>Based in the Music City of Nashville, Tennessee, Club44 Records is an independent label which aims to highlight the Broadway, cabaret and jazz genres, preserve the American Songbook and provide a home for artists who represent this timeless music. Following their premiere studio release, <i>Christmas at Birdland</i>, the label has presented <i>Love Notes</i>, the latest album from Tony Award and Golden Globe winner Linda Lavin; <i>Billy’s Place</i> from Grammy Award winner Billy Stritch; <i>Act One</i> from rising vocal star Nicolas King; Jane Monheit’s <i>Come What May</i>, which celebrates the international Billboard #1 pop/jazz vocalist’s 20th anniversary as a recording artist; Spencer Day’s <i>Broadway by Day</i>, highlighting creative arrangements of theater standards; Carol Sloane’s <i>Live at Birdland</i>, an intimate set captured at the legendary venue; rising Broadway star Julie Benko and husband Jason Yeager’s<i> Hand in Hand</i>, an assortment of beloved songs; and Christine Ebersole’s <i>After the Ball, </i>a collection of songs reflecting on life, love and family. Club44 Records also serves as the creative home of many other singers, instrumentalists and writers. All releases are distributed to digital and retail outlets worldwide via The Orchard/Sony Music.For more information, visit <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.Club44Records.com&source=gmail-imap&ust=1695757812000000&usg=AOvVaw1AXfeuSx4NM92dJvCGFxng"><span style="color:#0000ff;"><u>www.Club44Records.com</u></span></a>.</p><p> </p><p>LINKS:</p><p><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.thebrownsmusic.com&source=gmail-imap&ust=1695757812000000&usg=AOvVaw3Ks5L4C579Sn2B3xpM27Du"><u>www.thebrownsmusic.com</u></a><br><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.facebook.com/thebrownsmusic/&source=gmail-imap&ust=1695757812000000&usg=AOvVaw1jljWocKkwVYjauTFZT3l4"><u>www.facebook.com/thebrownsmusic/</u></a><br><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.twitter.com/TheBrownsMusic&source=gmail-imap&ust=1695757812000000&usg=AOvVaw1KPasi739bcXZHiy8zzjFl"><u>www.twitter.com/TheBrownsMusic</u></a><br><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.instagram.com/thebrownsmusic/&source=gmail-imap&ust=1695757812000000&usg=AOvVaw12slx1O7hTHOV6-58A25T_"><u>www.instagram.com/thebrownsmusic/</u></a><br><a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.YouTube.com/@TheBrowns"><u>www.YouTube.com/@TheBrowns</u></a></p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/72728462023-08-30T09:00:00-04:002023-09-25T09:41:19-04:00NATALIE DOUGLAS PARTNERS WITH CLUB44 RECORDS<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/402884/f4d0655b6903557751ccee8051c5a265dfbfa8c7/original/096857c372609185e30c0b83.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p><p style="text-align:center;"><span><strong> </strong></span><strong>Pictured L to R: Mary Alice Lovelace, Joel Lindsey, Natalie Douglas, Wayne Haun, Ernie Haase</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big"><strong>NATALIE DOUGLAS PARTNERS WITH CLUB44 RECORDS</strong></span></p><p> </p><p><strong>(Nashville, TN – August 30, 2023) </strong>Club44 Records is pleased to announce the signing of Cabaret chanteuse <strong>Natalie Douglas</strong> to its exclusive roster of artists representing the Great American Songbook. Natalie is not only a fixture on the New York scene, but she also travels the world with her legendary tribute shows, paying homage to some of the greatest singers of our time (Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, Dolly Parton, Joni Mitchell, Roberta Flack). These shows spotlight Natalie’s range and arc as an entertainer. She has performed over 75 concerts at her home base, the legendary Birdland Jazz Club in New York City, where her picture hangs on the iconic Birdland Wall of Fame.</p><p>A passionate fan of the music she performs, Natalie is also an advocate and teacher of this artform, imparting her expertise to a whole new generation of singers and musicians. From her work as the Education Director with the Mabel Mercer Foundation, as well as her work as a master instructor with the Jim & Elizabeth Sullivan Foundation and the Eugene O’Neill Cabaret & Conference, Natalie uses music to spread her message of love, diversity and inclusivity to schools and colleges around the country.</p><p>Natalie expressed her excitement about becoming a part of the Club44 Records family, “I couldn’t be more thrilled to join forces with the team at Club44 in making a brand-new record. After hearing such great things from so many of my label mates, many of whom are longtime friends, I’m not surprised to find everyone at the label is as kind and delightful as they are talented. Just wait till you hear what we’re cooking up!” </p><p>Award-winning producer <strong>Wayne Haun</strong> is at the helm of this project. Wayne shared, “I first discovered the music of Natalie Douglas while browsing the CD section at Colony Music. I’m a big fan of Nina Simone, and Natalie had recorded a tribute to Nina at Birdland. I had to have the recording, and it did not disappoint! From there, I discovered her other music and became a big fan. I even planned a New Year’s Eve trip to New York just to see her perform live. I had always hoped for an opportunity to produce her and never thought it would happen, so to say this is a dream come true is not a cliché. It’s a very true and very cool reality.”</p><p><strong>A&R Director Joel Lindsey</strong> chimed in, “Natalie epitomizes the caliber of artist we at Club44 desire to partner with. Her musicality and range are impressive, but her integrity and showmanship separate her from most singers out there. This is a very special record, and I’m so happy to share this music with the world!” </p><p>Natalie’s first single, “Trust in Me,” will be available worldwide via all streaming platforms on September 29, 2023, with a full album release in early 2024. For more information about Natalie Douglas, go to <a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.NatalieDouglas.com"><span style="color:#0b4cb4;"><u>www.NatalieDouglas.com</u></span></a>.</p><p> </p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span><strong>Natalie Douglas—</strong></span>Multi-award winning artist Natalie Douglas is a 21st-century vocalist with a strong foundation in the Great American Songbook and an equally fierce devotion to the modern jazz, blues, rock and country influences of her childhood. Like her idol, Nina Simone, Natalie is drawn to lyrics that tell a compelling story no matter what genre. A thirteen-time MAC Award Winner whose international performances have taken her from concert halls to theaters to intimate clubs and everything in between, she has produced over 75 concerts at her musical home, Birdland Jazz Club, in New York City. As an actor, she has appeared in 18 editions of "The Atrainplays," (a 24-hour birth to performance event) at the Neighborhood Playhouse, The Peter Sharp Theatre and New World Stages and off-Broadway in "The People vs. Mona," by the writers of Pumpboys & Dinettes. She has appeared in ABC’s "Cupid" and can be seen with her gorgeous husband showing off the good education her parents paid for on The Discovery Channel’s "Cash Cab." Natalie’s music is available via retail and streaming outlets worldwide.<span> </span></p><p> </p><p><br> </p><p><strong>CLUB44 RECORDS—</strong><span> </span>Based in the Music City of Nashville, Tennessee, Club44 Records is an independent label which aims to highlight the Broadway, cabaret and jazz genres, preserve the American Songbook and provide a home for artists who represent this timeless music. Following their premiere studio release, <i>Christmas at Birdland</i>, the label has presented <i>Love Notes</i>, the latest album from Tony Award and Golden Globe winner Linda Lavin; <i>Billy’s Place</i> from Grammy Award winner Billy Stritch; <i>Act One</i> from rising vocal star Nicolas King; Jane Monheit’s <i>Come What May</i>, which celebrates the international Billboard #1 pop/jazz vocalist’s 20th anniversary as a recording artist; Spencer Day’s <i>Broadway by Day</i>, highlighting creative arrangements of theater standards; Carol Sloane’s <i>Live at Birdland</i>, an intimate set captured at the legendary venue; rising Broadway star Julie Benko and husband Jason Yeager’s<i> Hand in Hand</i>, an assortment of beloved songs; and Christine Ebersole’s <i>After the Ball, </i>a collection of songs reflecting on life, love and family. Club44 Records also serves as the creative home of many other singers, instrumentalists and writers. All releases are distributed to digital and retail outlets worldwide via The Orchard/Sony Music. For more information, visit www.Club44Records.com<span> </span></p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/70874832022-10-24T10:27:57-04:002022-10-24T10:27:57-04:00Distinctive and emotional female singers<p style="text-align: center;">Reviews by <a contents="Rob Lester" data-link-label="" data-link-type="email" href="mailto:rob@talkinbroadway.com" target="_blank">Rob Lester</a></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/e127075ea5fcb130089e8c6ce2e5a8446ca9576a/original/image0.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.jpeg" class="size_s justify_left border_none" alt="" /></p>
<p>CHRISTINE EBERSOLE <br>AFTER THE BALL <br>Club44 Records <br>CD, Digital</p>
<p>Some bets are, more than others, reliably "sure bets." I'm happy to report a prime example of predictable success. It's hardly a surprise that another recording by Christine Ebersole will once more be a parade of plush pleasures: classic songs by major writers of stage and screen musicals, with her luscious soprano investing them with integrity and class. <em><strong>After the Ball </strong></em>is all that. And once again the music is led by pianist/arranger Lawrence Yurman who also helmed the proceedings for her collection of Noël Coward material and two musicals she starred in (both with scores by Michael Korie and Scott Frankel): <em><strong>Grey Gardens </strong></em>and <em><strong>War Paint</strong></em>. </p>
<p>Arrangements that allow us to revel in Christine Ebersole's golden high notes make for highlights, whether she's in "legit" formal mode, in grandly sweeping strokes, or more casual. Mairi Dorman-Phaneuf's dignified cello playing is a big asset in the tiny band that is completed by John Benthal on guitar and banjo (with Larry Saltzman guesting on guitar on "Autumn Leaves"). This new collection is informed by a theme, although there are no liner notes at all that would have spelled it out. However, if one picture is worth a thousand words, the photos of the lady and her family let you imagine text and context. Careful listening and some knowledge of singer and songs will reinforce your deductions. As the lyrics pile up, it's clear this is a fond look at the past with some reluctance to have to bid it farewell. </p>
<p>Knowing that Christine Ebersole and her husband adopted three children, now grown up, will give you special appreciation for the set's exquisite and engaging centerpiece blending three items. "Little Green," written by Joni Mitchell about the biological daughter she gave up for adoption is poignancy-plus. It leads into awestruck delight expressed via Rodgers & Hart's "Wait Till You See Her," which we can now see becomes about parental pride and joy. And, for good measure, this montage gets extra kid-friendly by cozying up to Frank Loesser's "Inchworm" from the score of the musical film about the famed writer of fairy tales (<em><strong>Hans Christian Andersen</strong></em>). </p>
<p>In this mama's hands, the plucky 1930 "My Baby Just Cares for Me" is about an actual infant's affection (the noun "baby" and matching pronoun soon become plural and the celebrity names in the original lyrics are tossed out in favor of kiddie TV faves of yore, Mr. Rogers and Howdy Doody). Right in season is the perennial "Autumn Leaves," but this tenderly rendered version (with a marvelously melancholy cello solo) becomes about recalling days with a precious child instead of a now-absent romantic partner when the lyric picturing "the sunburned hands I used to hold" becomes "the tiny hands I used to hold." The empty nest is full of thoughts of the old days, and the sentiment resonates. Personal perspective feels universal. (Isn't that the key to an actor or singer connecting with the audience?) </p>
<p>But the M.O. about looking back looks pretty obvious right from the start. The first three tracks are time-traveling snapshots, all featuring melodies of Jerome Kern, although each with a different lyricist and two are medleys with non-Kern songs, with the paired pieces informing each other. For example, "Yesterdays" (Kern and Otto Harbach) segues into a specific yesterday of a sensory-loaded "Lazy Afternoon." "I'm Old Fashioned" stands on its own to embrace lyricist Johnny Mercer's list of sweet unchanging things and reject "passing fancies." <em><strong>After the Ball</strong></em> starts with its 1891 title song by Charles Harris (here just listed as Public Domain) which dances us elegantly into an antique era's sad saga. It leads us into the present time, predicting how the evening now being experienced will be a relished recollection: "Someday, when I'm awfully low/ And the world is cold/ I will feel a glow just thinking of you/ And 'The Way You Look Tonight'" (Kern and Dorothy Fields). It's nostalgia all around. </p>
<p>Oh, it may be an unintentional coincidence (or proof that I'm thinking too much about these connections) that "After the Ball" was interpolated into Kern and Oscar Hammerstein's score for <em><strong>Show Boat</strong></em>, for known period flavor, <em><strong>and</strong></em> that this recording ends with a Hammerstein lyric, 90 seconds of time well spent with another view of remembering, "When I Grow Too Old to Dream." That piece with music by Sigmund Romberg then quotes the melody "After the Ball" as a P.S./full circle moment. You get extra points for thinking it would have also been perfect Kern-connected tie-ins if this performer sang "Bill," since that's her husband's name, or "The Folks Who Live on the Hill" about a contented couple whose kids have grown and move away, but she's already done both of those on prior recordings worth investigating–the earlier "sure bets."<br><br>Originally from <a contents="https://www.talkinbroadway.com/page/sound/october1722.html" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.talkinbroadway.com/page/sound/october1722.html" target="_blank">https://www.talkinbroadway.com/page/sound/october1722.html</a></p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/70735262022-10-03T14:19:00-04:002022-10-03T14:19:32-04:00Christine Ebersole Releases New Album After the Ball September 30<p><strong>The release from the two-time Tony winner comes from Club44 Records. </strong></p>
<p>BY LOGAN CULWELL-BLOCK <br>SEPTEMBER 30, 2022<br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="am9WaK_rfwk" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/am9WaK_rfwk/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/am9WaK_rfwk?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="281" width="500" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>Two-time Tony winner <a contents="Christine Ebersole&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.playbill.com/person/christine-ebersole-vault-0000035864" target="_blank"><strong>Christine Ebersole </strong></a>releases her new solo album, <em>After the Ball</em>, September 30. Get a first listen to the album's first single release, "My Baby Just Cares for Me," above. Order the album from Club44 Records <a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://club44.lnk.to/AfterTheBall" target="_blank">here</a>. </p>
<p>The stage and screen star won Tony Awards for her performances in <em>42nd Street</em> and <em>Grey Gardens</em>, with additional Broadway performances in <em>Oklahoma!, Camelot, Steel Magnolias, Blithe Spirit</em>, and, most recently,<em> War Paint.</em> </p>
<p>"Life is always changing," shares Ebersole of the release, her sixth solo album. "It’s always moving and coming at you in unexpected ways. When the family is growing up, you want everything to stay the same. But there’s a time when the music stops, and the children must go. Everything gets really quiet, and all the balloons that were up in the air come down to the floor. Then you realize how much you want to preserve it all, especially the moments of joy and love. That’s the feeling I get from singing these songs." </p>
<p>The album is produced by Ebersole and Lawrence Yurman, who also accompanies Ebersole and has provided the arrangements. Also featured are Mairi Dorman-Phaneuf on cello, John Benthal on guitar and banjo, and Larry Saltzman on guitar. </p>
<p><strong>Take a look at the full track listing: </strong></p>
<p>1. After the Ball / The Way You Look Tonight <br>2. I'm Old Fashioned <br>3. Yesterdays / Lazy Afternoon <br>4. 'S Wonderful <br>5. My Baby Just Cares for Me <br>6. Little Green / Wait Till You See Her / The Inch Worm <br>7. Autumn Leaves <br>8. (Have I Stayed) Too Long at the Fair / Ready to Begin Again <br>9. A Sleepin' Bee <br>10. When I Grow Too Old to Dream</p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/70735102022-10-03T14:15:07-04:002022-10-03T14:15:07-04:00Album Review: Christine Ebersole's Ballads Are Showing On Her Latest Album AFTER THE BALL<p>Slow And Steady Won This Race…<br>by Bobby Patrick Sep. 30, 2022</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/e127075ea5fcb130089e8c6ce2e5a8446ca9576a/original/image0.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpeg" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" />Heigh Ho, dear lovely rainbow tribe, Bobby Patrick, your rainbow reviewer is back in CD-Land to offer another broken-down breakdown of a new music release. So, strap in and get ready, as Bobby goes on the record ABOUT the record. </p>
<p>This week's release, DAHLINGS, is by that Goddess, that Diva, The Very Miss <a contents="Christine Ebersole" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Christine-Ebersole/" target="_blank">Christine Ebersole</a>. Anyone who loves The Broadway does (or should) love this talented two-time Tony taker. Since 1975 (you do that math, my lambs, and leave the lady alone) she has racked up 14 shows ON The Broadway, 3 national tours, and half a dozen Off-The Broadway shows, not to mention the attention paid to her by Tony, The Circle, The Desk, The League, The Outer Circle, and twice by somebody named Obie. Add to all of this a solo singing career that has taken her across the planet into concert halls, theatres, the best cabarets, and probably a few dive bars (a girl's gotta eat) and her many trips into the recording booth (sometimes with her pal and Broadway World fave <a contents="Billy Stritch)" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Billy-Stritch/" target="_blank">Billy Stritch)</a> and it leaves Little Bobby to wonder - How is she still alive? That's all a heck of a lot of work, and we should all be oh-so-glad. Which brings us to her latest recorded venture AFTER THE BALL...This collection of 10 ballads by the likes of Kern, Mercer, Kern & Mercer, Kern & Harbach, Kern & Fields, the law firm of Hammerstein, Hart, Rodgers & Romberg, and even <a contents="Truman Capote" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Truman-Capote/" target="_blank">Truman Capote</a> is the collection of ballads you didn't know you needed, Bobbyfans. Kicking off the album with her title track AFTER THE BALL mashed up with THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT, La Ebersole lifts the songs up with her pliable and resonant soprano, while singing them pretty much just as written. The instrumental arrangements by Music Director/Keyboardist/Producer <a contents="Lawrence Yurman" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Lawrence-Yurman/" target="_blank">Lawrence Yurman</a> tinkle delightfully under her vocals, never dominating. It is this arrangement that makes the marriage of these two songs from two different times and two different time signatures so delightful. AFTER THE BALL (1891) is an old-fashioned 3/4-time waltz while THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT (1936) is a 4/4 (in cut time) number from the big band era, and yet Yurman blends them seamlessly, here, while the lady polishes them with her voice. The album is actually full of interesting choices in notes, arrangements, chords, and rhythms, like her borderline "odd" take on the Gershwin tune S'WONDERFUL - so strange, with the lite pulsating in the keys and an almost tentativeness to her voice, in the beginning, giving way to bigger tone poems later on. That, coupled with an arrhythmic beat and alternate notes, creating interesting diminished chords, again and again - tension is the word here - as this lite little dance number transforms into a ballad with real DRAMA, using her whole voice and a heart that is working overtime. It feels and sounds like something an <a contents="Idina Menzel" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Idina-Menzel/" target="_blank">Idina Menzel</a> might do, but Ebersole's voice grounds it, even in the louder sections, with its simplicity. Those diminished chords at the end leave one with a divine sense of longing. VERY DIFFERENT.</p>
