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| Russ Lorenson Nominated for 2007 Mac Award RL Productions announced that the Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs has nominated Russ Lorenson for a 2007 MAC Award for his shows A Little Travelin' Music and Benedetto/Blessed: A Tribute to the Life and Music of Tony Bennett, both of which debuted in New York City during 2006. The MAC Awards - which salute the best in New York cabaret, jazz and comedy - will honor singer-actress Karen Mason; Seth's Broadway Chatterbox, the weekly BC/EFA fundraiser hosted by comic-actor- musician and Playbill.com columnist Seth Rudetsky; and Lincoln Center's “American Songbook” series with 2007 Board of Directors Awards. Jan Wallman and Dody Goodman will both receive Lifetime Achievement Awards. Time Out New York will also present a Special Achievement MAC Award to Leslie Kritzer for her recent Joe's Pub show, Leslie Kritzer Is Patti LuPone at Les Mouches. The annual MAC Awards ceremony will be held May 1 at B.B. King Blues Club in Manhattan, and will be directed by Phil Geoffrey Bond. Russ Lorenson's passion for Broadway, pop and jazz began as a youngster, with a performing career that began at age seven. As a choral conductor and vocal coach, Russ was the Associate Conductor of the award-winning California Youth Chorale, and as an actor he appeared in musical productions with San Diego's Starlight Musical Theatre, Lyric Opera San Diego and toured with the National Theatre for Children. After a 15-year break as an executive in high-tech, Lorenson made a triumphant return to his performing career, appearing as an actor with various San Francisco Bay Area theatre companies, as a recording artist on the LML Music label, and as a concert and nightclub vocalist touring the US. With his quartet, Russ has quickly established a reputation as one of the San Francisco Bay Area's leading interpreters of jazz standards, with a sound and approach that place him at the intersection of Broadway, jazz, and pop - the very essence of the Great American Songbook. His current show, Benedetto/Blessed: A Tribute to the Life and Music of Tony Bennett, premiered in July 2006 as the opening act for the legendary Eartha Kitt and is currently enjoying sold-out runs across the country, including San Francisco's Empire Plush Room, Sterling's Upstairs in Los Angeles, and New York's famed Iridium Jazz Club. Lorenson's previous nightclub show, A Little Travelin' Music, played to sold-out audiences on both coasts, and made it's New York debut at The Hideaway Room at Helen's. His debut CD, of the same name, was released in May 2006 on the LML Music label and features songs from the show and includes duets with special guests Shawn Ryan and Klea Blackhurst. His second CD, What I Want For Christmas, was also released on LML Music, and has received extensive radio airplay in major markets across the US. write your comments about the article :: © 2007 Jazz News :: home page |