PASADENA SYMPHONY AND POPS ANNOUNCE STAR-STUDDED LINE-UP FOR MOONLIGHT SONATA VIRTUAL FUNDRAISING EVENT
Pasadena, CA – Join the Pasadena Symphony Association for an unforgettable evening of music and entertainment on Saturday, September 12, 2020 at 6pm PST as they transform the annual Moonlight Sonata Gala into a unique online experience. The party will come to you via a live-streamed special event featuring exclusive performances from Pasadena Symphony and POPS artists, an exciting live auction, Fund the Future paddle raise for music education, and a digital dance floor. Festivities for the Moonlight Sonata Virtual Event will open at noon on Thursday, September 10, 2020 with a dedicated gala website offering one-of-a-kind, interactive content to get you ready to join in on the fun, including a special menu from Restaurant Partner Parkway Grill, messages from surprise guests and more.
An exciting line-up of special guests are on the docket for Saturday evening’s live-streamed event. On the Classical side, the orchestra’s own Assistant Concertmaster Elizabeth Hedman will perform a duet with Principal Second Violin Sara Parkins of the Eroica Trio. Attendees will also be treated to exclusive performances by Principal Pops Conductor Michael Feinstein, and favorite guest stars of POPS past including star of stage and screen Cheyenne Jackson, and Grammy Award-winning Jazz songstress Catherine Russell. To top off the evening, “The New Voice of the American Rock ‘n Roll Songbook” (Billboard), Michael Cavanaugh will host a live digital dancefloor, where he will perform hits from Elton John, Billy Joel and more from his home studio. This not-to-be-missed event will be hosted by Music Director David Lockington with appearances by Resident Pops Conductor Larry Blank.
All proceeds will support the relaunch of the Pasadena Symphony and POPS’ live performances when it is safe to resume operations. Participation in this year’s Moonlight Sonata Virtual Gala is at no cost, but attendees must register through a secure website prior to the event. For more information or to register to attend, please visit PasadenaSymphony-Pops.org/MoonlightSonata2020.
IF YOU GO:
What: The Pasadena Symphony and POPS 2020 Moonlight Sonata Vritual Fundraising Event
Who: Music Director David Lockington, Principal Pops Conductor Michael Feinstein, Resident Pops Conductor Larry Blank, Michael Cavanaugh, Cheyenne Jackson, Catherine Russell, Elizabeth Hedman, Sara Parkins
When: September 10-12, 2020. Live-streamed event: Saturday, September 12, 2020 at 6pm PST.
Where: PasadenaSymphony-Pops.org/MoonlightSonata2020
Cost: Admission is free, but guests must register to attend the live-streamed event here: PasadenaSymphony-Pops.org/MoonlightSonata2020
ABOUT THE PASADENA SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION
Recent Acclaim for the Pasadena Symphony and POPS:
“The Pasadena Symphony signals a new direction…teeming with vitality…dripping with opulent, sexy emotion.” Los Angeles Times.
“…full of pulsating energy from first note to last… the strings were lushly resonant, the wind principals were at the top of their games, and the brass rang out with gleaming vigor.” –Pasadena Star News.
Formed in 1928, the Pasadena Symphony and POPS is an ensemble of Hollywood’s most talented, sought after musicians. With extensive credits in the film, television, recording and orchestral industry, the artists of Pasadena Symphony and POPS are the most heard in the world.
The Pasadena Symphony and POPS performs in two of the most extraordinary venues in the United States: Ambassador Auditorium, known as the Carnegie Hall of the West, and the luxuriant Los Angeles Arboretum & Botanic Garden. Internationally recognized, Grammy-nominated conductor, David Lockington, serves as the Pasadena Symphony Association’s Music Director, with performance-practice specialist Nicholas McGegan serving as Principal Guest Conductor. The multi-platinum-selling, two-time Emmy and five-time Grammy Award-nominated entertainer dubbed “The Ambassador of the Great American Songbook,” Michael Feinstein, is the Principal Pops Conductor, who succeeded Marvin Hamlisch in the newly created Marvin Hamlisch Chair.
A hallmark of its robust education programs, the Pasadena Symphony Association has served the youth of the region for over five decades through the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestras (PYSO), comprised of five performing ensembles with over 300 gifted 4th-12th grade students from more than 50 schools all over the Southern California region. The PYSO has toured internationally at prestigious venues in New York, Vienna, and most recently San Jose, Costa Rica. They regularly perform throughout Southern California and have appeared on the popular television show GLEE.
