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Antonia Bennett To Release Debut Record, "Natural", On Mesa/Bluemoon

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Antonia Bennett
Los Angeles, CA: Natural, the debut record from singer Antonia Bennett, will be released by Mesa/Bluemoon on Tuesday, August 17. The 6-song EP introduces Bennett as a gifted interpreter of jazz classics with an impeccable and accessible vocal style.

“[Antonia] conjures echoes of Billie Holliday and Rickie Lee Jones, with a hint of Betty Boop." The New York Times

Like her legendary father Tony Bennett, Antonia embraces the warm, timeless sound of the standards and also like her dad did she brings a modern, nuanced style, which appeals to the new jazz audience. Natural includes “I Wish I Were in Love Again," “I Fall to Pieces," “Love is a Battlefield," “Soon," “Puttin' On the Ritz," and “The Thrill is Gone." The EP was produced by the award-winning songwriter, Holly Knight ("Love is a Battlefield," “Ragdoll," and “Simply the Best") and features arrangements by Grammy®-nominated pianist/arranger Larry Goldings (James Taylor, Al Jarreau, Norah Jones, John Mayer, David Sanborn).

Using the American Songbook as her foundation, Antonia explains, “I take each of the songs that I do as a story, with a beginning, middle and end—like a monologue—and I try to do my best to tell that story," says Antonia. “I grew up listening to the American Songbook, and a variety of artists singing those songs. Singing these songs is like a home-cooked meal, like comfort food, something that is a part of me. The way I grew up, if you were going to take a song that was done by many of the great artists, you should bring a piece of yourself into it. Interpretation is an art form." She goes on to say, “We wanted to find wonderful standards that haven't been overdone. In fact, none of these have been in my show repertoire. I used to sing “Puttin' On the Ritz" when I was a little kid on stage with my Dad. I grew up singing it and love it. And if you've ever seen Young Frankenstein, you gotta love it!"

A Berklee-trained musician, Antonia also had formal dance and acting training at the Strasburg Institute. With these skills and taking a page from her father's book, she understands what it takes to be a complete entertainer. She is a well-rounded, hard- working creative talent who brings insightful presence to both the recording and the stage. Her ethereal beauty and elegant demeanor, coupled with her transcending vocal quality, makes her an in-demand talent in her own right.

Live performance has been part of Antonia's life since the age of four, serenading audiences internationally in opera houses, casinos, jazz clubs and amphitheaters. She's even performed with the legendary Count Basie, and for luminaries such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Gene Kelly, Rosemary Clooney, Les Paul and Ella Fitzgerald. Opening for Tony Bennett on his 2010 tour, Antonia graced stages from London's Royal Albert Hall and iTunes Festival UK to the Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy and Gibson Amphitheater in Los Angeles.

2010 TOUR

Aug 14—South Shore Music Circus, Cohasset, MA
Aug 15—Cape Cod Melody Tent, Hyannis, MA
Aug 20—Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford CT
Aug 21—Paramount Theatre, Ashbury Park, NJ
Aug 27—Filene Center at Wolf Trap, Vienna, VA
Aug 28—Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia PA

Sep 02—Peabody Auditorium, Daytona Beach, FL
Sep 10—Stevens Center, Winston-Salem, NC
Sep 16—Crouse-Hinds Theatre, Syracuse, NY
Sep 21—Wells Fargo Center for the Arts, Santa Rosa, CA
Sep 23—Chumash Casino, Santa Ynez, CA
Sep 24—Gibson Amphitheatre, Los Angeles, CA
Sep 27—ETA Gala, Cipriani Wall Street, New York, NY

Oct 04—Norton Center for the Arts, Danville, KY
Oct 06—Classic Center Theater, Athens, GA
Oct 14—Sing for Hope Gala, Jazz @ Lincoln Ctr. New York, NY
Oct 22—Riverwind Casino, Norman, OK
Oct 23—Winstar Casino, Thackerville, OK
Oct 28—Mahalia Theater, New Orleans, LA
Oct 29—Horseshoe Casino, Bossier City, LA

Nov 03—Stand Up for Heroes, Beacon Theatre, New York, NY
Nov 05—Carpenter Center, Richmond, VA
Nov 23—Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank, NJ

Dec 3/4—Wellmont Theatre, Montclair, NJ

Dec 16/17—L'Auberge Du Lac Hotel & Casino, Lake Charles, LA

Dec 19—Majestic Theatre, San Antonio, TX

The tour continues throughout the year as Antonia celebrates the release of Natural, which will be available on all major digital distribution sites including iTunes and Amazon.

ANTONIA BENNETT: NATURAL

1. Soon
2. Puttin' On The Ritz
3. The Thrill Is Gone
4. I Wish I Were In Love Again
5. I Fall To Pieces
6. Love Is A Battlefield

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