<p>Bobby's shout-out as the highlight of the album is cut number 8, another mash-up of two songs you didn't know needed to go to the prom together. With <a contents="Billy Barnes" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Billy-Barnes/" target="_blank">Billy Barnes</a>' (HAVE I STAYED) TOO LONG AT THE FAIR and Leiber & Stoller's READY TO BEGIN AGAIN, what Christine delivers is a truly interesting pairing of Barnes' traditional major key melody standard with Leiber & Stoller's almost <a contents="Kurt Weill" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Kurt-Weill/" target="_blank">Kurt Weill</a>-esque minor key ballad. This major & minor key juxtaposition is not just in the notes but in the light and dark of both stories being told: the tuneful FAIR, with its sad message of personal obsolescence, joined with the darker sounds of BEGIN AGAIN, with its story of a woman who is grabbing her wig so she can go out and grab some more life... The dark and light in BOTH songs is an experiment that works. This is truly the best of the album. </p>
<p>Bobby could go on and on through all 10 tracks of this one, but why? You get the idea, my lambs and you know what comes now: Our Full...5 Out Of 5 Rainbows - Pick this one up wherever you pick up your tunes. </p>
<p><strong>The Other Responsible Parties On After The Ball Include:</strong> </p>
<p>Al Houghton, Chris Montgomery, And Charley Shealy Of Dubway Studios, New York City </p>
<p>For The Tracking And Vocals Recording </p>
<p>Musicians: </p>
<p><a contents="Lawrence Yurman" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Lawrence-Yurman/" target="_blank">Lawrence Yurman</a> (Piano, Music Direction & All Arrangements) </p>
<p><a contents="Mairi Dorman" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Mairi-Dorman/">Mairi Dorman</a>-Phaneuf (Cello) </p>
<p><a contents="John Benthal" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/John-Benthal/" target="_blank">John Benthal</a> (Guitar & Banjo) </p>
<p><a contents="Larry Saltzman" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Larry-Saltzman/" target="_blank">Larry Saltzman</a> (Guitar On "Autumn Leaves") </p>
<p>Entire Album Produced By Ebersole & <a contents="Lawrence Yurman" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Lawrence-Yurman/" target="_blank">Lawrence Yurman</a> </p>
<p>Christine Has An Official Fan Page On Ye Olde Facebook: <a contents="HERE" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/TheOfficialChristineEbersoleFanPage" target="_blank">HERE</a></p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/70466502022-08-26T11:50:34-04:002022-08-26T11:55:08-04:00Watch Funny Girl's Julie Benko and Husband Jason Yeager in Exclusive Performance of 'It Might as Well Be Spring'<p>The duo will release their album Hand in Hand August 26. </p>
<p>BY ROBERTO ARAUJO </p>
<p>AUGUST 25, 2022</p>
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<p>Married musical duo Julie Benko and Jason Yeager will release their debut album <em>Hand in Hand</em> August 26. Ahead of the release, the couple stopped by the Playbill Studio for an exclusive performance of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “It Might as Well Be Spring”; watch their rendition of the classic tune in the video above. </p>
<p>“When the pandemic began, we started a series called <em>Quarentunes</em> of us playing music from our living room just on Facebook Live and Instagram Live for our friends and family,” shares Benko, “In the middle of it, Jason said we should record these. That’s where the idea for the album came from.” The duo will celebrate the release with an in-person and live streamed concert at Birdland Jazz Club August 29 at 7 PM. </p>
<p>The album features theatre favorites and hits from the jazz and pop genre, along with original songs. Broadway titles include “People” from Funny Girl, “All I’ve Ever Known” from Hadestown, “If I Were a Bell” from<em> Guys and Dolls</em>, and “Another Life” from <em>The Bridges of Madison County</em>. </p>
<p>Currently starring as Fanny Brice in the Broadway revival of Funny Girl—before covering all Thursday performances once Lea Michele joins the company—Benko is featured on vocals, clarinet, flute, and percussion. Pianist-composer Yeagar accompanies on the piano, Wurlitzer, Rhodes, celeste, organ, and percussion. </p>
<p><em>Hand in Hand</em> is produced and arranged by Benko and Yeager. Additional highlights from the album include a cover of Janis Joplin’s “Mercedes Benz” and the original compositions “Sweet Pea” and “Just Begun.” </p>
<p>For more info about the upcoming concert, visit <a contents="BirdlandJazz.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://BirdlandJazz.com" target="_blank">BirdlandJazz.com</a>.</p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/69648412022-04-29T08:00:00-04:002022-05-05T23:16:31-04:00Daniel Glass Trio's New Album BAM! Out Today<p><strong>BAM! features eclectic reinventions of the timeless standard “It Could Happen To You," Deep Purple’s rock classic “Smoke on the Water," and original tunes.</strong><br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/38fb03150e84f770e301e52320e80e26e1fc6512/original/bam-3000x3000-600dpi-scaled.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" /><br>CLUB44 RECORDS has announced the new album from <strong>Daniel Glass</strong> Trio, BAM!, is available on streaming platforms and on CD in stores and online today, Friday, April 29. The <strong>Daniel Glass</strong> Trio - featuring three of the busiest and most prolific musicians on the New York jazz scene: <strong>Daniel Glass</strong> on drums, <strong>Sean Harkness</strong> on guitar and Michael O'Brien on bass - have created a virtuosic sound that is infectious, fun and incredibly entertaining. With both a keen respect for musical history and a bent toward the innovative and adventurous, this recording never lets the listener get too comfortable in their stylistic expectations but always provides very satisfying twists and turns. BAM! features both original tunes from the band and eclectic reinventions of the timeless standard "It Could Happen To You" and Deep Purple's rock classic "Smoke on the Water." </p>
<p>Order, stream or download the album at <a contents="club44.lnk.to/BAM_DGT" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://club44.lnk.to/BAM_DGT" target="_blank">club44.lnk.to/BAM_DGT</a> </p>
<p>"One of the reasons I love working with Sean and Michael," says Glass, "is that the three of us share a musical 'mission: to live in the moment and go where the music takes us. Each member of this group is a veteran New York jazzman, having spent decades in the trenches working with hundreds of other artists - particularly singers. Doing this kind of work has endowed us with a particular sense of empathy - the ability to listen, respond and support unselfishly - while also taking the reins when needed."<br><br>"All that experience makes us ideal candidates for success in the trio setting," he continues, "where we are unshackled and given the freedom to play what we choose. The resulting musical conversations are broad and deep, nimbly bouncing between style, tempo and dynamic. And yet, the overall effect has the lightness of three kids who've just discovered each other in the sandbox. They continually find delight and surprise in each other's actions - without the need to know where these actions will lead." </p>
<p>"While the trio has been playing together off and on for more than six years," Glass concludes, "it took a pandemic to create the impetus for us to capture our musical mission in the studio setting. The end result is BAM!, a title that hopefully describes more about the group in a single word than the preceding paragraphs can hope to do. I'm thrilled with the results, and I hope that listening to our music will inspire you to forget about your worldly woes and come join us in the sandbox for a short while."<br><br>Joel Lindsey, co-founder of Club44 Records, says "It's always very interesting to me when a musician you are familiar with in one setting steps into a completely different spotlight and reveals a new side of their creativity. That's how I feel about the Daniel Glass Trio and this new project, BAM! Each member of the group is uniquely accomplished and recognized as greats in their respective fields, but to see them come together in this formation is truly inspiring. As soon as I heard what they were coming up with, I knew I wanted Club44 to be involved!" </p>
<p>Daniel Glass (drums) has recorded and performed with several chart topping artists from the Brian Setzer Orchestra, Bette Midler and Liza Minnelli, to Kiss frontman Gene Simmons. He is an award-winning author, historian and educator. Daniel is also a member of the powerhouse septet Royal Crown Revue, whose chart topping singles have been performed all over the world from the Olympics to major motion pictures and network television series, including "Dancing with the Stars."</p>
<p>MICHAEL O'BRIEN (bass) is a world renowned bass player. A student of the great Anthony Cox, he has composed or played with Harry Connick, Jr. Ruben Blades, the Jazz Mandolin Project and more. He has taught at the West Bank School of Music and MusicTech (McNalley Smith College.) He is not only an accomplished educator and composer, but his arrangements have been performed all over the world. Recently, his arrangement of "Pine" was performed at the Kennedy Center by the acclaimed string quartet, Ethel. </p>
<p>Sean Harkness (guitar) is in high demand as a performer and composer. He accompanies an astonishing array of world class vocalists, musicians and ensembles. A six-time recipient of MAC (Manhattan Association of Clubs & Cabarets) awards, he recently garnered the Outstanding Instrumentalist Backstage Bistro Award. Deemed a musician's musician by his peers, he is often invited to hold guitar master classes at some of the world's most prominent music schools and universities. According to The New York Times, "Harkness gives full expression to the mood of the moment."</p>
<p><a contents="&nbsp;Club44Records.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://Club44Records.com" target="_blank"><span class="font_large"><strong> Club44Records.com</strong></span></a></p>
<p><strong>"BAM!" TRACK LIST </strong></p>
<p>1) Bolivia (Cedar Walton) </p>
<p>2) It Could Happen to You (Jimmy Van Heusen / Johnny Burke) </p>
<p>3) And Lost (Sean Harkness) </p>
<p>4) Smoke on the Water (Ritchie Blackmore / Ian Gillan / Roger Glover / Jon Lord / Ian Paice) </p>
<p>5) Ladybug (Michael O'Brien) </p>
<p>6) The World Still Turns Around (Daniel Glass) </p>
<p>7) The Crippled Waltz (Eldad Tarmu) </p>
<p>8) On the Verge (Daniel Glass / Eldad Tarmu)</p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/69487462022-04-14T23:23:47-04:002022-04-14T23:32:09-04:00CHARLES BILLINGSLEY EMBRACES A NEW SEASON IN THE SHADOW OF YOUR SMILE<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>May 13 Collection Showcases Broadway, Big Band and American Classics</strong></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/a3ec0261a418b554d748aaf02e4eadebf184c898/original/unnamed-6.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" />NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Heralding a distinct new chapter in his lauded three-decade career, beloved vocalist Charles Billingsley returns May 13 with <em>The Shadow of Your Smile</em>. A quintessential anthology of nostalgic favorites, the 15-song set also marks Billingsley’s Club44 Records debut. Dedicated to the preservation of the Great American Songbook, the boutique label is home to recordings from such renowned entertainers as Linda Lavin, Billy Stritch and Jane Monheit, among others. <br> <br>Bringing his signature vocals to a range of treasured classics—Billingsley’s lifelong musical influences—<em>The Shadow of Your Smile</em> was produced by Tim Davis (Barbra Streisand, Lady Gaga, Glee); Wayne Haun (Celine Dion, Boyz II Men); and Jamey Ray (Voctave). Album opener “Perfect” is the project’s singular original, a Bublé-esque ode to love. Co-penned by Billingsley and Jacob Holman, the carefree pop tune sets the stage for Billingsley’s take on iconic Broadway, Jazz and Big Band hits spanning a century. <br> <br>Alongside the wistfully reflective title cut, <em>The Shadow of Your Smile</em> is highlighted by such classics as “It Had To Be You” and “Beyond The Sea”; Broadway showstoppers “Bring Him Home” <em>(Les Misérables)</em> and “You’ll Never Walk Alone” <em>(Carousel)</em>; and standout collaborations including “The Very Thought of You,” a duet with award-winning recording artist TaRanda Greene; “Time to Say Goodbye,” featuring acclaimed soprano Adelaide Trombetta; and a soaring a cappella rendition of “America, The Beautiful,” showcasing popular Club44 Records vocal ensemble Voctave. <br> <br>“From the early days of hearing my parents’ vinyls of Sinatra, Pavarotti and Tennessee Ernie Ford, I’ve had a love for great singers and classic songs from many genres,” shares Billingsley. “After 30 years of making music, I felt like it was finally time to record some of these great tunes that people all over the world love—songs that evoke fond memories and nostalgia. The past few years have been hard, and so many of us seem to have lost our smile. I hope <em>The Shadow of Your Smile</em> will help bring some joy back.” </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="scQGM1zslqI" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/scQGM1zslqI/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/scQGM1zslqI?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="281" width="500" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>Pre-add <em>The Shadow of Your Smile</em> <a contents="HERE" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://club44.lnk.to/TheShadowOfYourSmile_album" target="_blank">HERE</a> and receive instant access to the lead single, "It Had To Be You.” </p>
<p><strong>About Charles Billingsley</strong> <br>From the stages of Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center to numerous events around the country, Charles Billingsley has had a lauded 30 year music career. Beginning as a lead vocalist for GRAMMY®-nominated NewSong, Billingsley has since headlined more than 3,200 concerts, released 24 recordings as a solo artist, and garnered seven #1 Inspirational radio hits. His debut Club44 Records project, <em>The Shadow of Your Smile</em>, is more than a collection of well-known songs, but an album full of heart. With gorgeous orchestrations and energetic wow-factor tracks, mixed with moments of meaningful contemplation, <em>The Shadow of Your Smile</em> offers a fresh, positive take on familiar classics sure to bring a smile to listeners of all ages. </p>
<p> <br><strong>About Club44 Records</strong> <br>Nashville-based Club44 Records is a new independent label that highlights the Broadway, cabaret and jazz genres and focuses on the preservation of the Great American Songbook. Following their premiere studio release, <em>Christmas at Birdland</em>, the label has presented <em>Les Misérables Symphonic Highlights</em>, arranged, orchestrated and conducted by David T. Clydesdale and Brian Eads; <em>Love Notes</em>, the latest album from Tony Award and Golden Globe winner Linda Lavin; <em>Billy’s Place</em> from GRAMMY® Award-winner Billy Stritch; Act One from rising vocal star Nicolas King; and Jane Monheit’s <em>Come What May</em>, which celebrates the international Billboard #1 pop/jazz vocalist’s 20th anniversary as a recording artist. Club44 also serves as the creative home of many other singers, instrumentalists and writers. All releases are distributed digitally through Green Hill Productions/Universal Music Group and to retail outlets by Provident/Sony. <br> </p>
<p>For further information, visit <a contents="charlesbillingsley.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.charlesbillingsley.com" target="_blank">charlesbillingsley.com</a> and <a contents="club44records.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.club44records.com" target="_blank">club44records.com</a>. <br>Follow Billingsley on <a contents="Facebook" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/charlesbillingsley" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a contents="Twitter" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://twitter.com/CBillingsley" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <a contents="Instagram" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/charlesbillingsley/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. </p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/68911962022-02-07T16:39:23-05:002022-02-07T16:41:22-05:00Spencer Day Announces 'Broadway By Day' Album<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/c36e16ee3d8fddccfe943ee965ccf663ff423339/original/spencerday-3000x3000-cover.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" /><strong>Club44 Records</strong> is pleased to announce the release of the new album from <strong>Spencer Day</strong>, the #1 Billboard jazz/pop singer and songwriter seen everywhere from Lincoln Center to the Hollywood Bowl. <strong>Broadway By Day</strong>, Spencer's debut from the label, will be available on streaming platforms and on CD and in stores and online on Friday, February 25. </p>
<p>Featuring songs not typically heard in a pop/jazz context, Broadway By Day reimagines them with surprising and creative genre-blurring arrangements from swing to Latin. Special musical guests include Jane Monheit, the Grammy-nominated vocalist, and Dave Koz, the nine-time Grammy-nominated saxophonist. The album is produced by Spencer Day and Alex Frank. Pre-add on Apple Music and pre-save on Spotify and Deezer <a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://club44.lnk.to/BroadwayByDay_SD" target="_blank">here</a>. </p>
<p>Broadway By Day is at once a cohesive reexamination of beloved musical theater songs and a dazzlingly eclectic showcase for Day's various talents and styles. Highlights include a simmering take on Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Bali Ha'i" (South Pacific), an inventive reworking of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's "I'd Be Surprisingly Good For You" (Evita), and a pensive exploration of Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin's "Maybe" (Annie).</p>
<p>In the grand tradition of timeless albums such as Ella Sings Broadway, Mel Tormé Swings Shubert Alley, and Anita O'Day Swings Rodgers & Hart, this is a collection of cherished theater songs with individual twists and turns. Just as each of these iconic artists once personalized the Broadway songbook, Spencer adds his own unique rhythms, unexpected turns of phrase, and bold interpretations. </p>
<p>After years of chart-topping hits of self-penned songs, Spencer thought it was the best time now for his first album dedicated to classic Broadway. "Over the years, everyone from radio DJs and labels reps to fans and collaborators have encouraged me to do an album of standards or Broadway songs. When I first became a performer, as I was being compared to Harry Connick, Jr. and later Michael Bublé, I was focusing on my own songwriting and resisted doing an album of anyone else's work. So I had never done a straight-up swinging record. I wanted it to be organic, to wait until the right moment. I feel like Broadway by Day hits that sweet spot: I've been able to put my individual stamp on these selections, yet stay true to the original material."</p>
<p>"The world of Broadway has always fascinated me," he continues. "The first show I saw as a kid in Utah was Guys and Dolls, and it made me want to visit Havana. Then I grew up with touring productions of Miss Saigon and Les Mis. When I got to New York and made a conscious effort to attend theater - as I started seeing newer shows like Caroline, or Change and Follies with Bernadette Peters - that's when I was knocked out by the real power and range of musical theater." </p>
<p>Having Jane Monheit - also a resident artist with Club44 Records - sing with Spencer on Jerry Herman's "It Only Takes A Moment" was an easy fit. "Jane is one of my favorite singers," Spencer reflects. "Her delivery is so natural and her musicality is stellar. She's incredibly subtle on stage, but utterly compelling. When we started talking about her participating on the record, she had just seen the national tour of Hello, Dolly! and so she was in this frame of mind. She really swings and so I took the opportunity to feature her in a fun, upbeat arrangement. I just love this duet."</p>
<p>Dave Koz, who lends a lyrical saxophone solo to "If I Loved You," has been a longtime friend of Spencer's. "Dave has been very supportive of my music over the years," he says. "I am incredibly touched that he was able to contribute to this album. His sax on this Rodgers & Hammerstein classic is the perfect element to set it apart. It still has Dave's creamy signature sound, but it also places him in a new Stan Getz bossa nova setting, which his longtime fans may not be used to hearing. It's a wonderful pairing of the two worlds." </p>
<p>Broadway By Day is bookended by selections from the masterpiece A Chorus Line, opening with the show business anthem "One" and closing with "What I Did for Love." Commenting on the latter track, Spencer explains, "My mother used to sing it around the house when I was a kid, but I just assumed it was a typical romantic love song. Later, I was able to reflect on the song's context in the show, what one gives up for a life as a performing artist. As a touring musician, I certainly relate to that - you often have to sacrifice stability, a stable relationship, a 401K. So 'What I Did for Love' is quite profound and personal for me."</p>
<p>One of the most distinctive tracks on the album is a Latin American riff on the South Pacific classic "Bali Ha'i." From John Coltrane's "My Favorite Things" to Miles Davis's "Surrey with the Fringe on Top," Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein are such a bedrock of the canon that they're ripe for jazz reinvention. Spencer comments, "We have several Rodgers & Hammerstein tracks on this record, but 'Bali Ha'i' is my favorite. I think it's amazing these two New Yorkers were able to channel a place they had never experienced - the mysterious and dreamy minor chords of this song are magical." </p>