The PSA provides people from all walks of life with powerful access points to the world of symphonic music.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
David Lockington
Music Director
Over the past thirty years, David Lockington has developed an impressive conducting career in the United States. A native of Great Britain, he served as the Music Director of the Grand Rapids Symphony from January 1999 to May 2015, and is currently the orchestra’s Conductor Laureate. He has held the position of Music Director with the Modesto Symphony since May 2007 and in March 2013, Mr. Lockington was appointed Music Director of the Pasadena Symphony. He has a close relationship with the Orquesta Sinfonica del Principado de Asturias in Spain, where he was the orchestra’s Principal Guest Conductor from 2012 through 2016, and in the 15/16 season was named one of three Artistic Partners with the Northwest Sinfonietta in Tacoma, Washington.
In addition to his current posts, since his arrival to the United States in 1978 Mr. Lockington has held positions with several other American orchestras, including serving as Assistant Conductor of the Denver Symphony Orchestra and Opera Colorado, and Assistant and Associate Conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. In May 1993 he accepted the position of Music Director of the Ohio Chamber Orchestra, assumed the title of Music Director of the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra in September 1995 and was Music Director of the Long Island Philharmonic for the 96/97 through 99/2000 seasons.
Mr. Lockington’s guest conducting engagements include appearances with the Saint Louis, Houston, Detroit, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver, Oregon and Phoenix symphonies; the Rochester and Louisiana Philharmonics; and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s at Carnegie Hall. Internationally, he has conducted the Northern Sinfonia in Great Britain, the Israel Chamber Orchestra, the China Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra in Beijing and Taiwan, and led the English Chamber Orchestra on a tour in Asia.
Recent and upcoming guest conducting engagements include appearances with the New Jersey, Indianapolis, Utah, Pacific, Colorado, Nashville, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Stamford, Tucson and Kansas City symphonies, the Florida and Louisville Orchestras, the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa and the Buffalo, Calgary and Oklahoma Philharmonics. Mr. Lockington’s summer festival activities include appearances at the Grand Teton, Colorado Music, Interlochen, Chautauqua and Eastern Music festivals.
David Lockington began his career as a cellist and was the Principal with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain for two years. After completing his Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Cambridge where he was a choral scholar, Mr. Lockington came to the United States on a scholarship to Yale University where he received his Master’s Degree in cello performance and studied conducting with Otto Werner Mueller. He was a member of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra and served as assistant principal cellist with the Denver Symphony Orchestra for three years before turning to conducting.
Michael Feinstein
Principal Pops Conductor
Michael Feinstein has built a dazzling career over the last three decades bringing the music of the Great American songbook to the world. From recordings that have earned him five Grammy Award nominations to his Emmy nominated PBS-TV specials, his acclaimed NPR series and concerts spanning the globe – in addition to his appearances at iconic venues such as The White House, Buckingham Palace, Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall and Sydney Opera House – his work as an educator and archivist define Feinstein as one of the most important musical forces of our time.
In 2007, he founded the Great American Songbook Foundation, dedicated to celebrating the art form and preserving it through educational programs, Master Classes, and the annual High School Songbook Academy. This summer intensive open to students from across the country has produced graduates who have gone on to record acclaimed albums and appear on television programs such as NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.” Michael serves on the Library of Congress’ National Recording Preservation Board, an organization dedicated to ensuring the survival, conservation and increased public availability of America’s sound recording heritage.
The most recent album from his multi-platinum recording career is A Michael Feinstein Christmas from Concord Records. The CD features Grammy Award -winning jazz pianist Alan Broadbent (Paul McCartney, Diana Krall, Natalie Cole). Feinstein earned his fifth Grammy Award nomination in 2009 for The Sinatra Project, his CD celebrating the music of “Ol’ Blue Eyes.” The Sinatra Project, Volume II: The Good Life was released in 2011. He released the CDs The Power Of Two – collaborating with “Glee” and “30 Rock” star Cheyenne Jackson – and Cheek To Cheek, recorded with Broadway legend Barbara Cook. For Feinstein’s CD We Dreamed These Days, he co-wrote the title song with Dr. Maya Angelou.
