Ilene Graff & Ben Lanzarone to Bring 'It's Better With a Band' to Catalina's Jazz Club, 6/24

ILENE GRAFF, Grammy-nominated recording artist, television, and Broadway star, along with her husband, ASCAP-Award winning Musical Director BEN LANZARONE, present their big band show: "IT'S BETTER WITH A BAND!" on Wednesday, June 24, 2015 at 8:30 P.M. at Hollywood's premiere live music venue, Catalina's Jazz Club ( 6275 Sunset Blvd.).

Tickets are $25, with dinner or a 2-drink minimum. Catalina's is For reservations call 323-466-2210, or go to www.catalinajazzclub.com

In addition to featuring Lanzarone's one-of-a-kind arrangements, they'll present exciting, dynamic versions of songs from Broadway, the movies and the pop world played by 14 of the best musicians in Hollywood. From Harold Arlen to Lieber and Stoller, the Beatles to Sondheim, you've never heard these songs done like this before. Also joining them is their special guest, their daughter and Broadway performer, NIKKA GRAFF LANZARONE.

ILENE GRAFF is best known as the mom on the long-running TV comedy, Mr. Belvedere. On Broadway she created the role of Cleo in the Cy Coleman-Michael Stewart musical, I Love My Wife, played Sandy in the original production of Grease, and was a pit singer and Fran Kubelik stand-by in Promises, Promises. As part of her extensive TV career, she co-starred with Glenn Close in the Disney film version of South Pacific, and recently recurred on the CW's Hart of Dixie. Ilene has performed her sell-out cabaret show First You Dream, on both coasts in clubs such as Birdland in New York and Sterlings at The Federal, and theaters like The Crest in Florida. Her Grammy nomination was for her album, Baby's Broadway Lullabies. BEN LANZARONE (Musical Director), a winner of ASCAP's Most Performed Composer Award, is an arranger, conductor, pianist, and Musical Director who has composed hundreds of hours of music for television shows. He conducted and played piano for the original Broadway production of Grease, and conducted, played and arranged for some of the biggest names in the business including Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darn, Peter Nero, Art Garfunkel, Mary Travers, Anthony Newley, and Petula Clark. He has also played on countless records, jingles and movie scores and recorded his own piano album, In Classic Form produced by the legendary Bob Crewe. His work on wife Ilene Graff's CD Baby's Broadway Lullabies helped it earn a Grammy nomination.

NIKKA GRAFF LANZARONE has followed the family onto the stage, performing in the following: Broadway: Chicago (Velma Kelly), Women on the Verge... (Marisa, Lincoln Center Theater). Off-Broadway/NYC: Hello Again (The Whore, Transport= Group), Zorba (Encores!) Seussical (Lucille Lortel Theatre). Las Vegas: Peep Show (dir/chor Jerry Mitchell). Favorite Regional: The Jungle Book (Goodman/Huntington Theatres), A Chorus Line (Bebe, Paper Mill Playhouse) Into the Woods (Baltimore Centerstage/Westport Country Playhouse), Carnival (Paper Mill), Tommy (Bay Street), Nine (Carla, Chance Theatre). Film: Bandslam. TV: "Unforgettable," "Smash," "Live from Lincoln Center." Recordings: "Women on the Verge...," "Seussical" cast albums. BFA: The Boston Conservatory. Podcast: The Ensemblist. Follow: @nikkalanz. More: nikka-graff-lanzarone.com.

Ilene and Ben's intense musical relationship is at the heart of their work, as they create original settings for great songs. They're especially thrilled to be joined in this show by their daughter Nikka, and by 14 musicians playing Ben's incredible charts proving, "IT'S BETTER WITH A BAND!"