<p>"My co-producer Alex and I did our research and listened to many contemporary theater writers as options, but the traditional Broadway sound just sat right with my voice. It's the best fit for a lyric baritone like mine. And we went out of our way to choose selections that hadn't been overdone in a jazz context. R&H is simple and beautiful and lush, so they just came naturally to me. And even though they were written decades ago, their emotions still pack a punch. Especially that line in 'If I Loved You': 'I'd let my golden chances pass me by.' I think that echoes the melancholy many of us feel right now."</p>
<p>Especially after a recent breakup, recording Stephen Sondheim's "Losing My Mind" for the album was a particularly emotional moment. "I've always loved digging into a ballad and the raw emotions of this song really resonated with me. And I really think it taps into something we've all experienced in this era of pandemic isolation." </p>
<p>An exciting highlight of the album is this version of "I'd Be Surprisingly Good for You," from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's Evita. "It's a real standout of this score, yet never explored outside of the show and really does stand on its own. The work of the incredible Mexican guitarist Eduardo Leon is especially valuable on this track. Since I was in Latin America anyway, I figured I might as will go to the source. He contributed to the album's diversity of sound and style." </p>
<p>Spencer reserves special praise for his co-producer Alex Frank (Frank is the longtime bassist for Spencer, in addition to recording with artists such as Jeff Goldblum, Fiona Apple, Michael Bublé, and Miley Cyrus.) "Alex was an invaluable collaborator on this record," Spencer comments. "He was great to bounce ideas off, almost like a musical dramaturg. His suggestions on phrasing, interpretation and arrangements helped shape the album. The studio can be such a lonely place - just you and a microphone sometimes. Having someone to help guide you through the process, who can hear qualities in your singing that you can't hear yourself. You don't always know if the emotion in your head translates into the recording. Alex made all that happen."</p>
<p>"This album was planned long before the pandemic," Spencer remembers. "But the circumstances dramatically altered how it came out. The core sessions were recorded in Los Angeles pre-lockdown, but I was in Mexico for a concert and was accidentally quarantined there. I was able to meet up with some fantastic musicians and that was how we ended up with the gorgeous strings and the thrilling Latin brass. I was already in love with Mexican music, but it hadn't occurred to me that its style could so effectively bring out new elements in these Broadway songs. Some of the flavors and tones of the music just wouldn't have been possible if we hadn't ended up there." </p>
<p>"Ever since I was a kid," he says, "musicals helped me escape. That surreal space where people just break into song lets you embrace the fantasy and create your own world. Performing these songs is a method of acting and storytelling - it helps me connect viscerally to the action. My hope is that Broadway By Day will help listeners connect with something personal and special of their own."</p>
<p>Joel Lindsey, co-founder of Club44 Records concludes "There is something glorious about Spencer Day's voice that draws the listener in closer to hear whatever story he's telling at the time. In this case, the stories of Broadway are what he so brilliantly communicates in his own inimitable style and with such great attention to detail. These are songs we've all heard many times before, but I believe he has found the perfect balance between honoring the familiar and breaking new ground. This is the music I dreamed of promoting when we started Club44 Records, and I cannot wait to share it with everyone." </p>
<p>SPENCER DAY is one of the most acclaimed young artists creating witty and sophisticated pop songs in the tradition of the classic American writers. NPR raved that he has "one of the most beautiful singing voices around today." He's also been hailed as "sensual and intimate" by The Huffington Post, "compelling" by Time Out New York, and "brilliant" by the San Francisco Chronicle. The Washington Post praised his "cool jazz sensibilities" and "cleverly crafted tales."</p>
<p>His 2018 indie release Angel City - recorded will full orchestra at Capitol Studios - spawned two hit singles: People.com premiered the video to the first single, "72 and Sunny." He also performed the single on New York's Fox 5 TV. A special remix of the song, which was put into rotation by Sirius XM Chill and featured in DJ Kygo's "Palm Tree Summer Playlist," is available on Apple Music. The album's second single, "Angel City," was the #1 Most Added track from the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart, in addition to being #1 Most Added track on the Groove Jazz Music Chart. </p>
<p>Day's earlier album Vagabond peaked at #11 on the Billboard Album Chart and stayed on the chart for 47 weeks. The lead single, "Til You Come To Me," peaked at #3 and was played on national radio and late night on CBS-TV. His recent album, Daybreak, debuted at #1 on the iTunes Jazz Chart. Spencer's first collaboration with Postmodern Jukebox recently surpassed 2.5 million views on YouTube.</p>
<p><br><span class="font_large"><strong>Tracklist</strong></span> </p>
<p>1) One (Marvin Hamlisch and Edward Kleban - from A Chorus Line) </p>
<p>2) Bali Ha'i (Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II - from South Pacific) </p>
<p>3) Maybe (Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin - from Annie) </p>
<p>4) Getting to Know You (Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II - from The King and I) </p>
<p>5) I'd Be Surprisingly Good for You (Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice - from Evita) </p>
<p>6) I Don't Know How to Love Him (Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice - from Jesus Christ Superstar) </p>
<p>7) It Only Takes a Moment (Jerry Herman - from Hello, Dolly!) featuring Jane Monheit </p>
<p>8) If I Loved You (Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II - from Carousel) </p>
<p>9) Who Will Buy? (Lionel Bart - from Oliver!) </p>
<p>10) Losing My Mind (Stephen Sondheim - from Follies) </p>
<p>11) On the Street Where You Live (Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner - from My Fair Lady) </p>
<p>12) What I Did for Love (Marvin Hamlisch and Edward Kleban - from A Chorus Line)</p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>Article by Michael Major, <a contents="BroadwayWorld.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.BroadwayWorld.com" target="_blank">BroadwayWorld.com</a></em></p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/68644712022-01-10T12:33:00-05:002022-01-10T12:33:00-05:00Club44 Records Presents The New Album Billy Stritch and Jim Caruso "The Sunday Set"<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/e7731d019939540adf27ae9fb3477ba185a92b5c/original/image0.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>CLUB44 RECORDS<br>PRESENTS THE NEW ALBUM </strong></p>
<p><span class="font_large"><strong>BILLY STRITCH </strong></span><span class="font_regular"><strong>AND</strong></span><span class="font_large"><strong> JIM CARUSO </strong></span><br><strong><span class="font_large">“THE SUNDAY SET”</span> </strong></p>
<p><strong>RECORDED LIVE AT <br><span class="font_large">THE BIRDLAND THEATER</span></strong><span class="font_large"> </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><em><strong>“Music this polished and sophisticated could only happen in the Apple. It’s a nimble, nonstop musical show-business bonanza with as much rhythm and class as the feet of Fred Astaire. Any Sunday in the company of Billy Stritch and Jim Caruso is the happiest little show in town” </strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>– Rex Reed, New York Observer </strong></em></p>
<p><strong>CLUB44 RECORDS</strong> is pleased to announce the release of <em><strong>The Sunday Set</strong></em>, the new album from <strong>Billy Stritch </strong>and <strong>Jim Caruso</strong> on <strong>Friday, January 21</strong>. After launching the label in 2019 with <em>Christmas at Birdland</em> (which Stritch and Caruso recorded with Klea Blackhurst) and following up last year with <em>Billy’s Place</em>, a solo excursion from Stritch, the team now reunites for this new selection of urbane standards, jazz favorites, and sly comedy numbers. The album, recorded live at <strong>The Birdland Theater</strong>, features vocals from Stritch and Caruso, with Stritch on piano and <strong>Steve Doyle</strong> on bass. </p>
<p><strong>Jim Caruso</strong> explains: “In February of 2019, Billy, Steve and I performed a concert engagement at The Birdland Theater. The room still had that new nightclub smell, and we were rarin’ to christen it with our own brand of musical mayhem. After almost a decade of swinging the nights away at Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle Hotel, it seemed right that we travel a few blocks west to do a Sunday run at our other home-away-from-home. After all, Birdland had been our roost for sixteen years-worth of ‘Cast Party,’ the open mic extravaganza we host. That run was a blast, as is any night I get to sing, harmonize and cavort with Messrs. Stritch and Doyle. Billy and I have been friends for almost 40 years, and Steve has played every ‘Cast Party’ since 2003. There’s history there. Rob Polanco, our trusty technician, recorded each show – and I promptly put those tracks in a drawer.” </p>
<p>“Cut to the pandemic,” he continues. “After a few months of hiding under the covers, I remembered the recordings and started listening. They weren’t half bad! Billy agreed, so we sent them to<strong> Wayne Haun</strong>, the co-founder of <strong>Club44 Records</strong>, and owner of the best ears in the business. He gave the thumbs-up to a live record project, and here we are. Some of my all-time favorite recordings have been live concerts. They catch a moment in time that lives on forever. The listener is privy to the fun, the atmosphere, and can sense the crowd’s excitement. You can only imagine how delighted I am to add <em><strong>The Sunday Set</strong></em> to the pantheon of live recordings.” </p>
<p><strong>Billy Stritch</strong> adds, “It’s really exciting to have a new release on <strong>Club44 Records</strong>. Jim and I have been working together for years and we both have a long association with Birdland. So it seems fitting that this album was recorded at the Birdland Theater. It’s such a wonderful and warm space to perform in and has a very intimate feeling. I think that comes through in this recording. I know Jim and I both feel very fortunate to have such a perfect “home base” in New York. Steve Doyle is our terrific bass player and has been with us every Monday night at Cast Party and all those Sunday nights at Bemelmans Bar – so it’s appropriate that he’s on this recording as well. He’s our musical anchor.” </p>
<p><strong>Wayne Haun</strong> of <strong>Club44 Records</strong> comments “The old saying ‘you can’t make old friends’ is clearly evident when I listen to this album. The chemistry, response and overall musicality between Jim and Billy cannot be taught. Years of experience and true brotherhood are at work here.” </p>
<hr><p><strong>JIM CARUSO </strong>is the host of “Jim Caruso’s Cast Party,” the wildly popular weekly open mic night that has brought a sprinkling of Broadway glitz and urbane wit to Birdland in New York City every Monday night since 2004. “Cast Party” has been seen at Jazz at Lincoln Center, across the country, and, most recently, on YouTube as “Pajama Cast Party.” Jim made his Broadway debut alongside Liza Minnelli in the Tony Award-winning Liza’s At The Palace!, singing, dancing and celebrating the music and arrangements of Kay Thompson and the Williams Brothers. He has won six MAC Awards and eight BroadwayWorld Awards for his work in nightclubs, performed with the New York Pops in a tribute to Kander & Ebb, with Rosemary Clooney celebrating Bing Crosby, and sang the songs of Hope & Crosby with Michael Feinstein at Carnegie Hall. Jim was honored to sing with Barbara Cook, Lauren Bacall and a bevy of Broadway stars at President Clinton’s First State Dinner at the White House. He also books and produces the “Broadway at Birdland” concert series, and performs regularly with Billy Stritch at Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle Hotel. Jim’s two solo albums, <em>The Swing Set and Caruso Live and In Person</em>, are available online. </p>
<p><strong>BILLY STRITCH</strong> is one of the premier singer-pianists on the New York and national jazz and cabaret scenes. He began his career in Houston, Texas, where he formed the vocal trio Montgomery, Plant and Stritch. The trio performed all over the world from 1983 until they disbanded in 1990. A chance meeting with Liza Minnelli in 1991 resulted in her asking him to create vocal arrangements for Liza’s record-breaking extravaganza <em>Stepping Out at Radio City</em>. Billy recently toured with the legendary Tony Bennett, as his pianist and musical director. A solo entertainer in his own right, he has performed his own shows (including tributes to Mel Tormé and Cy Coleman) across the country. Billy also serves as music director for such leading vocalists as Marilyn Maye, Linda Lavin, Linda Eder, Christine Ebersole and Paulo Szot. He is the co-writer of the Grammy Award-winning song “Does He Love You,” recorded by Reba McEntire and Linda Davis. The single reached the number one spot on the <em>Billboard</em> Country music chart, winning a Grammy Award and selling over five million copies. </p>
<p><strong>CLUB44 RECORDS</strong> – based in the Music City of Nashville, Tennessee – is a new independent label which aims to highlight the Broadway, cabaret and jazz genres, preserve the American Songbook, and provide a home for artists who represent this timeless music. Following their premiere studio release, <em>Christmas at Birdland</em>, the label has presented <em>Les Misérables Symphonic Highlights</em>, arranged, orchestrated and conducted by David T. Clydesdale and Brian Eads; <em>Love Notes</em>, the new album from Tony Award and Golden Globe winner Linda Lavin; <em>Billy’s Place</em> from Grammy Award winner Billy Stritch; <em>Act One</em> from rising vocal star Nicolas King; and Jane Monheit’s <em>Come What May</em>, which celebrates the international <em>Billboard</em> #1 pop/jazz vocalist’s 20th anniversary as a recording artist. Club44 Records also serves as the creative home of many other singers, instrumentalists and writers. All releases are distributed digitally through Green Hill Productions/ Universal Music Group and to retail outlets by Provident/Sony. <br><br>Club44Records.com </p>
<p><em><u><strong>“THE SUNDAY SET” TRACK LIST </strong></u></em></p>
<p><strong>1) Whistle While You Work</strong> (Frank Churchill and Larry Morey) / <br><strong> Give a Little Whistle</strong> (Leigh Harline and Ned Washington) </p>
<p><strong>2) You Are My Sunshine</strong> (Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell) </p>
<p><strong>3) Lullaby of Birdland</strong> (George Shearing and George David Weiss) </p>
<p><strong>4) Lovin’ at Birdland</strong> (Barry Manilow and Adrienne Anderson) </p>
<p><strong>5) What Did You Do to Your Face? </strong>(Susan Werner) </p>
<p><strong>6) A Doodlin’ Song</strong> (Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh) </p>
<p><strong>7) Isn’t It a Pity?</strong> (George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin) </p>
<p>8) Sinatra Saloon Medley: <br> <strong>In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning</strong> (David Mann and Bob Hilliard) / <br> <strong>One More for My Baby (And One More for the Road)</strong> (Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer) / <br> <strong>Angel Eyes</strong> (Earl Brent and Matt Dennis) </p>
<p><strong>9) 42nd Street</strong> (Harry Warren / Al Dubin)</p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/68069392021-11-12T10:39:48-05:002022-01-10T12:33:57-05:00CLUB44 RECORDS PRESENTS THE NEW HOLIDAY SINGLE FROM TONY AWARD-WINNING BROADWAY STAR STEPHANIE J. BLOCK “O HOLY NIGHT”<p><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/b3c1153d869717d0e0be60e3f79e4d7f281e9833/original/oh-holy-night.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" />CLUB44 RECORDS</strong> is pleased to announce that the new holiday single from Tony Award winning Broadway star <strong>Stephanie J. Block, “O Holy Night,”</strong> is available today, <strong>Friday, November 12</strong>. Her inspired performance brings new vision and inspiration to this beloved Christmas carol. The single – produced by Christian Hushaw, Jace Fay, Kayla Johnston, and Stephanie J. Block – was arranged by Corbin Phillips, Jace Fay, and Christian Hushaw. <strong>“O Holy Night”</strong> is based on the French poem by Placide Cappeau, and features music by Adolphe Adam and English lyrics by John Sullivan Dwight. Stream or download the song at <a contents="https://club44.lnk.to/OHolyNight-SJB" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://club44.lnk.to/OHolyNight-SJB" target="_blank"><strong>https://club44.lnk.to/OHolyNight-SJB</strong></a>. </p>
<p>“<strong>‘O Holy Night’</strong> has always stirred in me,” Block explains. “I have had the privilege to perform this hymn in many venues, from my hometown church to Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops, and everywhere in between. But this intimate arrangement allowed me to feel the song more than I ever had. And when a song allows you to feel the words, the story, the instrumentation, it becomes more of a prayer than a song.” </p>
<p><strong>Stephanie J. Block</strong> has established herself as one of the most relevant and versatile voices in contemporary musical theatre. She most recently won the 2019 Tony Award for “Best Leading Actress in a Musical,” as well as winning the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Award for her star turn in <em>The Cher Show</em>. Block was also recognized for her role of Trina in Lincoln Center Theatre’s 2016 revival of <em>Falsettos</em>, garnering her the Tony Award, Drama Desk and Outer Critics nominations. In 2013 she was recognized with both the Drama Desk and Tony Award nomination(s) for “Best Leading Actress in a Musical” for her portrayal of Alice Nutting/ Edwin Drood in The Roundabout Theater’s production of <em>The Mystery of Edwin Drood</em>. Other Broadway credits include Reno Sweeney in the 2011 Tony Award-winning revival of Anything Goes and <em>9 to 5: The Musical</em>, for which she earned a Drama Desk nomination. She created the roles of Grace O’Malley in <em>The Pirate Queen </em>and Liza Minnelli in <em>The Boy from Oz </em>(opposite Hugh Jackman). Ms. Block is known for her portrayal as Elphaba in the Broadway company of <em>Wicked</em>, as well as originating the role in the First National Tour, for which she won the Helen Hayes Award for “Outstanding Actress in a Musical.” </p>
<p>Ms. Block has sung with numerous symphony orchestras including the NY Pops at Carnegie Hall, Boston Pops, National Symphony Orchestra (under the baton of Marvin Hamlisch), Dallas Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Utah Symphony, Columbus Symphony, Charlotte Symphony, and the Cleveland Pops. Her solo concert has been critically acclaimed and continues to sell out throughout the US and in London. Her debut solo album, <em>This Place I Know,</em> is currently available. </p>
<p><strong>CLUB44 RECORDS</strong> – based in the Music City of Nashville, Tennessee – is a new independent label which aims to highlight the Broadway, cabaret and jazz genres, preserve the American Songbook, and provide a home for artists who represent this timeless music. Following their premiere studio release, <em>Christmas at Birdland,</em> the label has presented the new album from Tony Award and Golden Globe winner Linda Lavin; Billy’s Place from Grammy Award winner Billy Stritch; Act One from rising vocal star Nicolas King; and Jane Monheit’s <em>Come What May,</em> which celebrates the international <em>Billboard</em> #1 pop/jazz vocalist’s 20th anniversary as a recording artist; and the new holiday album from viral a capella sensation Voctave. Club44 Records also serves as the creative home of many other singers, instrumentalists and writers. All releases are distributed digitally through Green Hill Productions/ Universal Music Group and to retail outlets by Provident/Sony.</p>
<p><a contents="Club44Records.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://Club44Records.com">Club44Records.com</a></p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/67421012021-09-10T09:11:45-04:002021-09-10T09:12:52-04:00CLUB44 RECORDS SIGNS ACCLAIMED A CAPELLA SENSATION VOCTAVE FOR NEW HOLIDAY ALBUM “THE SPIRIT OF THE SEASON: DELUXE EDITION”<p><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/3104c2a0277b3ec8cc97aaf7d2ed096e8bd91b82/original/voctave.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />CLUB44 RECORDS</strong> is pleased to announce the signing of the acclaimed a capella group <strong>Voctave</strong> to its diverse and expanding roster of musical talents. The <em>Billboard</em>-chart topping 11-member ensemble will present a new holiday album <em><strong>The Spirit of the Season: Deluxe Edition</strong></em>, scheduled to be released on <strong>Friday, October 22</strong>. </p>