His Emmy Award-nominated TV special Michael Feinstein – The Sinatra Legacy, which was taped live at the Palladium in Carmel, IN, aired across the country in 2011. The PBS series “Michael Feinstein’s American Songbook,” the recipient of the ASCAP Deems-Taylor Television Broadcast Award, was broadcast for three seasons and is available on DVD. His most recent primetime PBS-TV Special, “New Year’s Eve at The Rainbow Room” – written and directed by “Desperate Housewives” creator Marc Cherry – aired in 2014. For his nationally syndicated public radio program “Song Travels,” Michael interviews and performs alongside of music luminaries such as Bette Midler, Neil Sedaka, Liza Minnelli, Rickie Lee Jones, David Hyde Pierce and more.
Feinstein was named Principal Pops Conductor for the Pasadena Symphony in 2012 and made his conducting debut in June 2013 to celebrated critical acclaim. Under Feinstein’s leadership, the Pasadena Pops has quickly become a premier orchestral presenter of the Great American Songbook with definitive performances of rare orchestrations and classic arrangements. He launched an additional Pops series at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in Palm Beach, Florida in 2014. Michael’s book The Gershwins and Me – the Los Angeles Times best-seller from Simon & Schuster – features a new CD of Gershwin standards performed with Cyrus Chestnut at the piano.
Feinstein serves as Artistic Director of the Palladium Center for the Performing Arts, a $170 million, three-theatre venue in Carmel, Indiana, which opened in January 2011. The theater is home to diverse live programming and a museum for his rare memorabilia and manuscripts. Since 1999, he has served as Artistic Director for Carnegie Hall’s “Standard Time with Michael Feinstein” in conjunction with ASCAP. In 2010 he became the director of the Jazz and Popular Song Series at New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Feinstein’s at the Nikko, Michael’s nightclub at San Francisco’s Nikko Hotel, has presented the top talents of pop and jazz since 2013. He debuted at Feinstein’s/54 Below, his new club in New York, late in 2015. His first venue in New York, Feinstein’s at the Regency, featured major entertainers such as Rosemary Clooney, Glen Campbell, Barbara Cook, Diahann Carroll, Jane Krakowski, Lea Michele, Cyndi Lauper, Jason Mraz and Alan Cumming from 1999 to 2012.
He has designed a new piano for Steinway called “The First Ladies,” inspired by the White House piano and signed by several former First Ladies. It was first played to commemorate the Ronald Regan centennial on February 6, 2011.
In 2013 Michael released Change Of Heart: The Songs of Andre Previn in collaboration with four time Oscar and eleven time Grammy Award-winning composer-conductor-pianist Andre Previn. The album celebrates Previn’s pop songs and motion picture classics. Earlier album highlights include Hopeless Romantics, a songbook of classics by Michael’s late friend Harry Warren, recording with legendary jazz pianist George Shearing. His album with songwriting icon Jimmy Webb, Only One Life – The Songs of Jimmy Webb, was named one of “10 Best CDs of the Year” by USA Today.
Feinstein received his fourth Grammy nomination for Michael Feinstein with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, his first recording with a symphony orchestra. The year before, Rhino/Elektra Music released The Michael Feinstein Anthology, a two-disc compilation spanning 1987 to 1996 and featuring old favorites and previously-unreleased tracks.
Michael was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, where he started playing piano by ear as a 5-year-old. After graduating from high school, he moved to Los Angeles when he was 20. The widow of legendary concert pianist-actor Oscar Levant introduced him to Ira Gershwin in July 1977. Feinstein became Gershwin’s assistant for six years, which earned him access to numerous unpublished Gershwin songs, many of which he has since performed and recorded. Gershwin’s influence provided a solid base upon which Feinstein evolved into a captivating performer, composer and arranger of his own original music. He also has become an unparalleled interpreter of music legends such as Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer, Duke Ellington and Harry Warren. Feinstein has received three honorary doctorates.
Through his live performances, recordings, film and television appearances, and his songwriting (in collaboration with Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Lindy Robbins, Bob Merrill and Marshall Barer), Feinstein is an all-star force in American music.
For more information, please visit www.MichaelFeinstein.com.
Larry Blank
Resident Pops Conductor
Resident Pops Conductor, Larry Blank is one of the most prolific and sought-after composers, conductors, and orchestrators in the entertainment business today. His work has been presented all over the world, including some of Broadway’s most successful musicals, Carnegie Hall, and top television and film projects.
