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| Johnny Rodgers Releases New Recording With Liza Minnelli Nationally acclaimed award winning singer/songwriter/pianist Johnny Rodgers celebrates the release of his new recording EP Let's Make A Date, featuring guest artist Oscar, Tony, Emmy and Grammy winning superstar Liza Minnelli. The release coincides with Rodgers' Broadway debut in Minnelli's new show at The Palace Theatre, which opens December 3rd, 2008 and continues through December 28. Rodgers has been featured and toured North and South America and Europe with Minnelli and her orchestra. A winner in the 2008 Billboard Magazine World Song Contest (Home To Mendocino), Rodgers co-wrote the song with Tony Award nominee Brian Lane Green. The Johnny and Liza duet is accompanied by the Johnny Rodgers Band: Brian Glassman on double bass, Danny Mallon on drums, Joe Ravo on guitar. It also features on drums, Liza's musical mentor, her longtime musical director on what was his last Liza recording, the late Bill "Pappy" Lavorgnia. Lavorgnia had worked with such musical icons as Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Peggy Lee and her mother Judy Garland. The EP also contains Johnny's rousing cover of the Randy Newman song You Can Leave Your Hat On. Rodgers has performed that song at many of Minnelli's concerts, accompanied by Liza's dance steps. The EP recordings are available now for special pre-sale on CDFreedom.com and JohnnyRodgers.com. and will be on iTunes, Amazon.com, and other outlets soon. From sharing the stage with musical giants Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders, smooth jazz recording artist Dave Koz, Michael Feinstein and Oscar, Tony, Grammy-winning composer Stephen Schwartz to performing for Billy Joel at Lincoln Center's ASCAP Founders Awards, Johnny Rodgers has exploded on the music scene like a supernova. Described by noted Chicago Tribune music critic Howard Reich as "a first-rate singer-songwriter with robust vocals and exuberant pianism, " Rodgers has been praised for his soaring, piano-driven songs that Show Business Weekly says he performs "like a combination Elton John, Billy Joel and James Taylor all rolled into one." Fresh and unique, Johnny's music is like taking a guided tour of American pop, with the driving energy of rock and roll blended with the sophistication of jazz. His songs also take side trips to places like upbeat New Orleans and Memphis soul. Rodgers has won the MAC Award, Backstage Magazine's Bistro Award and Best One Man Show by Show Business Weekly for his New York performances, while his recordings Midday Moon & She were ranked #1 & #2 Jazz Song by OurStage.com in May and June, 2008. Johnny's songwriting abilities have earned him acclaim, winning the New York Sheet Music Society's Gerald Marks Award and the Songwriters Hall of Fame Abe Oldman Award. Johnny's eagerly awaited PS Classics debut CD Box of Photographs, earned him instant acclaim from critics and radio stations across the country. WOR AM New York radio host Joey Reynolds called Johnny "a great talent...he's got Paul McCartney type magic."Jonathan Widran of the Music Connection and All Music.com said, "if this collection is any indication of what's to come, Rodgers will be across the board superstar." David Hurst of Show Business Weekly raved "his voice has a melting incandescent quality that cuts directly into the heart with a blazing earnestness and sincerity that's uniquely his own." write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Jazz News :: home page |