Gabrielle Stravelli Debuts New Show Directed by Marilyn Maye, 7/17-31

Gabrielle Stravelli - the acclaimed pop/jazz vocalist called "ingenious" by The Wall Street Journal and known from her tours with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, appearances at the 92nd Street Y and her long-running Soho jazz brunch - will perform an exclusive engagement at The Metropolitan Room for a two week run in July 2014. Her new show, directed by nightlife legend Marilyn Maye, will include selections from her debut CD Waiting in Vain and preview tracks for her upcoming sophomore release. The evening will feature classic standards like "While We're Young" and "Goody Goody," pop hits such as "Young Folks" (Peter, Bjorn and John) and "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" (John Fogerty), in addition to distinctive original compositions. She will be joined by Joshua Richman on piano, Pat O'Leary on bass and Eric Halvorson on drums.

Called "a powerhouse of individual expression" by David Finkle of The Village Voice and "a forceful emotional presence and a versatile, well-shaded voice," by Adam Feldman of Time Out New York, Gabrielle joins the soulful sensitivity of a vintage song stylist with a distinctively modern sensibility. She has garnered critical accolades and a loyal following from her vibrant singing, extraordinary vocal tone and flexibility, original songs and unique takes on material from the American songbook, as well as music by artists as varied as Pink Floyd and Duke Ellington, Dolly Parton and Johnny Mercer.

Waiting in Vain, her adventurous debut album, combines the smoky ambiance of an underground supper club with exciting vocal chops, rhythmic dexterity and emotional yet intelligent interpretations. Highlights include the standards "Skylark," "In A Sentimental Mood" and "Love For Sale," in addition to the Miles Davis jazz classic "So What Boy," a haunting reinvention of the Peter, Bjorn and John 2006 global chart hit "Young Folks" and a lilting version of the Bob Marley song that gives the album its title. The album - recorded live at Zeb's in New York in 2010 and featuring Tadataka Unno on piano, Saul Rubin on guitar, Pat O'Leary on bass and Jacob Melchoir on drums - is available on iTunes, Amazon and other music retailers.

Also in July, she will co-star in a special Ars Nova workshop production of a new musical Lempicka - about Tamara de Lempicka, the iconic Art Deco painter - written by Carson Kreitzer and Matt Gould (Witness Uganda at ART, directed by Diane Paulus) and co-produced by Yale Repertory Theatre and New Dramatists.

GABRIELLE STRAVELLI recently returned from a US tour with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra performing Marsalis's Abyssinian: A Gospel Celebration. At age 15, Gabrielle began singing as a soloist with orchestras and has since performed on stages from Amsterdam to New York including Lincoln Center's Midsummer Night's Swing, Birdland Jazz Club, 92Y's Lyrics and Lyricists, 54 Below, Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall at Kaufman Center, the Hammerstein Ballroom, the Iridium Jazz Club, BB King Blues Club, Somethin' Jazz, The Garage, Fulton Theatre, and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) where she opened for Esperanza Spalding and Cassandra Wilson. For three years she has headlined a Jazz Brunch every Sunday at Le Pescadeux in Soho, NYC.

Gabrielle has appeared as a soloist with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra and the Cincinnati Pops, sang the role of Anita in West Side Story with the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra and performed the role of Jeannie in the European tour of Hair. Gabrielle a finalist for the international 2011 SHURE-Montreux Jazz Festival Vocal Competition and was the 1st runner-up at the 2009 Jazzmobile Vocal Competition in Harlem. In 2008 she was awarded the Backstage Bistro Award for "Performer on the Rise" (given by critics from Variety, The Village Voice and Backstage)

She has worked with Warren Leight (Tony Award winner and Pulitzer finalist for Sideman), Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews (2012 Richard Rodgers Award), Adam Gwon (Roundabout Theatre Co.), Todd Almond (Yale Rep), Adam Bock (2006 Obie Award), Marisa Michelson (2011 Jonathan Larson Award), Liz Duffy Adams (Frederick Loewe Award), John Hodian (NY Emmy Award) and The Directors Guild.

Please visit www.GabrielleStravelli.com for full performance schedule, videos, sound clips and more.

GABRIELLE STRAVELLI will perform at The Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street between 5th and 6th Avenues) for four performances from July 17 to 31. Performances are Thursday, July17; Tuesday, July 22; Tuesday, July 29 and Thursday, July 31. All shows are at 7:00 PM. Tickets are $20 each with an additional two-drink minimum. Please visit www.MetropolitanRoom.com for additional information.