Joyce Breach to Debut at the Metropolitan Room 3/23, 3/26

Joyce Breach Debuts at the Metropolitan Room at Gotham with Sir Richard Rodney Bennett on piano
Tuesday, March 23, at 7pm, Friday, March 26, at 7:30pm

Critics have described Joyce Breach's sound as everything from peachy to warm honey and scotch neat, hold the ice. She's drawn crowds to supper clubs for first-hand experiences from New York to San Francisco and London. Breach grew up listening to and admiring Judy Garland, Peggy Lee, Rosemary Clooney, Doris Day, Sarah Vaughan, Abbey Lincoln, Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, Mabel Mercer and Frank Sinatra, noting their phrasing and inflections, but not to the point of cloning. She has her own indelible style. Winner of the Bistro, the MAC and The Mabel Mercer Foundation's
Cabaret Classic awards, the recording artist has appeared at Manhattan's top clubs, including The Algonquin Hotel's Oak Room, the Russian Tea Room, the Firebird and Danny's Skylight Room. She has appeared on stage at Town Hall, Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall and Lincoln Center's Rose Hall. In London, she has performed several seasons at the renowned Pizza on the Park. Her no nonsense, unfrilled vocals have been recorded extensively by Audiophile Records, which issued her first CD Confessions in 1990.

This spring, she has a new CD Odds and Ends scheduled for release. Breach's other discs include Lovers After All (with Sir Richard Rodney Bennett), Songbird, Nothing But Blue Skies, This Moment and Love is the Thing (with William Roy), Reel Songs and three volumes of Remembering Mabel Mercer (with Keith Ingham). She is also featured on Loonis McGlohon & Friends' A Christmas Memory. On March 23 and 26, The Metropolitan Room presents Joyce Breach and pianist/composer Richard Rodney Bennett in an evening of great songs performed in exemplary style. Part of the program will include songs from Joyce's new CD Odds and Ends. The evening promises to be a special reunion of two superlative talents.

Sir Richard Rodney Bennett is a pianist and composer of international reputation. As one of Britain's most respected and versatile musicians, Bennett has produced over two hundred works for the concert hall, and fifty scores for film and television, as well as having been a writer and performer of jazz songs for fifty years. He has been nominated for several Academy Awards for his film scores, including the brilliant score for "Murder on the Orient Express." In addition to Ms. Breach, he has worked with a number of distinguished singers including Marian Montgomery, Claire Martin and Mary Cleere Haran. He was knighted in 1996.

Please note that Joyce Breach will be in concert for her CD release of Odds and Ends (Audiophile) at the Barnes and Noble at Lincoln Triangle (1972 Broadway at 66 Street) on May 5 at 6pm.

The Metropolitan Room at Gotham is located at 34 West 22 Street. There will be a $20 music charge and a two-drink minimum. Reservations: (212) 206 0440.