PAINTING THE TOWN CD RELEASE CONCERT at Birdland

ERIC COMSTOCK (piano/voice) and BARBARA FASANO (voice) bring their singular, soulful showmanship back home to Birdland for a one-show special event celebrating the release of their first joint CD PAINTING THE TOWN. Hailed as “smart, funny, and utterly delightful” and "a hotbed of pleasure" by The New York Times, the acclaimed married musical couple have painted a portrait of their love for one another, the music, and their “brilliant, resilient helluva town!” Comstock and Fasano draw from an ever-evolving American Songbook that unites the generations. Included will be Jazz and pop classics by Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, and Cole Porter as well as singer-songwriters like Joni Mitchell, Carole King, and Paul Simon. Eric and Barbara’s unique take on their material makes their sets fresh, spontaneous, and fun – and their audiences feel they’ve been to a terrific party where the music and the stories have been equally great. Joining them will be the PAINTING THE TOWN band: an eminent rhythm section – bassist Sean Smith and drummer Vito Lesczak. The evening’s special guest, a true jazz icon, is the legendary tenor saxophonist Houston Person. The married musical couple’s electrifying combination of warmth, wit, swing, and sensuality have made them the nightclub world’s most celebrated team. Their performances have taken them from Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center to Saratoga Jazz Festival, Music Mountain Twilight Jazz, London’s Pizza Express, Italy’s Monteverdi Tuscany, and nightclubs and music festivals across the country. Every bit as entertaining as they are musically savvy, The New Yorker praises Comstock's “expert musicianship and joie de vivre in equal measure.” Fasano has been hailed by The New York Times as "a lyrically sensitive interpreter with a special affinity for Joni Mitchell" and by The New York Post as "a gorgeous, soulful singer who has an actor's intensity in whatever she sings." Her CDs BUSY BEING FREE and WRITTEN IN THE STARS both won the MAC Award for Major Recording of the Year. Winners of 9 MAC Awards, 5 New York Bistro Awards and the New York Nightlife Award, Eric and Barbara recently received the Donald F. Smith Award from the Mabel Mercer Foundation, acknowledging their artistry. In the words of revered jazz critic Ira Gitler, they “have it all, and then some … artistic, swinging, and superbly entertaining.” Artist Websites: barbarafasano.com / ericcomstock.net