Gabrielle Stravelli to Sing Johnny Mercer at Kitano Jazz This Weekend

Gabrielle Stravelli - the celebrated pop/jazz vocalist and songwriter called an "outstanding singer" by The Wall Street Journal and "hotter than the equator" by The Village Voice - will return with her concert celebrating the legendary songwriters Johnny Mercer and Hoagy Carmichael at Kitano Jazz (66 Park Avenue at 38th Street) on Saturday, January 7 with sets at 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM.

In addition to well-known standards by Mercer ("Dream") and Carmichael ("Stardust") and compositions they wrote together ("Skylark," "In The Cool Cool Cool of the Evening"), the show includes collaborations with other composers and lyricists. The evening also features rare material by the pair from their Broadway Show I Walk With Music and movies from the 1950s and 60s. She will be joined by Art Hirahara on piano, Pat O'Leary on bass and Eric Halvorson on drums.

Stravelli will release Dream Ago, the new album featuring her sophisticated original songs, on January 27 on the Big Modern Music label. The recording is produced by David Cook (Taylor Swift, Jennifer Hudson, Marianne Faithfull), arranged by Pat O'Leary (Diana Krall, James Moody, Lee Konitz) and features liner notes from Bob Dorough and photography by Shervin Lainez. She will launch Dream Ago with a national tour in 2017 including dates in Philadelphia (March 17-18), Cincinnati (March 23) and Detroit (March 24), with additional shows to be announced in Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, San Francisco and more.

Gabrielle's triumphant engagement at Feinstein's / 54 Below last season was praised by The New York Times for its "intense joy" and "voluptuous delight." She recently returned from concerts in Azerbaijan, Moldova, Slovenia and Malta as part of the U.S. State Department's "American Music Abroad" and last month marked her third annual performance at the Jonathan Schwartz Christmas Show opposite John Pizzarelli, Karrin Allyson, Bill Charlap and more. In 2015, she co-starred in world premiere of Rooms of Light, the new song cycle with music by renowned jazz pianist Fred Hersch, sang with the Santa Rosa Symphony opposite Billy Stritch, appeared at the 92nd Street Y "Lyrics and Lyricists," and headlined the Eleuthera Jazz Festival in the Bahamas. Gabrielle's intimate piano/vocal duet recording Stairway to the Stars with Michael Kanan (Jimmy Scott, Madeleine Peyroux, Jane Monheit) was released last year.

Waiting in Vain, Gabrielle's adventurous debut record, was named "Album of the Week" by The Jonathan Channel from WNYC/New York Public Radio and Jonathan Schwartz. It combines the smoky ambiance of an underground supper club with exciting vocal chops, rhythmic dexterity and emotional yet intelligent interpretations. Highlights include "So What Boy," which blends the MiLes Davis jazz classic with the Buddy Holly pop hit; a haunting reinvention of the Peter, Bjorn and John 2006 global chart smash "Young Folks"; and a lilting version of the Bob Marley song title song; in addition to the standards "Skylark," "In A Sentimental Mood" and "Love For Sale." The recording, captured live at Zeb's in New York, is available on iTunes, Amazon and other music retailers.

Gabrielle Stravelli toured the states 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, Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall at Kaufman Center, the Hammerstein Ballroom, 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. Gabrielle has appeared as a soloist with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra and the Cincinnati Pops, was 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. Earlier in 2015, she was given the Backstage Bistro Award for "Jazz Vocalist" and the MAC Award for "Best Female Vocalist."

Gabrielle Stravelli will perform at Kitano Jazz (66 Park Avenue at East 38th Street, New York, NY 10016) on Saturday, January 7 with shows at 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM. The cover charge is $32 and a $20 food and beverage minimum per set. For reservations and additional information, visit Kitano.com or call (212) 885-7119.

Visit www.GabrielleStravelli.com for performance schedule, videos, sound clips and more.