<p>“<strong>Voctave</strong> is thrilled to join the <strong>Club44 Records</strong> family of artists,” says <strong>Voctave</strong> founder <strong>Jamey Ray</strong>. “Working with their gifted team will allow us to share our brand of music with even more people. We couldn’t be more excited to be standing alongside the incredible talent on this label, and we look forward to an amazing partnership.” </p>
<p><strong>Wayne Haun</strong>, the label’s co-founder, adds “<strong>Voctave</strong> never ceases to amaze me. Just when I think the arrangements couldn’t get more complex, or the harmonies couldn’t get more beautiful, they go to the next level, every time. The genius of <strong>Jamey Ray</strong>, coupled with the bravura of each singer, are reasons I can watch or listen to them for hours.” </p>
<p><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/a7564f1a3b6f4c5bc4c0b7954d3cd931e447608e/original/wayne-haun-jamey-ray.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Voctave</strong> is the a cappella sensation with over 150 million online views of their videos. Their latest album, <em>The Corner of Broadway & Main Street Vol. 2</em>, debuted at #3 on the iTunes charts. Formed in 2015 by producer and arranger Jamey Ray, the voices that bring their arrangements to life represent a wealth of diverse backgrounds and musical experiences. Hailing from Central Florida, the eleven members of Voctave have performed across the globe and appear on countless recordings. The group has performed with Grammy, Dove and American Music Award recipients including Sandi Patty, Pentatonix’s Kirstin Maldonado, Mark Lowry, David Phelps, and Jody McBrayer. With multiple #1 songs and albums on iTunes, Amazon and Spotify, Voctave has also ranked in the Top 25 on <em>Billboard</em> Magazine’s charts. Voctave’s seven albums are digitally available on all platforms. </p>
<p><strong>CLUB44 RECORDS</strong> – based in the Music City of Nashville, Tennessee – is a new independent label which aims to highlight the Broadway, cabaret and jazz genres, preserve the American Songbook, and provide a home for artists who represent this timeless music. Following their premiere studio release, <em>Christmas at Birdland</em>, the label has presented <em>Les Misérables Symphonic Highlights</em>, arranged, orchestrated and conducted by David T. Clydesdale and Brian Eads; Love Notes, the new album from Tony Award and Golden Globe winner Linda Lavin; Billy’s Place from Grammy Award winner Billy Stritch; <em>Act One</em> from rising vocal star Nicolas King; and Jane Monheit’s <em>Come What May</em>, which celebrates the international <em>Billboard</em> #1 pop/jazz vocalist’s 20th anniversary as a recording artist. Club44 Records also serves as the creative home of many other singers, instrumentalists and writers. All releases are distributed digitally through Green Hill Productions/ Universal Music Group and to retail outlets by Provident/Sony. </p>
<p><a contents="Club44Records.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://Club44Records.com" target="_blank"><strong>Club44Records.com</strong></a></p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/66494422021-06-04T09:07:54-04:002021-06-07T09:55:35-04:00Osmond Chapman Orchestra Promises "There's More Where That Came From"<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/a3f0b1f520d31beb6cd53f15f70117ea321d2017/original/2021-osmond-chapman-orchestra-theres-more-where-that-came-from.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" />As any great artist knows, you should always leave your audience wanting more. <strong>Osmond Chapman Orchestra </strong>takes it one step further and promises <strong><em>There's More Where That Came From</em></strong>. Their debut release with <strong>Club44 Records</strong> includes both familiar and original songs and will definitely leave you wanting more.</p>
<p>Release day celebrations vary by artist, but not many can say that they performed at the <strong>Rose Bowl </strong>on the day their album drops. But that is just what Osmond Chapman Orchestra is doing! The <strong>Race to Erase MS</strong> event with <strong>Earth, Wind & Fire </strong>will be an absolutely unforgettable day for the band. Vocalist <strong>David Osmond</strong> has been a national spokesman for the charity and he and friend <strong>Caleb Chapman </strong>consider it an honor to perform at this event.</p>
<p><em>There's More Where That Came From</em> is available at all digital music outlets (<a contents="LINK" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://club44.lnk.to/TheresMoreWhereThatCameFrom" target="_blank">LINK</a>) as well as national retailers (<a contents="Amazon" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.amazon.com/Theres-More-Where-That-Came/dp/B091WJ6V7Z/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=Osmond+Chapman&qid=1622649778&sr=8-4" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a contents="Barnes &amp; Noble" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/theres-more-where-that-came-from-osmond-chapman-orchestra/36365031?ean=0643157449904" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a>, <a contents="Target" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.target.com/p/osmond-chapman-orche-there-s-more-where-that-came-from-cd/-/A-82829006#lnk=sametab" target="_blank">Target</a> & <a contents="Walmart" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Osmond-Chapman-Orchestra-There-s-More-Where-That-Came-From-CD/442233395" target="_blank">Walmart</a>.)</p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/66276082021-05-11T13:22:52-04:002021-06-01T09:53:56-04:00Osmond Chapman Orchestra to Release Debut Album in June<h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>There’s More Where That Came From</em> is a contemporary big band swing project that highlights standards, pop songs, and new compositions.</strong></h3>
<p><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/aaa9c7e0b9cb2b1de7726a82b90750e241f6c4b2/original/2021-osmond-chapman-orchestra-the-way-you-look-tonight-single.jpg/!!/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="" /></strong></p>
<p><strong>Club44 Records</strong> has announced the debut album of the <strong>Osmond Chapman Orchestra</strong> - led by Emmy Award-nominated vocalist <strong>David Osmond</strong> and Grammy Award-nominated bandleader, producer and saxophonist <strong>Caleb Chapman</strong> - on <strong>Friday, June 4</strong>. <strong><em>There's More Where That Came From</em></strong> is a contemporary big band swing project that highlights standards, pop songs, and new compositions. The first single - a new take on the classic <strong>"The Way You Look Tonight"</strong> - is available starting today, Friday, May 7. Stream or download the single at <a contents="greenhill.lnk.to/TheWayYouLookTonight " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://greenhill.lnk.to/TheWayYouLookTonight" target="_blank">greenhill.lnk.to/TheWayYouLookTonight </a></p>
<p><em>There's More Where That Came From</em> reinvents selections from the current pop charts (Bruno Mars' "When I Was Your Man"), Motown (Stevie Wonder's "For Once in My Life"), country (Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire"), and vintage Hollywood (The Wizard of Oz's "Over the Rainbow"), in addition to original songs written just for the album. "Our passion for music spans several decades, so we were able to cast a wide net," says Osmond. "When we first started this project, we were inspired by the great crooners like Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby and the pop standards they championed. Then we considered more modern vocalists like Harry Connick, Jr. and Michael Bublé and how they creatively incorporated songs from the '60s and '70s. And we didn't want to limit ourselves to music of the past, so we strove to include current chart-toppers like Bruno Mars. We aimed to revise the limits to the Great American Songbook to include the songs of today. There doesn't need to be a distinction between pop and rock and jazz - it's all just good music."</p>
<p>"These are songs we all grew up with," continues Chapman. "'Smile' is one of those numbers that lifts you up, no matter what mood you're in. And 'Over the Rainbow' is instantly recognizable by everyone and just filled with so much hope. At first we wondered if it made sense to bring Johnny Cash into the mix with a big band spin on 'Ring of Fire.' But that's part of what we're here to do, to take these songs and make them our own. Our arrangers did such a wonderful job honoring these legendary songs but putting an artistic and creative stamp on them. Personally, I am really proud of it and how it came together." </p>
<p>The three original compositions on the album - "We Might as Well Fall in Love," "I Need a Real Good Thing" and the title song - are written in the vein of classic standards, but with a sophisticated contemporary twist. The record features selections co-written with Nashville-based songwriter <strong>Roger Brown</strong>, who has penned hits for Johnny Mathis, Barbra Streisand, George Strait, Tammy Wynette, Kenny Chesney, Crystal Gayle, and many more. "We have a terrific working relationship with Roger," recalls Osmond. "When we play the originals live in concert, they are frequently the audience's favorite tunes of the set. That's really saying something considering how hard it can be to get people to listen to new music, especially when you have an evening of the greatest songs ever written. It's humbling to have our own music get that kind of reception." </p>
<p>The all-star band is the backbone of this project, with star players including <strong>Rashawn Ross </strong>on trumpet (known for his work with <strong>The Dave Matthews Band</strong>), <strong>Jeff Coffin</strong> on saxophone (current member of <strong>The Dave Matthews Band </strong>and three-time Grammy Award-winning member of <strong>Bela Fleck and the Flecktones</strong>), and <strong>Karl Hunter</strong> on tenor saxophone (25-year veteran of <strong>Big Bad Voodoo Daddy</strong>). "I wanted players that were not only technically proficient but could help us put a modern take on this project," says Chapman. "They are the leading voices of their generation on these instruments and it was important for me to have them on the album. Playing with this band is exhilarating... there's nothing they can't do. To have a vision of what you want it to sound like, and then have that vision come to life in 3-D is very inspiring to me. These top-tier musicians are part of the secret sauce that helps make this recording so special."</p>
<p>Even though he grew up in a famous musical family, David Osmond brings considerable originality to his singing. "I have worked in the industry for years, and I can tell you," comments Chapman. "David's approach is incredibly fresh; he's not really approaching these songs as a jazz singer, but not as a pop singer either. He's created his own unique and incredibly proficient approach to these standards and it's gratifying to hear how flawlessly he floats over these arrangements. They are built for him and he uses them to the full advantage." </p>
<p>Label co-owner <strong>Joel Lindsey</strong> concludes, "Club44 Records is all about the American Songbook and this project from Osmond Chapman Orchestra celebrates just that with amazing performances of great songs, old and new! The orchestra brings a sly sophistication to everything they do and this record makes you want to just sit back and let it pour over you like honey. Sure, David Osmond might have inherited some talent from his renowned family but this guy has taken what he was given and he's worked hard to prove that he's an accomplished artist standing in his own light. Caleb Chapman has taken years and years of performing, producing and conducting and he's carved out a sound that demands attention from the harshest of critics. Together, these two gentlemen have created something very, very special!"</p>
<p>Connect with Osmond Chapman Orchestra on their <a contents="website" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.osmondchapman.com" target="_blank">website</a>, or on <a contents="Facebook" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/OsmondChapman" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a contents="Instagram" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/osmondchapmanorchestra/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, and <a contents="Twitter" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://twitter.com/osmondchapman" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.</p>
<p><strong>ABOUT OSMOND CHAPMAN ORCHESTRA:</strong><br>Individually, DAVID OSMOND and CALEB CHAPMAN bring a massive amount talent, with both of them spending virtually a lifetime creating music and touring. </p>
<p>In the tradition of his family name, Osmond has had a successful career as a vocalist and TV personality, often appearing on national tours with his well-known uncle and aunt, <strong>Donny and Marie Osmond</strong>. David also eventually replaced his uncle, Donny, in his role in the musical production of <em>Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat</em>. He has performed in more than 17 countries and has had three top 40 hits in the U.K. and has released multiple solo albums. </p>
<p>Chapman has made a name for himself as a GRAMMY-nominated band leader, producer, performer, author, and respected industry executive. Over the years he has shared the stage with scores of GRAMMY-winning jazz artists and members of some of the biggest acts in history including <strong>Journey, the Blues Brothers, Toto, the Saturday Night Live Band, Santana, Genesis</strong>, and more. </p>
<p>Combined with Utah’s top musical talent, the Osmond Chapman Orchestra is an unstoppable force set to take the nation by storm! The industry recognizes this, so it was no surprise when the band recently signed a record deal with Club44 Records out of Nashville. The label will be overseeing the band’s debut album, “There’s More Where That Came From” in June 2021. The album features originals penned by the band’s leaders as well as fresh arrangements of classics designed to feature the incredible talents of the world-class band, as well as Rashawn Ross of the Dave Matthews Band, Karl Hunter of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and 3-time GRAMMY-winner Jeff Coffin also of the Dave Matthews Band.</p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/65721642021-03-12T15:41:53-05:002021-03-12T15:42:44-05:00CLUB44 RECORDS PRESENTS THE NEW ALBUM FROM #1 BILLBOARD VOCALIST JANE MONHEIT<h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>COME WHAT MAY</em> CELEBRATES HER 20TH YEAR AS A TOP RECORDING ARTIST</strong></h3>
<h4 style="text-align: center;"><strong>AVAILABLE TODAY, FRIDAY, MARCH 12</strong></h4>
<h4 style="text-align: center;"><strong>LIVE VIRTUAL ALBUM RELEASE CONCERT TONIGHT AT FEINSTEIN'S AT VITELLO'S</strong></h4>
<p><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/fdd3ae543b3a59f106fe2c63ce9d8ff17eb8d956/original/2021-jane-monheit-come-what-may.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" /></strong></p>
<p><strong>CLUB44 RECORDS</strong> is proud to announce that <em><strong>Come What May</strong></em>, the enchanting new album from international Billboard #1 pop/jazz vocalist <strong>Jane Monheit</strong>, is available on CD and digital and streaming formats, starting today Friday, March 12. This dynamic all-new collection of songbook classics – produced by Jane Monheit, <strong>Wayne Haun,</strong> and <strong>Jamey Tate</strong> – will honor Monheit’s 20th anniversary as a best-selling recording artist. She will celebrate <em>Come What May</em> with a special virtual concert, streaming live from <strong>Feinstein’s at Vitello’s</strong>, tonight Friday, March 12 at 8:00 PM Eastern. For tickets, please visit <a contents="feinsteinsatvitellos.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://feinsteinsatvitellos.com" target="_blank">feinsteinsatvitellos.com</a>. Stream the album at <a contents="greenhill.lnk.to/ComeWhatMay" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://greenhill.lnk.to/ComeWhatMay" target="_blank">greenhill.lnk.to/ComeWhatMay</a>. CDs are available on Monheit's <a contents="website" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.janemonheitonline.com" target="_blank">website</a> as well as at Walmart.com, Target.com, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.</p>
<p><em>Come What May</em>, her first album in five years, highlights her fresh takes on first-rate standards, with deft interpretations honed after years on the road. “There is a certain comfort that comes from performing a song night after night to audiences around the world,” she says. “So by the time we finally got into the studio to make this record, I had the luxury of the arrangements being perfectly familiar, rehearsed, and polished. Putting together this project was a smooth, relaxed process and I think that’s reflected in the final product.” </p>
<p>Monheit has achieved two goals in both making an album that sounds timeless, and yet still addressing the current moment. “So much of <em>Come What May</em> is really a way for me to cope with the pandemic in my own personal way,” she explains. “For example, ‘Let’s Take a Walk Around the Block.’ We would all like to visit the magical places listed in the song, but we don’t have any money right now – so let’s just enjoy where we are. I believe everyone can relate to that idea!” </p>
<p>Jane’s lifelong love affair with Brazilian music comes alive with another song about travel, the Antônio Carlos Jobim standard “Samba Do Avião,” also known as “Song of the Jet.” “Musicians are accustomed to traveling the world non-stop,” she comments, “and now that we’re all grounded, it feels very strange. I miss touring so much that I just can’t explain it. I literally dream of being back on the road!” </p>
<p>On the flip side of the pandemic experience, the exuberant, feel-good medley of “On the Sunny Side of the Street” and “Get Happy” is an opportunity to lift spirits. “People stuck at home need a little encouragement and cheer,” Jane says, “The album has some sad, heavy tunes and I knew we needed to balance those with some levity.” That same notion inspired her lighthearted take on the musical theater classic “I Believe in You,” which opens this collection on a brisk high note. </p>
<p>Other selections reflect Monheit’s adoration of the legendary vocalists that preceded her. “I’ve worshipped Judy Garland my entire life, but the first version of ‘The Man That Got Away’ I ever heard was from Ella Fitzgerald. Her interpretation is so matter-of-fact. In my version, I tried to balance Judy’s glorious drama with Ella’s subtlety. This track is an homage to both my heroes.” She credits both Ella and Billie Holiday for introducing her to the lesser-known “When a Woman Loves a Man.” Jane recalls, “That’s another song I’ve adored since I was a tiny kid. I particularly love our recording since it has such a sophisticated and intelligent chart by our musical director <strong>Michael Kanan</strong>. I think you can tell just by listening how much we enjoy playing together.” </p>
<p>In fact, <em>Come What May</em> is all the more special considering the unique bond that Jane shares with her musicians. “Michael and I go back over two decades,” she continues. “I love that man with all my heart; he’s like my big brother. And then of course our drummer is my husband <strong>Rick Montalbano</strong>. We’re coming up on our 20th wedding anniversary! It’s always a delight to work together, but this project has a particular resonance. For the last few years we haven’t been able to tour together since our son is in school, and Rick stays home with him. So one bright spot of the pandemic is we’re in the same city so we can make music together again.” </p>
<p>Jane adds, “I am thrilled at the wonderful contributions of our west-coast bass player <strong>David Robaire</strong>,<strong> Miles Okazaki</strong> on guitar, and <strong>Kevin Winard</strong> on percussion, and I love that we could add some beautiful strings, one of those magical additions to give the record that extra sparkle. What I set out to do is take songs that have been done really often – ‘My Funny Valentine,’ ‘Lush Life,’ ‘The Nearness of You’ – and present them directly, sincerely, and truthfully. If you can strip them of any pretention, people remember how compelling a simple standard can be.” </p>
<p>“I can’t say enough amazing things about Club44,” concludes Jane. “I’ve been with many labels over the years – indies, majors, I’ve even made records for my own imprint – and I’ve seen everything. And I’ve never had an experience this easy, this positive and this fun! Joel Lindsey, Wayne Haun, and their team have gone out of their way to help me bring my musical vision to life, and I treasure that freedom and trust.” </p>
