Cortes Alexander to Present The Swell Show at Barre Vermont

Singer-songwriter and performer Cortes Alexander, who most recently starred in the Tony Award-winning Broadway show Liza's At The Palace, will present The Swell Show, a live show featuring the performance of songs from his debut album, Swell, at Barre Vermont in Los Angeles, on Nov. 14.

Throughout the concert, Alexander will perform various hits from his catalogue, including performances of two songs by Liza Minnelli's godmother, Kay Thompson, one of which was the first song ever taught to him by Minnelli. He will also share a personal story or two about life on the road with Minnelli, and will be accompanied by background "Swell Girls," Melissa Bailey and Jennifer Rappo.

Swell was an album born after months of writing new, original songs following a realization that Alexander wanted to create a project on his own. After working with many talented artists throughout the years, including Minnelli, he felt it was time to do something independently. And so, Swell was introduced in 2009 with a set of tracks likened to the diversity of singers from Luther Vandross to Keith Urban, and Frank Sinatra to Prince to The Foo Fighters.

"I can't imagine not writing music and singing," says Alexander. "It's like breathing to me. And along the way, if I can tell a good story or sing a track that makes people want to move, it's all I can ask for."

Alexander has been no stranger to on-stage performance or to show business. Starting from a young age doing TV commercials and voice-overs, and eventually forming a pop/jazz vocal group, The Tonics, which featured fellow singers Gene Reed, Brian Lane Green and Lindy Robbins, he's toured the globe and shared the stage with some of entertainment's biggest icons. With Tonics' performances spanning a six-year time period, Cortes was eventually introduced to Minnelli, who taught him songs and invited him to join her on her various tours over the last 20 years, including the most recent Liza's at the Palace tour as one of her four Williams Brothers.

Barre Vermont is located at 1417 N. Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA. Musical direction is by Ross Kalling. Tickets are $10. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the show starting at 8 p.m. For more details about "The Swell Show," or to purchase tickets, please visit:
http://showatbarre.inticketing.com/events/165314/Cortes%20Alexander:%20The%20Swell%20Show.