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Anders Holst Shares Summer Love at Feinsteins on July 2nd

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Anders Holst
Seductive, lush and emotive, the music of Anders Holst has drawn accolades from fellow musicians such as Quincy Jones, and has earned him such critical kudos as “Anders Holst is a regal contender to become the new crowned prince of contemporary romantic music...." (Billboard magazine) and “The Sting of Stockholm is back and this time he's singing about love. Holst sings like a man comfortable in his own skin." (All About Jazz)

On July 2, the Swedish-born, New York City-based Holst will return for a single night's engagement at Feinstein's at Loews Regency, where he will perform selections from his recent release, Romantika, his 2006 EP, Five, as well as smooth and jazzy interpretations of some well-loved classic tunes.

The ten songs on Romantika capture Holst's remarkable fondness for penning songs that are truly from and of the heart, enhanced by a genuine and refined pop sensitivity and an incomparable elegance. The album explores countless sides of love and heartbreak, vulnerability and redemption, marked by the refreshing sense of optimism that permeates Holst's songwriting. From the lilting, piano-driven ballad of “Lovers in the Dark", which recalls the jazz-tinged sophistication of Michel Legrand, to Holst's sultry rendition of Billy Joel's “All About Soul," his lyrical honesty and refined approach remains true throughout.

Upon hearing Romantika, Quincy Jones commented, “His honest and original love songs can give romantic music a brand new chance" and Billboard's Fred Bronson said, “It grabbed me instantly; I haven't heard music and lyrics like this before. When you can play something unique after listening to music for 35 years, that's fantastic!"

During the entire month of March, Holst teamed up with the Greater New York City Affiliate of Susan G. Komen For The Cure ® to donate all proceeds from the iTunes sales of his Billy Joel cover, “All About Soul," to the fight against breast cancer. He is also the face of a special campaign with VisitSweden, Sweden's official website for tourism and travel.

Anders Holst is a regal contender to become the new crowned prince of contemporary romantic music. The original compositions across Romantika glide with the ease and beauty of a springtime drive through the countryside. Utilizing the gloss of majestic grand piano, breezy horns, sweet sax and whispering strings, Holst accompanies with a vocal style that sweeps the listener along, even as he offers a frank lyrical portrait of decidedly grown-up themes: love gone wrong, resulting sorrow and isolation along with hints of resolve and redemption.

Ironically, while his life was always surrounded by music, the Swedish-born Holst was unknowingly destined to become a career musician. With a background in strategic management consulting, he eventually moved to the United States as co-chairman of the Ross Institute, which fostered international dialogue about teaching, healthcare and the environment.

But melodies pervaded his soul. Writing his first song at age 11 and performing for friends and family, in 2005 and by then living in New York, Holst released the smooth jazz-infused debut EP Five, recorded in Sweden and Los Angeles. Among the highlights: “Until the End of Time," which features tenor sax player Gerald Albright and guitarist Paul Jackson Jr.

Romantika ushers in a new chapter for the superlative singer, songwriter and producer, conjuring a varied palette of performers, including Alan Parsons, Seal, Sting and Chicago. The album was recorded in Stockholm and produced and arranged by Alar Suurna, Jerker Eklund, Mats Bystrm and Holst.

Highlights on the collection include the reflective “Two Sides," exploring the idea that it first takes pain to journey into healing; jaunty “A Lonelier Laughter," looking back on love that “We almost got right"; and the regretful, melancholy “Tainted Shots," in which Holst sings, “Why didn't we talk things over? Why didn't we speak the words of truth/So many miles ahead, We will never walk." He also serves up a cool, jazzy take on Billy Joel's 1993 hit “All About Soul," colored with sensual saxophone. Romantika closes with the beautiful “Lovers in the Dark," a confessional treatise on the downturn of his ultimate love, with the poetic observation, “Autumn came around/Leaves on the ground/Follow them down?"

Among artists appealing to adult sensibilities “and likewise, adult sensitivity" Anders Holst understands that loss and hurting are as much a universal experience as the vulnerability that we must surrender in the eternal quest to share love and give into vulnerability. Through that, his themes across Romantika ultimately offer us all hope.

Tickets for the July 2 show are available at the Feinstein's website or by calling 212-339-4095.

For additional information about Anders, visit www.andersholst.com.

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