<p>Label co-owner <strong>Joel Lindsey</strong> responds, “When we first started the label, it was my dream to sign Jane Monheit, so this new record of gorgeous standards really is that dream come true. And the fact that it helps mark her 20th anniversary as a recording artist is such an incredible bonus. The trademark lyricism of her voice, the detail of her interpretations, the sheer joy of her creativity shines brightly here in <em>Come What May</em>. We’re so proud to have this album on Club44 Records.” </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>JANE MONHEIT</strong> has been acclaimed as one of the leading jazz/pop vocalists of her generation by audiences and critics alike. The successful concert and recording artist studied voice at the Manhattan School of Music with Peter Eldridge, a founding member of the vocal group New York Voices, and was first runner-up in the 1998 Thelonious Monk Institute’s vocal competition. Her debut album, <em>Never Never Land </em>(2000), featured jazz all-stars Kenny Barron, Ron Carter, and Lewis Nash. The first of four recordings for N-Coded Music, the label founded by Dave Grusin, Larry Rosen, and Phil Ramone, it was voted “Best Recording Debut” by the Jazz Journalists Association and stayed on the Billboard jazz chart for a year. Her follow up, <em>Come Dream with Me </em>(2001), debuted at #1 on the Billboard jazz chart. The 2003 DVD/CD <em>Live at the Rainbow Room</em>, documenting her performance at the iconic New York club with a symphony orchestra, was conducted by Alan Broadbent. The Grammy Award-nominated <em>Taking a Chance on Love</em>, her swinging label debut for Sony (2004), featured a duet with global superstar Michael Bublé. Other major recordings include: the Christmas-themed <em>The Season </em>(Sony, 2005); <em>Surrender</em> (Concord, 2007), featuring guests Ivan Lins, Sergio Mendes, and Toots Thielemans; and <em>The Lovers, The Dreamers and Me</em> (Concord, 2009), which notably expanded her repertoire to pop songs by Paul Simon, Fiona Apple, and Corinne Bailey Rae. Her recording of “Over the Rainbow” was featured in the film <em>Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow</em>, starring Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Angelina Jolie. Monheit has collaborated with a who’s who of jazz luminaries, including Wynton Marsalis, Ramsey Lewis, Christian McBride, John Pizzarelli, and more, also appearing on albums by Terence Blanchard, Tom Harrell, Freddy Cole, Mark O’Connor, Harold Mabern, David Benoit, and Club44’s own Nicolas King. <a contents="JaneMonheitOnline.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.JaneMonheitOnline.com">JaneMonheitOnline.com</a> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><em>COME WHAT MAY</em> TRACK LIST:</strong></p>
<p>1) I Believe in You (Frank Loesser) </p>
<p>2) When a Woman Loves a Man (Gordon Jenkins / Johnny Mercer / Bernie Hanighen) </p>
<p>3) Let’s Take a Walk Around the Block (Harold Arlen / Ira Gershwin / E. Y. Harburg) </p>
<p>4) Lush Life (Billy Strayhorn) </p>
<p>5) Let’s Face the Music and Dance (Irving Berlin) </p>
<p>6) Samba Do Avião (Antônio Carlos Jobim) </p>
<p>7) The Nearness of You (Hoagy Carmichael / Ned Washington) </p>
<p>8) On the Sunny Side of the Street (Jimmy McHugh / Dorothy Fields) / </p>
<p> Get Happy (Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler) </p>
<p>9) The Man That Got Away (Harold Arlen / Ira Gershwin) </p>
<p>10) My Funny Valentine (Richard Rodgers / Lorenz Hart) </p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/65618592021-03-01T14:10:20-05:002021-03-01T14:11:10-05:00Linda Lavin Featured In Wall Street Journal<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/bb87830bc779909559b5eaaebf26d0e2d55cf91e/original/wsj-article-linda-lavin-022621.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.png" class="size_xl justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p>
<h3><span class="font_regular">Enjoy Linda's newest recording, <em>Love Notes</em>, <a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://lnk.to/Jako24wB" target="_blank">here</a>!</span></h3>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="font_regular"><strong>ABOUT LINDA LAVIN: </strong></span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Linda Lavin has won a Tony Award, as well as a Drama Desk, Outer Critics' and Helen Hayes Award for her performance in Broadway Bound in 1987. She is a six-time Tony Award nominee for her roles in "The Last of the Red Hot Lovers", "The Diary of Anne Frank", "The Tale of the Allergist's Wife", "Collected Stories" and "The Lyons". In 2017, Linda was seen in "Candide" directed by Hal Prince and received stellar reviews. Inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame in 2011, other theatre credits include "The New Century" (Drama Desk Award), "Other Desert Cities" (LCT), and "Too Much Sun" (Vineyard Theatre). </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Linda will costar in the off-broadway production “The Bedwetter”, written by multi-award-winners Sarah Silverman, Adam Schlesinger, and Joshua Harmon. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">She is a two-time Golden Globe winner and Emmy nominee for her role as Alice on the 9 year hit TV series "Alice" on CBS, and she co-starred with Sean Hayes in the NBC Series "Sean Saves the World". Linda recently guest starred on "MOM", "The Good Wife", and "Madam Secretary". She featured as a series regular on the CBS sitcom “B Positive,” and was most recently seen on the series "9JKL" opposite Mark Feurstein and Elliot Gould, as well as "Brockmire" and "The Santa Clarita Diet". </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Her recent feature films include "A Short History of Decay", "Manhattan Nocturne" with Adrien Brody, "How to Be A Latin Lover" opposite Rob Lowe and Eugenio Derbez, "Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase", and the upcoming "Naked Singularity” with John Boyega and Bill Skarsgaard. She also appeared with Robert De Niro in Nancy Meyer's "The Intern”. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Linda was born in Portland, Maine and is a graduate of the College of William & Mary, which recently conferred on her an honorary doctor of arts degree where she endows a theater program. She performs her concert act with Billy Stritch, her music director, and has released her first CD "Possibilities" an album of jazz standards and show tunes.</span></p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/65531362021-02-18T19:00:00-05:002021-04-21T13:14:22-04:00Jane Monheit Celebrates 20 Years as a Recording Artist With Online Concert and New Album "Come What May"<h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>Come What May</em>, her first album in five years, highlights her fresh takes on first-rate standards, with deft interpretations honed after years on the road.</strong></h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/fdd3ae543b3a59f106fe2c63ce9d8ff17eb8d956/original/2021-jane-monheit-come-what-may.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p>
<p>CLUB44 RECORDS has announced that <em><strong>Come What May</strong></em>, the enchanting new album from international Billboard #1 pop/jazz vocalist <strong>Jane Monheit</strong>, will be available on CD and digital and streaming formats on Friday, March 12. This dynamic all-new collection of songbook classics - produced by Jane Monheit, <strong>Wayne Haun</strong>, and <strong>Jamey Tate</strong> - will honor Monheit's 20th anniversary as a best-selling recording artist. She will celebrate Come What May with a special virtual concert, streaming live from Feinstein's at Vitello's, on Friday, March 12 at 8:00 PM Eastern. For tickets, please visit <a contents="feinsteinsatvitellos.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://feinsteinsatvitellos.com/" target="_blank">feinsteinsatvitellos.com</a>. Pre-order the CD at <a contents="Walmart" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Jane-Monheit-Come-What-May-CD/471006093" target="_blank">Walmart</a>, <a contents="Target" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.target.com/p/jane-monheit-come-what-may-cd/-/A-82281836#lnk=sametab" target="_blank">Target</a>, <a contents="Barnes &amp; Noble" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/come-what-may-jane-monheit/35988229?ean=0643157449485" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> or <a contents="Amazon" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.amazon.com/Come-What-May-Jane-Monheit/dp/B08T43FH4J/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=jane+monheit&qid=1614625058&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, and pre-order the digital album at <a contents="lnk.to/Jane-Monheit-CWMPreRelease" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://lnk.to/Jane-Monheit-CWMPreRelease" target="_blank">lnk.to/Jane-Monheit-CWMPreRelease</a> </p>
<p><em>Come What May</em>, her first album in five years, highlights her fresh takes on first-rate standards, with deft interpretations honed after years on the road. "There is a certain comfort that comes from performing a song night after night to audiences around the world," she says. "So by the time we finally got into the studio to make this record, I had the luxury of the arrangements being perfectly familiar, rehearsed, and polished. Putting together this project was a smooth, relaxed process and I think that's reflected in the final product." </p>
<p>Monheit has achieved two goals in both making an album that sounds timeless, and yet still addressing the current moment. "So much of<em> Come What May</em> is really a way for me to cope with the pandemic in my own personal way," she explains. "For example, 'Let's Take a Walk Around the Block.' We would all like to visit the magical places listed in the song, but we don't have any money right now - so let's just enjoy where we are. I believe everyone can relate to that idea!" </p>
<p>Jane's lifelong love affair with Brazilian music comes alive with another song about travel, the Antônio Carlos Jobim standard "Samba Do Avião," also known as "Song of the Jet." "Musicians are accustomed to traveling the world non-stop," she comments, "and now that we're all grounded, it feels very strange. I miss touring so much that I just can't explain it. I literally dream of being back on the road!" </p>
<p>On the flip side of the pandemic experience, the exuberant, feel-good medley of "On the Sunny Side of the Street" and "Get Happy" is an opportunity to lift spirits. "People stuck at home need a little encouragement and cheer," Jane says, "The album has some sad, heavy tunes and I knew we needed to balance those with some levity." That same notion inspired her lighthearted take on the musical theater classic "I Believe in You," which opens this collection on a brisk high note. </p>
<p>Other selections reflect Monheit's adoration of the legendary vocalists that preceded her. "I've worshipped Judy Garland my entire life, but the first version of 'The Man That Got Away' I ever heard was from Ella Fitzgerald. Her interpretation is so matter-of-fact. In my version, I tried to balance Judy's glorious drama with Ella's subtlety. This track is an homage to both my heroes." She credits both Ella and Billie Holiday for introducing her to the lesser-known "When a Woman Loves a Man." Jane recalls, "That's another song I've adored since I was a tiny kid. I particularly love our recording since it has such a sophisticated and intelligent chart by our musical director Michael Kanan. I think you can tell just by listening how much we enjoy playing together." </p>
<p>In fact, <em>Come What May</em> is all the more special considering the unique bond that Jane shares with her musicians. "Michael and I go back over two decades," she continues. "I love that man with all my heart; he's like my big brother. And then of course our drummer is my husband Rick Montalbano. We're coming up on our 20th wedding anniversary! It's always a delight to work together, but this project has a particular resonance. For the last few years we haven't been able to tour together since our son is in school, and Rick stays home with him. So one bright spot of the pandemic is we're in the same city so we can make music together again." </p>
<p>Jane adds, "I am thrilled at the wonderful contributions of our west-coast bass player David Robaire, Kevin Winard on guitar, and Miles Okazaki on percussion, and I love that we could add some beautiful strings, one of those magical additions to give the record that extra sparkle. What I set out to do is take songs that have been done really often - 'My Funny Valentine,' 'Lush Life,' 'The Nearness of You' - and present them directly, sincerely, and truthfully. If you can strip them of any pretention, people remember how compelling a simple standard can be." </p>
<p>"I can't say enough amazing things about Club44," concludes Jane. "I've been with many labels over the years - indies, majors, I've even made records for my own imprint - and I've seen everything. And I've never had an experience this easy, this positive and this fun! <strong>Joel Lindsey</strong>, Wayne Haun, and their team have gone out of their way to help me bring my musical vision to life, and I treasure that freedom and trust." </p>
<p>Label co-owner Joel Lindsey responds, "When we first started the label, it was my dream to sign Jane Monheit, so this new record of gorgeous standards really is that dream come true. And the fact that it helps mark her 20th anniversary as a recording artist is such an incredible bonus. The trademark lyricism of her voice, the detail of her interpretations, the sheer joy of her creativity shines brightly here in <em>Come What May</em>. We're so proud to have this album on Club44 Records." </p>
<p>Jane Monheit has been acclaimed as one of the leading jazz/pop vocalists of her generation by audiences and critics alike. The successful concert and recording artist studied voice at the Manhattan School of Music with Peter Eldridge, a founding member of the vocal group New York Voices, and was first runner-up in the 1998 Thelonious Monk Institute's vocal competition. Her debut album,<em> Never Never Land</em> (2000), featured jazz all-stars Kenny Barron, Ron Carter, and Lewis Nash. The first of four recordings for N-Coded Music, the label founded by Dave Grusin, Larry Rosen, and Phil Ramone, it was voted "Best Recording Debut" by the Jazz Journalists Association and stayed on the Billboard jazz chart for a year. Her follow up, <em>Come Dream with Me</em> (2001), debuted at #1 on the Billboard jazz chart. The 2003 DVD/CD <em>Live at the Rainbow Room</em>, documenting her performance at the iconic New York club with a symphony orchestra, was conducted by Alan Broadbent. The Grammy Award-nominated<em> Taking a Chance on Love</em>, her swinging label debut for Sony (2004), featured a duet with global superstar Michael Bublé. Other major recordings include: the Christmas-themed <em>The Season</em> (Sony, 2005); <em>Surrender</em> (Concord, 2007), featuring guests Ivan Lins, Sergio Mendes, and Toots Thielemans; and <em>The Lovers, The Dreamers and Me</em> (Concord, 2009), which notably expanded her repertoire to pop songs by Paul Simon, Fiona Apple, and Corinne Bailey Rae. Her recording of "Over the Rainbow" was featured in the film <em>Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow</em>, starring Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Angelina Jolie. Monheit has collaborated with a who's who of jazz luminaries, including Wynton Marsalis, Ramsey Lewis, Christian McBride, John Pizzarelli, and more, also appearing on albums by Terence Blanchard, Tom Harrell, Freddy Cole, Mark O'Connor, Harold Mabern, David Benoit, and Club44's own Nicolas King. Follow Jane on <a contents="Facebook" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/janemonheit" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a contents="Instagram" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/realjanemonheit" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and <a contents="Twitter" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://twitter.com/JaneMonheit" target="_blank">Twitter</a> enjoy her music on <a contents="YouTube" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/c/JaneMonheit519" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, <a contents="Spotify" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/7rwI5cbw9cUKFVul2rZMiZ" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, <a contents="Apple Music" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://music.apple.com/us/artist/jane-monheit/1931881" target="_blank">Apple Music</a> and<a contents=" Pandora" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://pandora.app.link/rnTDLPET5ab" target="_blank"> Pandora</a>. </p>
<p><strong><em>COME WHAT MAY</em> TRACK LIST </strong><br>1) I Believe in You (Frank Loesser)<br>2) When a Woman Loves a Man (Gordon Jenkins / Johnny Mercer / Bernie Hanighen)<br>3) Let's Take a Walk Around the Block (Harold Arlen / Ira Gershwin / E. Y. Harburg)<br>4) Lush Life (Billy Strayhorn)<br>5) Let's Face the Music and Dance (Irving Berlin)<br>6) Samba Do Avião (Antônio Carlos Jobim)<br>7) The Nearness of You (Hoagy Carmichael / Ned Washington)<br>8) On the Sunny Side of the Street (Jimmy McHugh / Dorothy Fields) / Get Happy (Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler)<br>9) The Man That Got Away (Harold Arlen / Ira Gershwin)<br>10) My Funny Valentine (Richard Rodgers / Lorenz Hart)</p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/65276282021-01-22T09:01:33-05:002021-02-19T09:45:49-05:00Nicolas King to Release New Album Featuring Liza Minnelli, Tom Selleck, Norm Lewis and More<h3 style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_large"><strong><em>Act One: Celebrating 25 Years of Recordings</em> will be released on Friday, January 22</strong></span></h3>
<p><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/945458d69e55fc07a09c4a6db6bdc2d6572a3839/original/2021-nicolas-king-act-one.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" />Club44 Records</strong> is launching their relationship with acclaimed vocalist <strong>Nicolas King</strong> with the release of his new collection <strong><em>Act One: Celebrating 25 Years of Recordings</em></strong>, which will be available in streaming and digital formats on Friday, January 22. A physical CD will follow on Friday, February 26. As they plan King's all-new album within the next year, the label looks back with this lively history of King's already multi-decade career. While focusing on his suave vocals, and showcasing both eternal standards and newer songs, the album boasts guest appearances from stage and screen luminaries <strong>Liza Minnelli</strong>, <strong>Tom Selleck</strong>, <strong>Jane Monheit</strong>, and <strong>Norm Lewis</strong>. The recording also features major musical contributions from two-time Grammy Award nominee <strong>Mike Renzi</strong> (renowned pianist and music director for Peggy Lee, Tony Bennett, Lena Horne, and Mel Tormé) and <strong>Charles Calello </strong>(arranger and producer for Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, and Ray Charles). Music legend <strong>Connie Francis</strong> provides liner notes. The album's first single "What a Wonderful World" - a duet with celebrated Broadway leading man Norm Lewis - is currently available. </p>
<p>"I started compiling this record merely so that I had something fun to sell at concerts," says Nicolas. "But once the pandemic hit, I found myself with loads of free time and began uncovering so many recordings from the past 25 years. This tiny project ballooned into something much bigger than I anticipated, but it turned into an opportunity to look back at what brought me to this point. I think of this album as the ending of my childhood chapter and a wonderful setup to the next! I thank all my musical guests for their contributions, but I'm especially grateful to musical titans Mike Renzi and Charles Calello. They both have extraordinary legacies, and I am humbled to be added to the list of iconic artists they've collaborated with." </p>
<p>Label co-owner<strong> Wayne Haun</strong> adds, "When I was first introduced to Nicolas, I was mesmerized by his ability to put across a lyric and the way he effortlessly holds the audience in his hand. It feels fitting to release this collection as we prepare to enter the studio for an all-new studio album. We're thrilled to take the journey with Nicolas as he continues his trajectory as one of the most exciting young vocalists of his generation." </p>
<p><em>Act One: Celebrating 25 Years of Recordings</em> is a compilation of sparkling new studio tracks, selections from his previous solo albums, and vintage archival gems from early in his career. The collection opens with a spoken live introduction by Liza Minnelli, a memento from the decade Nicolas toured the world with her. The new selections include a lushly orchestrated version of "But Beautiful," performed with jazz singer Jane Monheit. "Yes Sir, That's My Baby," a charming duet with Tom Selleck, was taped onstage when they appeared together in the Broadway play <em>A Thousand Clowns</em> when Nicolas was just 10 years old. </p>
<p>"I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together" - the inimitable TV theme to "The Carol Burnett Show" - is heard in a medley with "My Shining Hour." The pairing is dedicated to Ms. Burnett and her late daughter Carrie Hamilton, whom Nicolas worked with on the Broadway play Hollywood Arms. Other highlights include a loose, jazzy rendition of the Four Seasons standard "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" and a pensive interpretation of the Irving Berlin classic "How Deep is the Ocean," elegantly accompanied only by <strong>Alan Bernstein</strong>'s bass. Nicolas's take on the beloved "Sesame Street" favorite "Sing" swings with the razzle dazzle of a driving big band arrangement. He also makes sure to present new songs written in the classic style, including "Looks Like They're in Love" (Bob Levy) and "The Only One" (Tracy Stark). </p>
<p>The storied entertainment anthem "There's No Business Like Show Business" provides a fitting coda to the album. The track, merging a delightful early recording with a brand-new studio cut, showcases both his roots as a young budding showman and his present-day vocal prowess, musical intelligence, and ebullient verve. </p>
