Chris Pinnella Set for APAC's SINATRA & COMPANY with Art Topilow, 5/31

The Axelrod Performing Arts Center (APAC) presents "Sinatra & Company," starring vocalist Chris Pinnella accompanied by Art Topilow on piano, the Metro Jazz All Stars, conducted by Carl Topilow on clarinet.

To mark the 100th birthday year of America's favorite crooner, Pinnella and the Topilow brothers will present an evening of Frank Sinatra's biggest hits, many newly arranged by bassist Gary Mazzaroppi, including such favorites as "In the Wee Small Hours," "Come Fly with Me," and "I've Got the World on a String."

Regarded as one of the most accomplished singers in New Jersey, Chris Pinnella (Brielle) has been described by his fans as "Josh Groban meets Michael Buble?" and appears as a guest singer with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Pinnella has headlined in New York City at top hot spots such as 54 Below, The Allen Room at Jazz! at Lincoln Center, The Rainbow Room, and Birdland. Locally he has sung at the Algonquin Arts Theatre in Manasquan, the Spring Lake Community House, and Tim McLoone's Supper Club in Asbury Park. Pinnella has long been championing the American songbook, exposing younger audiences to the great songs by the likes of Sammy Cahn, Jimmy van Heusen, Frank Loesser, Johnny Mercer and many others who helped to craft the Sinatra songbook. Pinnella is delighted to be making his APAC debut paying tribute to one of the master song stylists of all time. ''Frank Sinatra has always been a huge inspiration to me. This concert is going to be a celebration not an imitation. The audience will be hearing these songs for the reasons that Frank chose them in the first place: great music and fantastic lyrics played by some of the most accomplished musicians anywhere."

Pianist Dr. Art Topilow (Ocean Township) has played frequently on the Jersey Shore, including many concerts at APAC and the Count Basie Theater where he's been a regular pianist with the Red Bank Jazz Orchestra for the Sinatra Birthday Bash. He's played with jazz greats like Dick Hyman and Derek Smith as well as Gary Mazzaroppi andt has accompanied many celebrities including Bernadette Peters, Christine Ebersole and Joe Piscopo.

Known by his signature red clarinet, Carl Topilow has been conducting the Cleveland Pops Orchestra for the past two decades. He has been a guest conductor for more than 120 American and international orchestras, including acclaimed appearances in Canada, China, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Italy, Korea, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland and Venezuela. For 35 years, Carl Topilow has been the director of the orchestral music program at the Cleveland Institute of Music where he serves as conductor. He also has conducted the National Repertory Orchestra at a summer festival in Breckenridge, Colo. for nearly four decades.

A frequent collaborator of Pinnella and the Topilows, Gary Mazzaroppi is one of the Shore's busiest jazz musicians and arrangers who has worked with such greats as Stan Getz, Buddy Rich, Chuck Mangione, Alicia Keys and Willie Nelson.