He was the Music Director/Conductor and/or vocal arranger for many shows on Broadway and in Los Angeles including They’re Playing Our Song, Evita, Sugar Babies, La Cage Aux Folles, Phantom Of The Opera, Onward Victoria, Copperfield, Colette, A Chorus Line and A Little Night Music. He has been nominated three times for both the Tony Award and the Drama Desk Award for his orchestrations in The Drowsy Chaperone, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas and with Marc Shaiman for Catch Me If You Can. Larry received a Drama Desk Nomination for orchestrations for A Christmas Story
Larry contributed to the orchestrations for both the stage and film production of The Producers, the film Chicago and is a regular conductor and arranger for BBC RADIO 2 Friday Night Is Music Night in the UK. Larry is also the Music Supervisor and Orchestrator (along with Mark Cumberland) for the Olivier Awards in London.
Blank has worked with top talent from varied fields of the entertainment world, notably as personal conductor to Michael Crawford. He has also worked with Michael Feinstein, Marvin Hamlisch, Bernadette Peters, Kelsey Grammar, Christine Baranski, Roberta Flack, Pete Fountain, Peabo Bryson, Sally Kellerman, Nancy Dussault, Marc Shaiman, Jerry Herman, Ann- Margaret, Davis Gaines, Bette Midler, George Benson, Placido Domingo, Randy Newman, Trisha Yearwood, Tom Scott, Quincy Jones, Michael Bolton, John Raitt and Diana Rigg.
Blank’s background includes orchestrating and arranging songs for South Park and was Music Supervisor and Orchestrator for Jerry Herman’s movie, Mrs. Santa Claus starring Angela Lansbury and Charles Durning. Some of the films he lent his talent to include The Kid, Kiss The Girls, The American President, Forget Paris, City Slickers II, The Net, That¹s Entertainment III, North, I¹d Do Anything, and Stuart Saves His Family. Blank’s music can be heard on the animated feature films, Cats Don’t Dance and All Dogs Go To Heaven as well as the 101 Dalmations Christmas Special.
Mr. Blank’s television work includes orchestrating and composing music for several of the Grammy Awards and Academy Award shows as well as numerous television movies and shows.
Mr. Blank has guest conducted most of the orchestras throughout the world, including The San Francisco Symphony, The New York Philharmonic, Western Australia Symphony Orchestra, The Los Angeles Philharmonic, Palm Beach Pops, Auckland Symphony, The National Symphony Orchestra, The Boston Pops, The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Calgary Symphony, New Orleans Symphony and Toronto.
Michael Cavanaugh
Soloist
Michael Cavanaugh is the New Voice of the American Rock & Roll Songbook. A charismatic performer, musician and actor, made famous for his piano/lead vocals in the Broadway Musical Movin’ Out. Cavanaugh was handpicked by Billy Joel to star in title role and evokes a style rivaling the Piano Man. Michael appeared in the show for 3 years and over 1200 performances, receiving accolade after accolade, which culminated in 2003 with both Grammy and Tony award nominations.
Michael began playing at age 7, when his parents bought their first piano. Encouraged by family and friends, and inspired by his hero Billy Joel, Michael formed his first band at age 10 and began playing local functions, fine-tuning the craft that would become his chosen career. His first full time gig as a musician was an extended engagement in Orlando Florida at a piano bar called Blazing Pianos. In January of 1999, Michael received an offer that would unknowingly change his life, with an opportunity to play Las Vegas at the famed “New York, New York Hotel and Casino.” It was there that Billy Joel spotted Michael and joined him on stage one fateful night of February 2001. It only took 2 songs before Billy was convinced that he had found his new Piano Man, Michael Cavanaugh. Michael closed up shop at New York, New York and moved to New York City to work alongside Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp, to shape the Broadway Musical that would be called Movin’ Out.