<p><strong>Will Friedwald</strong> - noted author and Wall Street Journal scribe - perhaps said it best: King "is a compact dynamo, a whirlwind of a performer who balances incredible excitement and high energy with restraint and nuance. He gets the crowd in his pocket within the first 30 seconds of walking out on stage and keeps them there for the rest of the night." </p>
<p>Nicolas King has been performing since he was four years old. He was in three Broadway productions (Beauty and the Beast, A Thousand Clowns with Tom Selleck, and Carol Burnett's Hollywood Arms, directed by Hal Prince) before the age of 12. He has also appeared in many national TV commercials, including the award-winning "Oscar Mayer Lunchables" commercial. King has appeared on TV talk shows, such as "The View," "The Today Show," "Sally Jesse Raphael," "Liza & David" and was on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno twice (including Leno's final week as host in 2014). He is the recipient of the Talent America Award, the Julie Wilson Award, the Bistro Award for Outstanding Performer of the Year, the AMG Award for Artist of the Year, and the Legends Award for his contribution to the preservation of the Great American Songbook. He has performed alongside Tony Danza, Andrea McArdle, Jack Jones, Lainie Kazan, Donna McKechnie, Faith Prince, Billy Paul, Jennifer Holliday, Debby Boone, and Linda Lavin. At the age of 11, he began touring with Liza Minnelli as her opening act and was a mainstay on her tour for 10 years. Among the venues he has played are Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Birdland, 54 Below, and Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. His previous solo albums include<em> On Another Note</em> (2017), <em>Nineteen</em> (2010), and <em>Blame it on My Youth</em> (2006) <a contents="www.TheNicolasKing.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.TheNicolasKing.com" target="_blank">www.TheNicolasKing.com</a></p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/65163812021-01-08T10:55:42-05:002021-01-08T10:55:42-05:00Nicolas King Teams Up With Norm Lewis For 'What a Wonderful World'<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/41311a84ecf447c7178f364bc9147298c3d27c47/original/2021-nicolas-king-what-a-wonderful-world-single.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_" /><strong>Nicolas King</strong> (<em>Beauty and the Beast, Hollywood Arms, A Thousand Clowns</em>) has teamed up with <strong>Norm Lewis</strong> (<em>Les Miserables, Porgy and Bess, The Phantom of the Opera</em>) for the first single off King's new record, <strong>"Act One" - a collection celebrating 25 years of recordings</strong> (his first recording is from age 4!)! </p>
<p>Check out the video <a contents="HERE" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIcUSQhAb_M&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">HERE</a>!</p>
<p>The single was released on January 8, and album will be released digitally on January 22 (with a physical release date set for February 26th!) </p>
<p>Filmed and Directed by Nellie Beavers <br>Recorded at Sound on Sound Studios, NJ <br>Mixed by Ed Kessel, Mastered by Steve Rizzo <br>Special thanks to Jerry LaGuardia and Richard Jay-Alexander </p>
<p>Not many 29-year olds can boast of a 25-year career. This is only one of the accolades that sets Nicolas King apart from his peers.<em><strong> Act One </strong></em>features performances that span these 25 years, including a duet with <strong>Tom Selleck </strong>("Yes Sir, That's My Baby"), a duet with the incomparable <strong>Jane Monheit</strong> ("But Beautiful") and an introduction from his godmother, the legendary<strong> Liza Minnelli</strong>, for whom he was the opening act from 2002 to 2012. Nicolas appeared in three Broadway productions before the age of 12 and television and live performances too numerous to name followed. Known as a "Skat King", Nicolas has a gift for proving that jazz music is fun and relevant whether you are 12 or 92. We will see a lot more from Nicolas King because after 25 years, he's just getting started!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>ABOUT NICOLAS KING: </strong></p>
<p>Nicolas King has been performing since he was four years old. He was in three Broadway productions ("Beauty & The Beast", "A Thousand Clowns" with <strong>Tom Selleck</strong>, and <strong>Carol Burnett</strong>'s "Hollywood Arms," directed by <strong>Hal Prince</strong>) before the age of 12. He has also appeared in many national TV commercials, including the award-winning 'Oscar Mayer Lunchables' commercial. King has appeared on TV talk shows, such as "The View," "The Today Show," "Sally Jesse Raphael," "Liza & David" and was on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno twice (including Leno's final week as host in 2014). </p>
<p>He is the recipient of the Talent America Award, the Julie Wilson Award, the Bistro Award for Outstanding Performer of the Year, the AMG Award for Artist of the Year and the Legends Award for his contribution to the preservation of the Great American Songbook. He has performed alongside Tony Danza, Andrea McArdle, Jack Jones, Lainie Kazan, Donna McKechnie, Faith Prince, Billy Paul, Jennifer Holliday, Debby Boone and Linda Lavin. At the age of 11, he began touring with the legendary Liza Minnelli as her opening act and was a mainstay on her tour for 10 years. </p>
<p>Among the venues he has played are Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Birdland, 54 Below, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and Crystal Cruises. His latest album, "Act One: Celebrating 25 Years of Recordings," will be released in 2021 and will feature collaborations with Jane Monheit, Norm Lewis, hit-maker Charles Calello and longtime musical director Mike Renzi. </p>
<p>Follow Nicolas on <a contents="Facebook" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/nicotheprince" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a contents="Instagram" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/itsnicolasking/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> enjoy his music on <a contents="YouTube" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdnLRtXE3CsQnAyY2iC2WMA" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, <a contents="Spotify" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/1xDYjK8FmuITzkFQcjZiPl?si=qn8jjpBNSIWOtsiGMW9kqA" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, <a contents="Apple Music" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://music.apple.com/us/artist/nicolas-king/284386103" target="_blank">Apple Music</a>, and <a contents="Amazon" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://music.amazon.com/artists/B001C3FC98/nicolas-king?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.</p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/64909062020-12-03T12:42:11-05:002020-12-03T12:42:11-05:00Club44 Records Signs Nicolas King To Its Growing Roster<p><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/cb0452612348553803f9650cc34f5aad00bacd34/original/image0.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Nashville, TN (December 3, 2020) </strong>– <strong>Club44 Records</strong> is pleased to announce the signing of <strong>Nicolas King</strong> to its evolving roster of music business greats. 28-year-old King began his music career at the tender age of four and has shared the stage with music business royalty, including a 10-year stint on tour with the incomparable <strong>Liza Minnelli</strong>. Set for a January 2021 release, King’s project is a collection of songs he’s performed over the course of his career. </p>
<p>King expressed his enthusiasm about joining the fast-growing record label, “I am so happy to be teaming up with Club44 Records for what is, I hope, the first of many collaborations together. Putting this collection together was great fun, but having the marvelous Club44 team backing me is nothing short of an honor! I’m thrilled to be a part of their family.” </p>
<p>Label co-owner, <strong>Wayne Haun</strong>, echoed the sentiment, “I was first introduced to Nicolas King’s talent by a friend who bought me a ticket to a concert. I had a lot on my mind and a lot of work to do, and I wasn’t really in the mood for a concert. But by the time Nicolas was into his second verse, I didn’t care what was going on in the world. I was mesmerized. His ability to interpret a lyric, and the way he holds the audience in his hand, is effortless. I knew that night he needed a big seat at ‘The Club.’ We are so excited to represent him.” </p>
<p>King is joining a growing list of talented artists on the Club44 label, which includes notable artists such as Linda Lavin, Billy Stritch, Jane Monheit, Jim Caruso, Klea Blackhurst and Brian Eads. To learn more about Nicolas King, visit him online at <a contents="www.thenicolasking.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.thenicolasking.com/" target="_blank">www.thenicolasking.com</a>. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">### </p>
<p><strong>ABOUT NICOLAS KING: </strong><br>Nicolas King has been performing since he was four years old. He was in three Broadway productions ("Beauty & The Beast,” "A Thousand Clowns" with Tom Selleck, and Carol Burnett's "Hollywood Arms," directed by Hal Prince) before the age of 12. He has also appeared in many national television commercials, including the award-winning 'Oscar Mayer Lunchables' commercial. King has appeared on TV talk shows, such as "The View," "The Today Show," "Sally Jesse Raphael," "Liza & David" and was on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno twice, including Leno's final week as host in 2014. </p>
<p>He is the recipient of the Talent America Award, the Julie Wilson Award, the Bistro Award for Outstanding Performer of the Year, the AMG Award for Artist of the Year and the Legends Award for his contribution to the preservation of the Great American Songbook. He has performed alongside Tony Danza, Andrea McArdle, Jack Jones, Lainie Kazan, Donna McKechnie, Faith Prince, Billy Paul, Jennifer Holliday, Debby Boone and Linda Lavin. At the age of 11, he began touring with the legendary Liza Minnelli as her opening act and was a mainstay on her tour for 10 years. </p>
<p>Among the venues he has played are Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Birdland, 54 Below, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and Crystal Cruises. His latest album, "Act One: Celebrating 25 Years of Recordings," will be released in 2021 and will feature collaborations with Jane Monheit, Norm Lewis, hit-maker Charles Calello and longtime musical director Mike Renzi. </p>
<p>Follow Nicolas on <a contents="Facebook" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/nicotheprince" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a contents="Instagram" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/itsnicolasking/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> enjoy his music on <a contents="YouTube" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdnLRtXE3CsQnAyY2iC2WMA" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, <a contents="Spotify" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/1xDYjK8FmuITzkFQcjZiPl?si=qn8jjpBNSIWOtsiGMW9kqA" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, <a contents="Apple Music" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://music.apple.com/us/artist/nicolas-king/284386103" target="_blank">Apple Music</a> and <a contents="Amazon" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://music.amazon.com/artists/B001C3FC98/nicolas-king?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.</p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/64714222020-11-06T08:03:49-05:002020-11-06T08:03:49-05:00Club44 Records Celebrates the Release of Two New Recordings<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/5ca081ae2b554223f273ff07d596d37137d4d5d7/original/2020-brian-eads-o-come-o-come-emmanuel.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/2dacac2cce698ea6c25c04cdc1d0827dd3448581/original/2020-julie-garnye-fields-of-gold-both-sides-now-digital-single.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></p>
<p><strong>Nashville, TN (November 6, 2020)</strong> – <strong>Club44 Records </strong>is thrilled to release new music for two amazing artists today.<strong> Julie Garnyé</strong>’s highly-anticipated single, <strong>“Fields of Gold / Both Sides Now,”</strong> and a surprise holiday track from <strong>Brian Eads</strong>, <strong>“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” </strong>are both available on all digital platforms. </p>
<p>“Fields of Gold / Both Sides Now” debuted on <strong>Jim Caruso</strong>'s online show <em>Pajama Cast Party</em> on August 3, and the performance caught the attention of Club44 owners. The intricate cello/vocal arrangement begged to be enjoyed by people over and over again. </p>
<p>“I feel so incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by such smart and talented people,” exclaims Julie. “<strong>Rene Ruiz</strong>, for planting the seed to record ‘Fields Of Gold,’ <strong>Lance Horne</strong> and <strong>Eleanor Norton</strong> for sculpting and creating this beautiful music and Jim Caruso for gifting me a public platform in which to introduce the song. And then, the icing on an already delicious cake, to be asked to partner with <strong>Wayne (Haun)</strong> and <strong>Joel (Lindsey)</strong> and all at Club44 Records to give this song an even wider platform - I just feel like a very lucky lady to have the support of this record label and all of these amazing people in my life.” </p>
<p>Garnyé continues, “My hope is that this single will touch the heart of the listener in ways they never thought possible. I want them to hear these songs in a different way, to understand these lyrics like never before, to enjoy instruments they don’t normally get to hear, but in a new way.” </p>
<p>With the <em><strong>Les Misérables</strong></em> national tour suspension, conductor and musical director Brian Eads found himself with more time on his hands recently. He took the opportunity to arrange and record a song for the Christmas season. Brian shares, "Upon returning to Nashville from a three-year tenure as Music Director of the <em>Les Misérables</em> North American Tour, I was faced with the looming question: ‘What do I do now?’ The growing COVID-19 pandemic dealt a catastrophic blow to the performing arts industries, and all of Broadway was shut down for the foreseeable future. As a musician, my instinct is to create; to perform; to collaborate; to share music with others in hopes that it will brighten their day. What better way to do that than to offer a little glimmer of hope for the Christmas season!” </p>
<p>“To Wayne, <strong>Ernie (Haase)</strong>, Joel and everyone at Club44 Records who work tirelessly to keep hope alive during these trying times, a very heartfelt THANK YOU and virtual hug! I hope every listener enjoys this poignant arrangement of ‘O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,’ and may the message of this music fill your hearts and minds with hope as we eagerly await a brighter day." </p>
<p>Wayne Haun, co-founder of Club44 Records, is elated to showcase these songs and artists with these two recordings. “Julie doesn’t just think outside-the-box. She obliterates the box and creates her own world of imagination and perfection. There’s a reason she’s one of the first-called vocalists in our industry. She’s that good! And Brian has always been known in the music industry for his work behind the scenes and in the orchestra pit conducting some of the greatest works ever. But his expertise as an arranger and performer is stunning.” </p>
<p>Both “Fields of Gold / Both Sides Now” and “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” are distributed by<strong> Provident/Sony Distribution. </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>###</strong></p>
<p><strong>ABOUT JULIE GARNYÉ: </strong><br>Julie Garnyé is an actress, singer, voiceover artist, writer, producer and director. She was most recently seen as an original cast member of the first national tour of the Broadway hit <em>Come From Away</em> and has played the role of Bulda/Queen Iduna in <em>Frozen Live</em> at the Hyperion Theatre at the Disneyland Resort. She is also the singing voice of the fairy Lyria in the <em>Tinker Bell </em>series of films for Disney Animation. </p>
<p>Her theatre career highlights include Grizabella in the national tour of the musical <em>CATS</em>, Broadway’s <em>HAIR in Concert</em> and <em>CHESS in Concert</em>. She was also in the Summer Musicals appearances at The Hollywood Bowl: <em>Les Misérables, Chicago </em>and<em> Mamma Mia!</em>. </p>
<p>She has sung with numerous symphony orchestras, including the San Diego Symphony, The Dallas Pops and The LA Philharmonic, and has performed with musical greats Josh Groban, Carole King, Stephen Schwartz, Kristin Chenoweth and jazz legend Dave Brubeck. She is the 2020 Los Angeles SCENIE Award Winner for Performance of the Year (Jenny Steinberg in <em>It Shoulda Been You</em>). </p>
<p>Follow Julie on her <a contents="website" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.juliegarnye.com/" target="_blank">website</a>, <a contents="Facebook" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/OfficialJulieGarnye" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a contents="Instagram" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/juliegarnye" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and <a contents="Twitter" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://twitter.com/JulieGarnye" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, and listen to her music on <a contents="YouTube" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/user/JulieGarnye" target="_blank">YouTube.</a></p>
<p><strong>ABOUT BRIAN EADS: </strong><br>Most recently, Brian served as the Musical Director and Conductor for the National Tour of Les Misérables. Brian received his Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting from Florida State University and his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at Delta State University. Currently, he is a doctoral candidate in Orchestral Conducting, Indiana University. Guest conducting credits include Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra, Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, Princeton Festival Orchestra and the Lima Symphony Orchestra. His orchestral arrangements have been performed by the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra and Chorus, Madison Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Nashville Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.</p>
<p>Follow Brian on <a contents="Facebook" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/brianeadsmusic" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a contents="Instagram" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/brianeadsmusic/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, and listen to his music on <a contents="Spotify" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/2kYpZufbr2ZkHYqUUHz66B" target="_blank">Spotify</a> or <a contents="Apple Music" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://music.apple.com/us/artist/brian-eads/1299906832" target="_blank">Apple Music</a>.</p>
<p> </p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/64693752020-11-03T13:33:35-05:002021-05-03T13:39:50-04:00Jane Monheit Signs With Club44 Records<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/a185ce9a1ec7db874e7b97f2230a2193ed308e95/original/jane-monheit-signing-pic-edited.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p><strong>Nashville, TN (November 3, 2020) </strong>– <strong>Club44 Records </strong>is thrilled to announce that <strong>Jane Monheit </strong>has joined their roster of artists. As an artist, Jane is well known for her sultry jazz vocals and impressive range. Jane is currently in the studio working on a new album, her twelfth, set to release March 2021. </p>
<p>“I could not be more excited to have signed with Club44,” shares Jane. “The experience so far has been unbelievable. There is so much heart, so much kindness, such a feeling of family at this label! It’s been nearly five years since my last album was released, so the timing couldn’t be more perfect...so excited for our future together!” </p>
<p>After years in the music industry, Club44 Records co-owner <strong>Joel Lindsey</strong> considers working with a critically-acclaimed artist like Monheit an honor. “About twenty years ago, I was cruising down a southern California freeway and popped a CD of a new artist named Jane Monheit into my car’s stereo,” recalls Joel. “Immediately, I knew hers was a voice I would be coming back to time and time again and, indeed, her music has been a mainstay in my house ever since. When Jane lends her velvet signature to a song you’ve heard a hundred times before, you swear that it’s a brand new composition. There is no one like her. At Club44 Records, we are so excited and privileged to be in the studio preparing for the first Jane Monheit release in over five years. I can’t wait for old fans and new ones to hear what she’s working on!” </p>
<p>“Working with Jane has been on my bucket list for a long time now,” expresses <strong>Wayne Haun</strong>, who is co-producing this new album. “Her interpretation of a song is like no other. She is truly an American treasure.” </p>
