THE JAZZ STANDARD - DECEMBER 4, 2006
Monday Off, the jazz vocal quartet hailed by the late Skitch Henderson as having “exquisite taste, rich creativity, fresh ideas, spread over a palate of standard repertoire" is celebrating the release of their long-awaited, self-titled CD at The Jazz Standard on December 4, 2006 with sets at 7:30 and 9:30 PM. This long awaited follow-up to their debut album showcases songs from the Broadway stage, vocalese with original lyrics and jazz favorites including “I've Got the World on a String", “Wouldn't It Be Loverly". “Cute" and “So Danco Samba." The official release date for this album is November 28, 2006. Joining Monday Off (Amy Cervini, Hilary Gardner, Richard Roland and Raymond Sage) will be Michael Cabe on piano, Mark Lau on bass and Ernesto Cervini on drums. Also joining Monday Off will be special guest Joel Frahm on saxophones.
Monday Off is an exciting addition to the world of vocal jazz. The groups' members - Amy Cervini, Hilary Gardner, Richard Roland, Raymond Sage - successfully combine the sounds of the vocal groups of the big-band era with contemporary harmonies, exploring everything from standards to not-so standards to vocalese to adapting tunes from musical theatre to their harmonic styles.
The group has strong backgrounds in jazz and musical theatre and derived the name of the group from theatre's traditional night off: Monday. In fact, two of the members met and founded Monday Off while touring together in the Broadway musical Titanic. The combined theatrical experience of the group is vast, culminating in more than a dozen Broadway and off-Broadway productions, National Tours, original cast recordings, television commercials and soap operas.
Monday Off has become a regular fixture on the New York City club scene in addition to their performances in larger concert halls across the country including Carnegie Hall with Skitch Henderson and the New York Pops. Monday Off recently made their television debut on ABC World News Now performing Christmas tunes from their debut album with Bucky Pizzarelli that was released in 2001.
John Hoglund of Back Stage says that Monday Off's “harmonies are good and their delivery is ripe with theatrical emoting ... their onstage antics were delightful and infectious." And Joseph Lang from Jersey Jazz says about Christmas Time Is Here with Bucky Pizzarelli: “Monday Off is a fine vocal quartet from New York City [whose] rich harmonies and inventive arrangements lend a merry feeling to a program of 17 selections...This recording is sure to add a festive feeling to any holiday gathering."
DATE: Monday December 4, 2006
TIME: 7:30 and 9:30 PM
VENUE: The Jazz Standard, 116 East 27th Street, New York, NY 10016
RESERVATIONS: 212.576.2232
COVER: $15.00
For more information contact All About Jazz.