With the close of Movin’ Out at the end of 2005, Michael began touring in his own right, creating a show that reinterprets the modern pop/rock songbook. Michael soon became one of the hottest artist’s in the corporate/events market. He continues to perform worldwide for company and charity events as well as sporting events including PGA tour events, the US Open, the Indy 500. It wasn’t long before Symphony Orchestras discovered Michael’s talents and audience appeal. He accepted his first orchestral booking, Michael Cavanaugh – The Songs of Billy Joel and more which debuted in April of 2008 with the Indianapolis Symphony and continues to tour. In October 2008, he signed with Warner/ADA to distribute his first CD titled In Color. In June, 2010, Michael debuted his second symphony show in the Generations of Rock series entitled Michael Cavanaugh: The Songs of Elton John and more and then debuted his third symphony show Singers and Songwriters: the music of Paul Simon, Neil Diamond and James Taylor in 2012. He continues to tour all three symphony productions.
Elizabeth Hedman
Assistant Concertmaster
Elizabeth Hedman started playing the violin at the age of six, on an instrument given to her by her piano teacher, whose father had been a violin maker. Since that time, Ms. Hedman has soloed with numerous orchestras, including The Santa Barbara Symphony, The National Repertory Orchestra, The Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra, The Northwest Chamber Orchestra and The Seattle Youth Symphony.
Her education includes Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she won both the Concerto Competition and the Valedictory Award and was teaching assistant to Donald Weilerstein.
Currently, Elizabeth enjoys a diverse musical career. She is Associate Concertmaster for the Santa Barbara Symphony as well as a member of the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra and the Pasadena Symphony and Pops. Elizabeth plays regularly with the Los Angeles Opera, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and the Los Angeles Master Chorale. She is a member of the newly formed Pasadena String Quartet. Since 2009 she has been performing at the renowned Oregon Bach Festival, where she has acted as Principal Second for select performances. She is currently on the violin faculty at The Pasadena Conservatory of Music and Pasadena City College.
Cheyenne Jackson
Soloist
Cheyenne Jackson is a Grammy-nominated actor, singer, and songwriter. He recently finished a critically acclaimed run of The Most Happy Fella in New York City. Ben Brantley of The New York Times declared his portrayal of Joey “perfect.” In the fall of 2012, he starred on Broadway opposite Henry Winkler, Ari Graynor, and Alicia Silverstone in David West Read’s play The Performers. He also appeared in Steven Soderbergh’s award-winning Behind The Candelabra, with Michael Douglas and Matt Damon, as well as the NBC TV pilot Mockingbird Lane. In September 2012, Cheyenne appeared in the PBS concert special From Dust To Dreams.
Jackson has appeared in numerous films including the 2006 Academy Award-nominated United 93; The Green, opposite Julia Ormond and Ileana Douglas; Price Check with Parker Posey; and Lola Versus with Greta Gerwig. Upcoming films include: Love is Strange with John Lithgow, Marisa Tomei, and Alfred Molina, which opened at Sundance and will be released nationwide by Sony Pictures Classics in 2014; Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks opposite Gena Rowlands, Jacki Weaver and Rita Moreno; Mutual Friends; Opening Night with Anthony Rapp; Beautiful Now; and Zoe Cassavetes’ new film Day out of Days with Eddie Izzard and Melanie Griffith. He most recently starred as Hades in Disney’s Descendants 3.
On and off Broadway, Jackson has starred in 8, Finian’s Rainbow (Drama Desk nomination), Damn Yankees, Xanadu (Drama League and Drama Desk nominations), The Agony & the Agony, All Shook Up (Theater World Award, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle nominations), the premiere cast of Altar Boyz, Aida, Thoroughly Modern Millie, On the 20th Century, and The 24 Hour Plays.
On television, Jackson appeared on NBC’s 30 Rock as “Danny Baker” for four seasons, and portrayed the dastardly “Dustin Goolsby,” aka “Sargeant Handsome,” the new coach of Vocal Adrenaline, on Glee. Other television credits include American Horror Story, Family Practice, Life on Mars, Ugly Betty, It Takes a Village, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Local Talent, HR, Law and Order, and the upcoming spinoff of CSI with Patricia Arquette. His latest pilot, OPEN, on HBO, was written by Ryan Murphy and Dexter’s Lauren Gussis. It stars Jennifer Jason Leigh, Michelle Moynihan, Scott Speedman and Wes Bentley, and was completed in March.
In concert, Jackson has sold out Carnegie Hall twice, in “The Power of Two” in 2010 with Michael Feinstein followed by his solo debut concert with the New York Pops, and at The Kennedy Center in 2012.