<p>Jane’s upcoming project will be available at retail and digital outlets worldwide. Follow Jane on <a contents="Facebook" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/janemonheit" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a contents="Instagram" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/realjanemonheit" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and <a contents="Twitter" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://twitter.com/JaneMonheit" target="_blank">Twitter</a> enjoy her music on <a contents="YouTube" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/c/JaneMonheit519" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, <a contents="Spotify" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/7rwI5cbw9cUKFVul2rZMiZ" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, <a contents="Apple Music" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://music.apple.com/us/artist/jane-monheit/1931881" target="_blank">Apple Music</a> and <a contents="Pandora" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://pandora.app.link/rnTDLPET5ab" target="_blank">Pandora</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">###</p>
<p><strong>ABOUT JANE MONHEIT:</strong> <br>Blessed with “a voice of phenomenal beauty” (Stephen Holden, New York Times), Jane Monheit has had plenty of milestone moments in establishing herself as one of today’s best and most important vocalist-musicians. She was raised in Oakdale, New York, on Long Island’s South Shore and spent her childhood summers at the Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts, from which she received a distinguished alumna award (other notable alumni include Natalie Portman, Mariah Carey, and Taylor Dayne). </p>
<p>Jane went on to study voice at the Manhattan School of Music with Peter Eldridge, a founding member of the vocal group New York Voices. She graduated with honors in 1999 and received the William H. Borden Award for outstanding accomplishment in jazz. It was at MSM that she met her husband, drummer Rick Montalbano. They married soon after college. </p>
<p>As a critically acclaimed vocalist, Jane continues to perform with her three-piece band, currently consisting of husband Rick Montalbano (drums), Michael Kanan (piano) and Neal Miner (bass). Jane and Rick have one son and make their home in California.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>ABOUT CLUB44 RECORDS: </strong><br>Founded in 2019 and based in Music City (Nashville), Tennessee, Club44 Records is an independent label that specializes in the cabaret, Broadway and Jazz genres, as well as the preservation of the American Songbook. As the creative home for many artists, the Club44 roster includes Jane Monheit, Linda Lavin, Billy Stritch, Jim Caruso, Klea Blackhurst, Brian Eads and more. All releases are distributed worldwide through Provident/Sony Distribution.</p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/64616332020-10-23T00:21:34-04:002020-10-23T00:21:34-04:00Billy Stritch Releases Solo Album "Billy’s Place" on Club44 Records<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/c2fdfce31b3f75effa6fd5d6bf04c6ba9a9def0e/original/2020-billy-stritch-billys-place-digital.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_" /></p>
<p><strong>Nashville, TN (October 23, 2020)</strong> – When live performances stopped, many artists found themselves faced with uncertainty, challenges and a longing to perform. It didn’t take long for musicians like<strong> Billy Stritch</strong> to find a new home online. <em>Billy’s Place</em> quickly became a successful weekly online music show that allowed Stritch to entertain from the safety and comfort of his home. Today’s release, <em><strong>Billy’s Place</strong></em>, is a recording of some of Billy’s favorites from this series. Recorded for <strong>Club44 Records</strong>, it is available on all streaming music platforms and distributed by <strong>Provident/Sony Distribution</strong>. </p>
<p>“I’m so excited about this new collection of music!” shares Billy Stritch. “First of all, it’s the first truly solo recording I’ve ever made (just me, no band) so it has a deeper level of intimacy and connection than any of my previous releases. The song selection was borne out of my weekly livestream show, “Billy’s Place.” As the weeks went on, I was able to learn and present music by a diverse group of composers, and the songs on the CD are many of my favorites from these shows. I was able to include many favorite songwriters, including<strong> (Richard) Rodgers</strong> and <strong>(Lorenz) Hart</strong> and <strong>Hoagy Carmichael</strong>, as well as more contemporary writers like <strong>Peter Allen</strong> and my friend <strong>Barry Manilow</strong>. I also am thrilled to present an original song, “Since You Left New York,” which I wrote with my “Does He Love You” co-writer <strong>Sandy Knox</strong>. The song is a Valentine to my adopted hometown of New York, and the lyrics resonate especially well these days.” </p>
<p>Billy continues, “This project will always have a special meaning for me, because it came together out of my need to create new music in the midst of this crazy time in the world. I’m so grateful to W<strong>ayne Haun</strong>, and <strong>Joel Lindsey</strong> and all the gang at Club44 Records for allowing me to come to Nashville and spend a couple of days making this record!” </p>
<p>Offering Billy’s Place as a recording was something the owners of Club44 Records knew they had to do. Co-producer Wayne Haun states, “Billy’s talent shines through a live band, a studio session or even an orchestra. But when that’s all taken away and it’s just Billy singing at the piano, something supernatural happens. I’m moved. I’m elated. I’m even educated.” </p>
<p>Keep up with Billy Stritch or order your CD by visiting <a contents="BillyStritch.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://billystritch.com/" target="_blank">BillyStritch.com</a>, or connect with Billy by following him on <a contents="Twitter" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://twitter.com/bstritch" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a contents="Facebook" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/billystritchpro" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a contents="Instagram" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/billystritch/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and <a contents="YouTube" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPKEPvjXbWy_RQALL8KiLPg">YouTube</a>. </p>
<p><u><strong><em>BILLY’S PLACE </em>TRACK LISTING: </strong></u><br>1. <strong>Meet Me, Midnight</strong> (Barry Manilow, Bruce Sussman) <br>2. <strong>Billy’s Place Theme</strong> (Billy Stritch) <br>3. <strong>Skylark</strong> (Johnny Mercer, Hoagy Carmichael) <br>4. <strong>It Might Be You</strong> (David Grusin, Alan & Marilyn Bergman) <br>5. <strong>Falling In Love with Love</strong> (Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers) <br>6. <strong>Since You Left New York </strong>(Billy Stritch, Sandra Knox) <br>7. <strong>Ordinary Miracles</strong> (Alan & Marilyn Bergman, Marvin Hamlisch) <br>8. <strong>Lazy Afternoon</strong> (John Latouche, Jerome Moross)<strong> / Estate</strong> (Bruno Martino, Bruno Brighetti, Joel Siegel) <br>9. <strong>Planes</strong> (Peter Allen, Carole Bayer Sager) <br>10. <strong>My Love Went to London</strong> (Tony Scibetta, John Wallowitch) <br>11. <strong>That Old Feeling</strong> (Sammy Fain, Lew Brown)<strong> / I Thought About You</strong> (Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Mercer) <br>12. <strong>Blue Again</strong> (Wayne Haun, Joel Lindsey) </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">### </p>
<p><u><strong>ABOUT BILLY STRITCH: </strong></u><br>Billy Stritch is one of the premier singer-pianists on the New York and national jazz and cabaret scene. His most recent nightclub act “Billy Stritch Sings the Mel Tormé Songbook” earned rave reviews from the New York critics. Stritch has appeared in cabaret venues across the nation as well as concert performances at the London Palladium, NHK Hall in Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro’s Municipale Auditorium. In New York, he has performed at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall and was onstage in the 2001 Broadway revival of 42nd Street, which starred Christine Ebersole. Billy is also a songwriter and arranger, and his composition “Does He Love You” was recorded by Reba McEntire and Linda Davis. The single reached the number one spot on the Billboard Country chart, winning a Grammy Award and selling over five million copies along the way. He has arranged for many top performers and is a frequent collaborator with Liza Minnelli, having written the arrangements for Minnelli On Minnelli at the Palace Theater, Liza’s Christmas at Town Hall, and was musical supervisor and pianist for the Tony Award-winning, Liza’s At The Palace. Last year, he performed as musical director/pianist on dozens of dates with Tony Bennett. Billy has played and sung on numerous television shows including “The Rosie O’Donnell Show,” “Oprah,” “The CBS Morning Show,” “The Today Show” and “Inside The Actor’s Studio”. He is the winner of the Nashville Music City News Award, a BMI Song of the Year Award, and four awards from the Manhattan Association of Clubs and Cabarets.</p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/64563602020-10-15T13:32:24-04:002020-10-16T08:24:35-04:00Club44 Records to Release Single by Julie Garnyé<p style="text-align: justify;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/d517fb9d9883707e071177356825dccbc8305fe4/original/2020-julie-garnye-fields-of-gold-both-sides-now-digital-single.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" /><strong>Nashville, TN (October 15, 2020) – Club44 Records</strong> is set to release a brand new single by the wonderfully talented<strong> Julie Garnyé</strong>.<strong> “Fields of Gold / Both Sides Now”</strong> was originally arranged for Garnyé by <strong>Lance Horne</strong>. The arrangement features eight cellos, recorded by <strong>Eleanor Norton</strong>, and one vocal. Garnyé and Norton appeared on <strong>Jim Caruso</strong>'s online show "Pajama Cast Party" on August 3, and the performance caught the attention of Club44 owners. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">“This beautiful new single by Julie Garnyé is the most wonderful combination of styles, textures and sheer musicianship,” shares Club44 Records co-owner<strong> Joel Lindsey.</strong> “I will never forget hearing her sing it for the first time and thinking ‘I want to hear that over and over again.’ I can’t wait for the world to hear it!” </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">For Julie, this recording filled a void left by the cancelations of live performances this year. "It all started when my friend, Drama Desk Award Winner <strong>Rene Ruiz</strong>, and I were talking about how we missed recording music for the love of it during this unprecedented time,” reflects Garnyé. “He was the one who gave me the idea to record <strong>Sting</strong>'s ‘Fields of Gold.’ I immediately contacted my two incredibly talented friends, musical genius Lance Horne and the brilliant cellist Eleanor Norton, to arrange a version of the song for me to record at home. Around that same time, my friend, Jim Caruso, invited me to perform on his hugely popular weekly online variety show, Pajama Cast Party, and I knew immediately that I had to surprise him and premiere the song there. Being contacted by Club44 Records to turn it into a single was so unexpected and amazing - everything surrounding this song and this process has been an absolute joy!" </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This arrangement of “Fields of Gold” was combined with <strong>Joni Mitchell</strong>’s popular song “Both Sides Now” to create a medley like no other. “Fields of Gold / Both Sides Now” will be released digitally on all streaming music platforms on November 6. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">### </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>ABOUT JULIE GARNYÉ: </strong><br>Julie Garnyé is an actress, singer, voiceover artist, writer, producer and director. She was most recently seen as an original cast member of the first national tour of the Broadway hit <em>Come From Away</em>. She has played the role of Bulda/Queen Iduna in Frozen Live at the Hyperion Theatre at the Disneyland Resort and is also the singing voice of the fairy Lyria in the<em> Tinker Bell</em> series of films for Disney Animation. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Julie’s most recent TV appearance was as an original cast member of <em>FATWA! The Musical</em> during season nine of<em> Curb Your Enthusiasm</em>. Her theatre career highlights include Grizabella in the national tour of the musical <em>CATS</em>, Broadway’s <em>HAIR in Concert</em> and<em> CHESS in Concert</em>. She was also in the Summer Musicals appearances at The Hollywood Bowl: <em>Les Misérables</em>,<em> Chicago</em> and <em>Mamma Mia!</em>. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Ms. Garnyé has sung with numerous symphony orchestras, including the San Diego Symphony, The Dallas Pops and The LA Philharmonic and has performed with such musical greats as Josh Groban, Carole King, Stephen Schwartz, Kristin Chenoweth and jazz legend Dave Brubeck. She is the 2020 Los Angeles SCENIE Award Winner for Performance of the Year (Jenny Steinberg in<em> It Shoulda Been You</em>). </p>
<p><strong>LINKS: </strong><br><a contents="http://www.juliegarnye.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.juliegarnye.com" target="_blank">http://www.juliegarnye.com</a> <br><a contents="http://www.facebook.com/OfficialJulieGarnye" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.facebook.com/OfficialJulieGarnye" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/OfficialJulieGarnye</a> <br><a contents="http://www.instagram.com/juliegarnye" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.instagram.com/juliegarnye" target="_blank">http://www.instagram.com/juliegarnye</a> <br><a contents="http://twitter.com/JulieGarnye " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://twitter.com/JulieGarnye" target="_blank">http://twitter.com/JulieGarnye </a><br><a contents="http://www.youtube.com/user/JulieGarnye" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.youtube.com/user/JulieGarnye" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/user/JulieGarnye</a> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>ABOUT CLUB44 RECORDS: </strong><br>Founded in 2019 and based in Music City (Nashville), Tennessee, Club44 Records is an independent label that specializes in the cabaret, Broadway and Jazz genres, as well as the preservation of the American Songbook. As the creative home for many artists, the Club44 roster includes Linda Lavin, Billy Stritch, Jim Caruso, Klea Blackhurst, Brian Eads and more. All releases are distributed worldwide through Provident/Sony Distribution.</p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/62683902020-04-01T12:15:30-04:002020-10-12T09:06:54-04:00Club44 Records Presents New Album From Linda Lavin: "Love Notes"<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/6731daba77b365248c62e5f90bc146c42d2c907a/original/shot-1-linda-lavin-12-13-19-012-final.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_xl justify_center border_" /></p>
<p><strong>Club44 Records</strong> has announced the release of <em><strong>Love Notes</strong></em>, the new album from <strong>LINDA LAVIN</strong> – the Tony Award and Golden Globe winning and Emmy Award nominated stage and screen legend – today, <strong>Friday, March 27</strong>. <strong><em>Love Notes</em></strong>, an elegant and swinging mix of timeless standards, jazz classics and gems of the pop/rock era, features the album’s first single,<strong> “Stars Would Fall,”</strong> a sophisticated new song by <strong>Joel Lindsey</strong> and <strong>Wayne Haun</strong>. The album features liner notes by her longtime collaborators and friends <strong>Billy Stritch</strong> and <strong>Jim Caruso</strong>, in addition to a portrait by her husband <strong>Steve Bakunas</strong>. <em>Love Notes</em> is produced by Billy Stritch, with Wayne Haun serving as executive producer. </p>
<p>Linda and Billy are celebrating the album with a continuation of their <strong>“Facebook Live”</strong> concert series, featuring special songs and anecdotes, on <strong>Wednesday, April 1 at 3:00 PM Eastern Time</strong>. Tune in online at <strong>facebook.com/bstritch</strong> </p>
<p><em>Love Notes</em> highlights Lavin’s burnished vocals, which bring out new and unexpected shades from classic standards by Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, Richard Rodgers, Vernon Duke, with surprises thrown in by seminal pop outfits Steely Dan and The Eagles. The album features Billy Stritch on piano and guest vocals, <strong>Aaron Weinstein</strong> on violin and mandolin, <strong>Tom Hubbard</strong> on bass, <strong>Jeff Barone </strong>on guitar, and <strong>Daniel Glass</strong> on drums. </p>
<p><em>The New York Times</em> has raved about Lavin’s “musical smarts, sense of humor and upbeat philosophy of living in the moment.” Her singing was praised by <em>Jazz Times</em> for its “sass and panache.” According to <em>Time Out New York</em>, “Singer-actor extraordinaire Linda Lavin has few peers as a performer.” </p>
<p><strong>LINDA LAVIN – <em>LOVE NOTES</em> TRACK LIST: </strong></p>
<p>1. <strong>I’ve Got My Eyes on You / You Do Something to Me</strong> (Cole Porter) </p>
<p>2. <strong>Not A Care in the World</strong> (Vernon Duke & John Latouche) <strong>/ Shall We Dance</strong> (George Gershwin & Ira Gershwin) </p>
<p>3. <strong>I Wish I Were in Love Again</strong> (Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart) </p>
<p>4. <strong>I Can’t Tell You Why </strong>(Don Henley, Timothy B. Schmit & Glenn Frey) <strong>/</strong> <strong>I Walk a Little Faster</strong> (Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh) </p>
<p>5. <strong>Chega de Saudade (No More Blues) </strong>(Antonio Carlos Jobim & Vinícius de Moraes) </p>
<p>6. <strong>Stars Would Fall</strong> (Joel Lindsey & Wayne Haun) </p>
<p>7. <strong>Just Squeeze Me (But Please Don’t Tease Me)</strong> (Duke Ellington & Leonard Gaines) </p>
<p>8. <strong>Black Cow </strong>(Donald Fagen & Walter Becker) </p>
<p>9. <strong>Ace in the Hole / Rap Tap on Wood</strong> (Cole Porter) </p>
<p>10. <strong>It Don’t Mean a Thing (If it Ain’t Got That Swing)</strong> (Duke Ellington & Irving Mills) <strong>/ I Got Rhythm</strong> (George & Ira Gershwin) </p>
<p>11. <strong>You Must Believe in Spring</strong> (Michel Legrand, Jacques Demy & Alan and Marilyn Bergman)<br><br>12. <strong>How High the Moon</strong> (Nancy Hamilton & Morgan Lewis)</p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/62312262020-02-28T10:36:41-05:002020-12-03T12:35:42-05:00"Les Misérables: Symphonic Highlights" Releases on Club44 Records Label<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/5b6f6ab1df090afcd23ce76c79e343d44c39e0fa/original/2020-les-miserables-symphonic-highlights-digital.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_xl justify_center border_" /></p>
<p><strong>Nashville, TN (February 28, 2020)</strong> – From the creative minds of composers <strong>David T. Clydesdale</strong> and <strong>Brian Eads</strong>, <strong>Club44 Records</strong> has released <em><strong>Les Misérables: Symphonic Highlights</strong></em>. This symphonic masterpiece features <strong>The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra</strong> performing the most popular songs from the beloved musical. It is available now on all digital and retail platforms and is distributed worldwide by <strong>Provident/Sony Distribution</strong>. </p>
<p>Brian Eads is the current Musical Director and Conductor of the <em>Les Misérables</em> National Tour. Eads played piano on the project and partnered with the incomparable David T. Clydesdale, Grammy and Dove Award-winning arranger and orchestrator, for this endeavor. As co-arrangers, orchestrators and producers, the two beautifully captured the heart and magic of <em>Les Misérables</em>. </p>
<p>“It was a pleasure to combine talents with Brian Eads as arranger, orchestrator and conductor on this dream project,” shares Clydesdale. “Brian’s insights into<em> Les Misérables</em> are invaluable in helping me understand this music. He is the current musical director and has conducted over 900 shows, so he knows the score! Those who know me won’t be surprised to learn that I chose to arrange and orchestrate all of the loud songs, leaving the ballads for Brian. Somehow, it worked. I cannot wait for the next project!” </p>
<p>The admiration seems to be mutual. “As a young piano student, I would sit at my childhood upright piano and play through the iconic arrangements of David T. Clydesdale,” reflects Eads. “His soaring arrangements and orchestrations would captivate my attention for hours. While listening, I would often dream that I could someday meet one of my music heroes. Because of this project, I’ve been able to do just that; and now this hero is my friend.” </p>
