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Veronica Nunn's New CD: "American Lullaby"

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Veronica Nunn, a long-time professional jazz singer, is celebrating the debut of her first solo album, “American Lullaby."

For sample tracks, the singer's complete biography, upcoming performances and more, check out her new web site: www.veronicanunn.com

Veronica's career began in her native Little Rock, Arkansas, where she started singing jazz at age 9 for audiences including Bill Clinton (then Governor) at his public functions. After moving to New York more than 20 years ago, she was mentored by jazz legends including Big Nick Nicholas, Eddie Chamblee, Doc Cheetum and Ram Ramirez.

For the past decade, Veronica has toured the world as the featured duet partner of singer songwriter Michael Franks. Michael says, “Working with Veronica for almost the last ten years has been a pleasure, both personally and musically. Aside from the fact that she always sings perfectly in tune and, emotionally, from a place inside the lyrics, she possesses that rarest and most prized of musical gifts, a beautiful voice."

Veronica describes her new solo album a culmination of everything she's learned in years performing jazz, stamped with a very personal vision. With a voice reminiscent perhaps of early Abbey Lincoln or Carmen McRea, Veronica calls herself a “jazz traditionalist," as steeped in the influences of instrumentalists as singers, not to mention the styles of rhythm & blues, soul, funk, rock, pop, opera and other genres. The album is smooth and accessible full-blooded jazz, musically rich and inventive.

Veronica and her five instrumental accompanists give fresh interpretations to a careful selection of lesser-recorded favorite songs, including Abbey Lincoln and Max Roach's “Living Room," Sondheim's “Green Finch & Linnet Bird" and Michael Frank's “Don't Be Blue." The album also includes better known songs including the Gershwin's “I Loves You Porgy" and Rogers & Hammerstein's “It May As Well Be Spring," as well as two Veronica Nunn originals, “You Know You're in Love" and “This Joy." (See below for a complete list of songs.)

Veronica produced the album together with her husband, arranger and pianist Travis Shook. Together the two formed the Brooklyn-based music publishing company Dead Horse Records, named as a joke to spite her brother, who told her jazz was a dead horse. Travis is a jazz pro in his own right, having played over the years with jazz greats such as Gino Vanelli, Betty Carter and others.

The album's careful orchestration leaves plenty of room for improvisation to showcase the considerable talents of the rest of the band: Jennifer Vincent (bass), Jazz Sawyer (drums & percussions), Kebbi Williams (tenor sax) and Ron Westray (Trombone).

Complete Song List:

Medley for Jordan - “American Lullaby" (Gladys Rich) / “Not While I'm Around" (Stephen Sondheim)

“Don't Be Blue" (Michael Franks/John Guerin)

“This Joy" (Gerald Niewood/Veronica Nunn)

“I Loves You Porgy" (Gorge & Ira Gershwin & DeBuse Heyward)

“Living Room" (Abbey Lincoln/Max Roach)

“You Know You're In Love" (Veronica Nunn)

“Green Finch & Linnet Bird" (Stephen Sondheim)

“The Meaning of the Blues" (Troup/Worth)

“On a Wonderful Day Like Today" (L. Bricusse/Anthony Newly)

“It Might as Well Be Spring" (Oscar Hammerstein/Richard Rogers)

For more information contact .

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