Jackson plays an active role in a variety of charities focusing on social issues which include LGBT rights, marriage equality, animal welfare, and HIV/AIDS research. He is an international ambassador for The Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) and serves as the national ambassador and spokesperson for The Hetrick-Martin Institute and the Harvey Milk High School. Jackson also actively supports “The Trevor Project” and GLSEN.
For his self-penned current album released last year on Sony/ATV, I’m Blue, Skies, he collaborated with Sia, Stevie Aiello, and Charlotte Sometimes. In 2012 he released his first three singles, “Drive,” the Top 40 hit “Before You,” and “Don’t Wanna Know,” all produced by Thomas “Tawgs” Salter.
For his many accomplishments and activism, Jackson was recently named Out Magazine’s “Entertainer of the Year.”
Sara Parkins
Violin
Violinist Sara Parkins is a Grammy award winner for Best Chamber Music Performance of the complete recordings of the Haydn String Quartets with the Angeles Quartet. Sara is a member of the acclaimed Eroica Trio. Along with the trio repertoire, the Eroica Trio performs the Beethoven Triple Concerto with orchestras in North America and Europe.
Sara has a strong interest in contemporary music and is a member of The Eclipse Quartet, which focuses on playing living composers. Her Piano trio, Mojave, performs new music as well as the great traditional works of past centuries. She is an active studio musician and was a member of the Rosetti String Quartet.
In addition, Sara has performed with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s in New York City and is currently the principal second violinist with the Pasadena Symphony. Ms. Parkins has performed at the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, the Banff Centre, Strings in the Mountains and the Bravo Festival in Vail, Colorado. Internationally, Sara has participated at the Taklos Festival in Zurich, The Wels Unlimited Festival, the Festival Internationale de Cadaques in Spain and in Eisenstadt, Austria. Sara is featured on Phillips Classics, Victo, Avant and Tzadik recording labels. Other international performances include, but are not limited to, Buenos Aries, Ljubljana, Prague, Russia, Austria and Germany as a Chamber Musician and Soloist.
Sara attended the Curtis Institute of Music and SUNY at Stony Brook. She lives in Los Angeles and loves the sunshine despite the traffic!
Catherine Russell
Soloist
Vocalist Catherine Russell is a native New Yorker, born into musical royalty. Her father, the late Luis Russell, was a pioneering pianist/composer/bandleader and Louis Armstrong’s long-time musical director. Her mother, Carline Ray has performed with Mary Lou Williams and International Sweethearts of Rhythm. Catherine’s professional life began early. After graduating with honors from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, she embarked upon musical adventures with Carrie Smith, Steely Dan, David Bowie, Cyndi Lauper, Paul Simon, Jackson Browne, Michael Feinstein, Levon Helm, and Rosanne Cash.
Her 2006 debut album “Cat”, (World Village/Harmonia Mundi), garnered rave reviews, paving the way for her 2008 sophomore release, “Sentimental Streak”. Catherine has been a guest on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, PBS-TV’s Tavis Smiley Show, and NPR’s Fresh Air, Piano Jazz, Mountain Stage, World Café, and JazzSet. She has won a prestigious German Record Critics’ Award and a Living Blues magazine’s critics’ poll. L’Acadamie du Jazz in France chose “Sentimental Streak” as finaliste for Prix du Jazz Vocal. Catherine Russell’s third album, “Inside This Heart of Mine”, reached #1 on JazzWeek and Roots Music Report’s radio charts, while also charting on Billboard and reaching #1 on I-Tunes jazz charts. A fourth album, “Strictly Romancin’” was released in February 2012. Catherine Russell won a Grammy Award as a featured artist on the soundtrack album for the HBO-TV series, Boardwalk Empire.
With universal acclaim, Catherine Russell has performed on three continents. She’s been a hit at major Jazz Festivals including Monterey, Newport, North Sea, JazzAscona, Montreal, Bern, Rochester International, Tanglewood, and at sold out venues like The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Scullers in Boston, The Dakota in Minneapolis, Dizzy’s Club in NYC, and Yoshi’s in San Francisco. All Music Guide says, “Russell emerged as a retro old school vocalist for the ages.”
Her repertoire features a selection of gems from the 1920s through the present; vital interpretations, bursting with soul and humor. With an off-the-beaten-path song selection, sparkling acoustic swing, and a stunning vocal approach, Catherine Russell has joined the ranks of the greatest interpreters and performers of American Popular Song.