<p><strong>Wayne Haun</strong>, co-founder of Club44 Records, couldn’t be happier with this collaboration. “<em>Les Misérables</em> was the first musical I saw. It brought me to tears then, and it moves me to tears every time I hear the soaring melodies and lush orchestrations. What David and Brian have created is something that brilliantly honors the show and allows fans to feel those emotions over and over again through the symphonic arrangements. Club44 Records is thrilled to bring this project to digital and retail outlets.”</p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/60991122020-01-14T13:41:50-05:002020-10-02T17:03:11-04:00Tony Award® Winner Linda Lavin Signs With Club44 Records<p><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/f2e7c102340fc020f8b267327082c3b653a46299/original/249c913045f7d662be45ade9-1220x914.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_xl justify_center border_" /></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Pictured front: Linda Lavin <br>Back L-R: Wayne Haun & Joel Lindsey (Club44 Records); Mark Sendroff, Esq.; Billy Stritch</em></p>
<p><br><br><strong>Nashville, TN (January 14, 2020) – Club44 Records</strong> is thrilled to announce the signing of the lovely, legendary <strong>Linda Lavin</strong> to the label. Linda is well known for her television and Broadway roles for which she has been awarded multiple Tony, Golden Globe and Emmy Awards. At 82, she is recording her second CD project which honors the American Songbook. </p>
<p>“My life became a dream-come-true when genius record producer, musician, singer, orchestrator <strong>Wayne Haun </strong>asked me to record for his company, Club44 Records,” Linda shares. “The collaborators and contributors on this project are just amazing: uber genius <strong>Billy Stritch</strong> who is my music director, arranger, producer, pianist and constant guiding light; <strong>Jeff Barone</strong> on guitar; <strong>Tom Hubbard</strong> on bass; <strong>Daniel Glass</strong> on drums; and my special guest, jazz violinist <strong>Aaron</strong> <strong>Weinstein</strong> is just brilliant! How could I be closer to heaven than with a band like this? I’m truly over-the-moon and cannot wait to share this new music with you all!” </p>
<p><em>“Linda has always championed the American Songbook,” explains Wayne Haun, “and I stand in amazement as she carefully chooses and researches her material. It’s as if a song becomes a new role for her, then she brings the song to life. When you combine her talent with the incomparable Billy Stritch, the end result is stunning.” </em></p>
<p>Linda’s project, <em><strong>Love Notes</strong></em>, will release on March 27 to retail and digital markets worldwide and will be distributed by <strong>Sony/Provident Distribution</strong>.</p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/62298332020-01-06T10:00:00-05:002021-06-01T09:53:26-04:00Club44 Records Set to Release "Les Miserables: Symphonic Hightlights"<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/cca8fdc1f74d803352874abce503bece283fb6d2/original/les-mis-photo-1.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_xl justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Pictured (Back row L-R): Carol Roundtree of Sony/Provident; Joel Lindsey, Wayne Haun and Chase McDaniel of Club44 Records<br>(Front row L-R): David T. Clydesdale and Brian Eads</em></p>
<p><strong>Nashville, TN (January 6, 2020) - Club44 Records</strong> is pleased to announce the next project on its label. <strong><em>Les Misérables: Symphonic Highlights</em></strong> features <strong>The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra</strong> and <strong>Brian Eads</strong>, current Musical Director and Conductor of the <em>Les Misérables </em>U.S. national tour, at the piano. Eads partnered with the incomparable<strong> David T. Clydesdale</strong>, Grammy and Dove Award winning arranger and orchestrator, for this endeavor. As co-arrangers, orchestrators and producers, the two beautifully captured the heart and magic of <em>Les Misérables</em> in a symphonic masterpiece set to release on February 28. </p>
<p><strong>Wayne Haun</strong>, co-founder of Club44 Records, couldn’t be happier with this collaboration. “<em>Les Misérables</em> was the first musical I saw. It brought me to tears then, and it moves me to tears every time I hear the soaring melodies and lush orchestrations. What David and Brian have created is something that brilliantly honors the show and allows fans to feel those emotions over and over again through the symphonic arrangements. Club44 Records is thrilled to bring this project to digital and retail outlets.” </p>
<p><em>Les Misérables: Symphonic Highlights</em> will be available at all digital and retail outlets beginning February 28 and is distributed by <strong>Sony/Provident Distribution.</strong></p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/59348702019-10-22T11:10:37-04:002021-06-11T11:31:16-04:00Photo Flash: CHRISTMAS AT BIRDLAND Album Release Party Is A Huge Success<p>by BWW News Desk - Oct. 16, 2019 </p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Club44 Records recently celebrated the upcoming release of Christmas at Birdland, featuring Billy Stritch, Jim Caruso and Klea Blackhurst, at the legendary Birdland Jazz Club in New York, NY. The party was attended by a host of Broadway, jazz and cabaret industry professionals, including Max von Essen, Natalie Douglas and Karen Mason, to name a few. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Christmas at Birdland is a recording that celebrates Billy, Jim and Klea's annual Christmas show, A Swinging Birdland Christmas. Party attendees were wowed with some teaser tunes from the new release, and there was even a special appearance by Santa himself! Santa mingled through the crowd, gifting everyone with a copy of the new CD, while Billy, Jim and Klea delighted party-goers with their rendition of "Christmas is Starting Now." </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Now in its tenth year, the long-running, seasonal favorite is always a sellout. This year will be no exception. The show will run from December 21-25, so be sure to purchase tickets for this one-of-a-kind Christmas extravaganza! </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Christmas at Birdland is distributed to retail and digital outlets worldwide by Sony/Provident. It is available for pre-order at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and target.com. </span></p>
<p>Photo Credit: Mary Alice Lovelace</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/01fc64219e52d7c2e0ae1d78b17ebb7461af04ed/original/tn-500-k6tpg6ow.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/5e70af49ccbdb536a76eada26215759472986e01/original/tn-500-1sovduaa.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/a8114a68f7ab31d61bac27d009b4bfb4090c8c62/original/tn-500-ebv49sbq.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/f80355721d18fb80b3f22a850c3e6427268c2b5b/original/tn-500-fsjj4emw.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/c00703fc0d6b77e2e942e6b80a8fb81e33e945ea/original/tn-500-heud1oaw.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/471501f2923aa69ed5b43f9ecea5cd62a62f1766/original/tn-500-p3ytvhxq.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/374a05b09fcfeeb51649d6b7b7c046957b7ff78e/original/tn-500-v157plwg.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/ec2b8765bcd64244d14bb772d6a06e7a773d9815/original/tn-500-rhxapdgw.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/8a58ef8e4c1b878ce9251312bbb64e1bb36d3391/original/tn-500-mkxlr5w.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/ce1d3fa774a3133bb413194c5ab5792590fb53b9/original/tn-500-juihl9ms.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/ce8da1739619c7b4daace1bf5be40e044af60bc3/original/tn-500-kwyhtgta.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/bdaa42b570b3b60640d3f6b77118ec8b530f7a04/original/tn-500-omziwkyg.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/59282422019-10-18T09:00:00-04:002020-10-21T08:54:31-04:00Highly-Anticipated Christmas at Birdland Releases Worldwide<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/024fafe04b79f2d1b38e4af4690170554c84c948/original/2019-christmas-at-birdland-digital.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p><strong>Nashville, TN (October 18, 2019) – <em>Christmas at Birdland</em></strong> featuring <strong>Billy Stritch, Jim Caruso and Klea Blackhurst</strong>, releases today at retail and digital outlets worldwide. The highly-anticipated project is the first release on <strong>Club44 Records</strong>, a new label which aims to highlight the Broadway, cabaret and jazz genres and provide a home for artists who represent this timeless music. Drawing on their individual strengths, the production team of Billy Stritch and <strong>Wayne Haun</strong> bring the best of New York and Nashville together in this landmark recording. </p>
<p>Billy, Jim and Klea each bring unique talents to the table making this trio unstoppable. When joined with the stellar musicianship of bassist <strong>Steve Doyle</strong> and drummer <strong>Daniel Glass</strong>, everything you want in a holiday performance is present: musicality, versatility, familiarity and fun. </p>
<p>The first of several delightful surprises on <em>Christmas at Birdland</em> comes on the very first track when special guest <strong>Donny Osmond</strong> sings with the trio on “It’s the Holiday Season.” Jim shares, “The concept for our original Birdland show was to give a sense of the great 60's and 70's Christmas TV specials we grew up loving. Klea grew up in Utah, obsessing over her neighbors, the Osmonds. Billy was fascinated by the tight harmonies they sang. And as an only child, I wanted nothing more than to be part of a family band! Donny's name came up at our first album meeting. I texted him, and within two minutes, received the one word response, ‘Yes!’ With all he has going on in his life and career, he was incredibly generous to lend us his time and considerable talents!” </p>
<p>Saxophonist <strong>Dave Koz</strong> is featured on two songs, “Silent Night/A Child is Born” with Klea, and “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)” with Billy. “About 20 years ago, Jim and I met the great sax player Dave Koz,” reveals Billy, “and he became an instant friend. When we were starting to put the album together, we wondered if perhaps Dave would be gracious enough to lend his talents to a couple of cuts. All we had to do was call him and he was there the next day! Working in the studio with him was so much fun and because I know him so well it was so easy to convey exactly the feeling I was going for. Having his incredible and soulful playing is such a beautiful asset to the finished product!” </p>
<p>A show-stopping moment on the project is Klea’s rendition of <strong>Cy Coleman</strong>’s “He’s Stuck in the Chimney Again.” This treasure of a song was unearthed at Notable Music and had never been recorded – until now. Being able to premiere this song is a highlight for the group. Billy Stritch writes, “One of the great advantages of moving to New York in the late 80s was the fact that I got to meet so many terrific composers like Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn. The friendship that means the most to me is the one that I forged with the great <strong>Cy Coleman.</strong> We all know Cy was the writer of a dozen fabulous Broadway shows and dozens of wonderful hit songs, and the fact that he took me under his wing was a thrill and an honor for me. After Cy’s untimely death, I went deeper into his catalog and was able to unearth some wonderful unrecorded gems for a show that I put together in New York. One of the songs is “He’s Stuck in the Chimney Again,” a delightful holiday song that he co-wrote with Floyd Huddleston. It appeals to the child in all of us with that humor and wonderful imagery, and we are thrilled to be giving it its very first recording after all these years!” </p>
<p>Fans will love the familiar tunes and playful moments as the energy and fun of the stage show, <strong><em>A Swinging Birdland Christmas</em></strong>, is fantastically captured in this recording. The live show celebrates its tenth year at <strong>Birdland Jazz Club</strong> this year, December 21-25. With a history of sold-out performances, patrons will want to plan to get tickets early for this annual event. “It's thrilling to be part of a yearly event that has become many people's holiday tradition!” reflects Jim. “We feel like the Rockettes! Some folks haven't missed a single year! The show has certainly become a beloved part of our holidays, too. Billy, Klea, Daniel, Steve and I always trade presents and celebrate with a huge feast on Christmas night. For me, it's being part of the family band I always hoped and prayed for.” </p>
<p>Co-producer and Club44 Records co-owner Wayne Haun feels that they have achieved his vision with this project. “<em>A Swinging Birdland Christmas</em> has been a New York mainstay for ten years now. As successful as the show has been, we knew it was time to capture that spirit and energy in the recording studio.” </p>
<p>Billy echoes that sentiment, “I can’t tell you how thrilled I was when Wayne Haun told us that he wanted to take us all into the studio and record our Christmas show for posterity. We couldn’t have imagined how well taken care of we would be by him and the whole crew at Club44 Records.” </p>
<p><em>Christmas at Birdland</em> is distributed internationally by <strong>Sony/Provident</strong>. </p>
<p><strong>TRACK LISTING:</strong><br>Christmas is Starting Now / It’s the Holiday Season <br>The Christmas Waltz<br>Manhattan in December<br>You Meet the Nicest People<br>Mister Santa <br>He’s Stuck in the Chimney Again<br>Little Jack Frost Get Lost<br>Caroling, Caroling (instrumental)<br>It Happened in Sun Valley / Snow<br>Silent Night / A Child Is Born<br>Winter Weather / Winter Night<br>The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)<br>Kay Thompson’s Jingle Bells <br> </p>
<p><strong>ABOUT BILLY STRITCH: </strong><br>Billy Stritch is one of the premier singer-pianists on the New York and national jazz and cabaret scene. His most recent nightclub act “Billy Stritch Sings the Mel Tormé Songbook” earned rave reviews from the New York critics. Stritch has appeared in cabaret venues across the nation as well as concert performances at the London Palladium, NHK Hall in Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro’s Municipale Auditorium. In New York, he has performed at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall and was onstage in the 2001 Broadway revival of 42nd Street, which starred Christine Ebersole. Billy is also a songwriter and arranger, and his composition “Does He Love You” was recorded by Reba McEntire and Linda Davis. The single reached the number one spot on the Billboard Country chart, winning a Grammy Award and selling over five million copies along the way. He has arranged for many top performers and is a frequent collaborator with Liza Minnelli, having written the arrangements for Minnelli On Minnelli at the Palace Theater, Liza’s Christmas at Town Hall, and was musical supervisor and pianist for the Tony Award-winning, Liza’s At The Palace. Last year, he performed as musical director/pianist on dozens of dates with Tony Bennett. Billy has played and sung on numerous television shows including “The Rosie O’Donnell Show,” “Oprah,” “The CBS Morning Show,” “The Today Show” and “Inside The Actor’s Studio”. He is the winner of the Nashville Music City News Award, a BMI Song of the Year Award, and four awards from the Manhattan Association of Clubs and Cabarets. </p>
<p><strong>ABOUT JIM CARUSO: </strong><br>Jim Caruso made his Broadway debut alongside Liza Minnelli in the Tony Award-winning Liza’s At The Palace!, singing, dancing and celebrating the music and arrangements of Kay Thompson and the Williams Brothers. He has won six MAC Awards for his nightclub appearances, four BroadwayWorld Awards, has performed with the New York Pops in a tribute to Kander & Ebb, with Rosemary Clooney celebrating Bing Crosby, and singing the songs of Hope & Crosby with Michael Feinstein, all at Carnegie Hall. Jim was honored to sing with Barbara Cook, Lauren Bacall and a bevy of Broadway stars at President Clinton’s First State Dinner at the White House. For seventeen years, he has hosted the weekly showbiz bash "Jim Caruso’s Cast Party” at Birdland, Town Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center and across the country. He has produced over 800 Broadway at Birdland concerts, and his weekly radio segment, “A New York Minute with Jim Caruso” can be heard on Legends Radio 100.3 FM. His two CDs, “The Swing Set” and "Caruso Live and In Person" are available online. </p>
<p><strong>ABOUT KLEA BLACKHURST: </strong><br>Klea Blackhurst is an actress, singer and comedienne known for her award-winning tribute to Ethel Merman, Everything The Traffic Will Allow. Most recently she appeared Off-Broadway with Hayley Mills in the comedy, Party Face, at City Center Stage 2. She starred in Hazel during its world premiere production at Drury Lane in Chicago, as Dolly Levi in the highly acclaimed Fiftieth Anniversary production of Hello, Dolly! at The Goodspeed Opera House. She’s performed with symphony orchestras and in theatrical productions across the country and abroad including the London Palladium presentation of Jerry Herman’s Broadway with Angela Lansbury, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra tribute to Marvin Hamlisch,, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, 15 Mabel Mercer Foundation Cabaret Conventions, New York’s Town Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, New York’s 92nd Street Y Lyrics & Lyricists, The Chicago Humanities Festival and as Ado Annie in the BBC Proms concert of Oklahoma! in London’s Royal Albert Hall. On television she has appeared in Ryan Murphy’s Pose and The Knick, on Showtime. She spent two seasons as former prosecutor, Shelby Cross, on the IFC Channel comedy series, Onion News Network. She’s done the requisite Law and Order: SVU, spent a week on Sesame Street and was a musical guest on The Rosie O’Donnell Show. </p>
<p><strong>ABOUT CLUB44 RECORDS: </strong><br>Based in the Music City of Nashville, Tennessee, Club44 Records is an independent label that specializes in the Cabaret, Broadway and Jazz genres, as well as the preservation of the American Songbook. Their premier studio release, Christmas at Birdland, drops October 18, 2019 and features award-winning artists Jim Caruso, Billy Stritch and Klea Blackhurst. Club44 Records has additional projects scheduled for early 2020 and is excited to serve as the creative home for many singers, instrumentalists and writers. They are distributed worldwide through Provident/Sony Distribution. </p>
<p>www.club44records.com</p>Club44 Recordstag:club44records.com,2005:Post/59281982019-09-18T10:00:00-04:002020-10-20T15:05:36-04:00New Record Label Focusing on the American Songbook Launches in Nashville, TN<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/402884/6df1301285d7544e35ead9739ec2e602a179949f/original/club44-provident-team.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_xl justify_left border_" /><strong>Nashville, TN (September 18, 2019) – Club44 Records</strong> announced its opening earlier this month with an exciting reception in Nashville which included a veritable who’s who of industry professionals across all genres of music. With years of experience and excellence in the music business, Club44 Records aims to highlight Broadway, cabaret and jazz genres, and provide a home for artists who represent this timeless music. Their first release, Christmas at Birdland, features well-known Broadway artists <strong>Billy Stritch, Jim Caruso and Klea Blackhurst</strong> and will release October 18, 2019. </p>
<p>A&R Director, <strong>Joel Lindsey</strong>, shares, “I love the music of the American Songbook. It represents some of the finest vocalists, musicians, songs and songwriters in our history. What a great thrill it is for me to partner with some of the best in the business to bring this music to some new places and to reconnect with some old ones.” </p>
<p>Industry veteran <strong>Wayne Haun</strong> is elated to have the opportunity to produce projects in these genres. As someone who enjoys many different styles of music, he lends his expertise to the quality production Club44 Records promises to deliver. “In my 25 years of production and arranging, it has always been a goal to collaborate with artists from both the Broadway stage and the cabaret scene,” Haun explains. “The talent pool from that world amazes me. Their passion, endurance and ability to capture an audience, no matter the size, can give me chills, move me to tears and make me laugh within the same hour. Now I get to be a part of their world, and I am simply humbled.” </p>
<p>Club44 Records has several projects in the works for 2020, including an instrumental recording of highlights from Les Misérables with <strong>Brian Eads</strong> (pianist and current musical director/conductor of the National Tour), <strong>David T. Clydesdale</strong> and the <strong>City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra</strong>. All projects are distributed to digital and retail outlets worldwide by <strong>Sony/Provident</strong>. </p>
<p><strong>ABOUT CLUB44 RECORDS: </strong><br>Based in the Music City of Nashville, Tennessee, Club44 Records is an independent label that specializes in the cabaret, Broadway and jazz genres, as well as the preservation of the American Songbook. Their premier studio release, Christmas at Birdland, drops October 18, 2019 and features award-winning artists Jim Caruso, Billy Stritch and Klea Blackhurst. Club44 Records has additional projects scheduled for early 2020 and is excited to serve as the creative home for many singers, instrumentalists and writers. They are distributed worldwide through Sony/Provident Distribution. </p>
<p><a contents="www.club44records.com" data-link-label="HOME" data-link-type="page" href="/home">www.club44records.com</a> </p>
<p>Media Contact:<br>Joel Lindsey<br>A&R Director<br>joel@club44records.com</p>Club44 Records