Russ Lorenson

Who says The Great American Songbook stopped being written in 1959? In 2008, many deemed The Great American Songbook extinct. But Russ Lorenson saw it differently. He curated a show of 'new standards', demonstrating that songs with soul and depth were still being crafted.

Fast forward to the present. While initially recorded with the intention of a 2009 release, this album of songs from New York City in 2008 had been shelved. But now, 15 years later, these rediscovered gems validate Lorenson's belief: many have indeed evolved into the new generation's standards.

Every track on this album draws inspiration from composers who themselves have been torchbearers of the classic standards—artists like Michael Feinstein, Harry Connick, Jr., John Pizzarelli, and more. Their modern compositions, echoing with undertones of jazz classics, stand as testament to the living, breathing, evolving nature of the Songbook.

A terrific voice. Charisma to spare. A delightful raconteur. Impeccable musical taste and vocal phrasing. Unassuming nice guy. They all apply to Russ Lorenson, whose burnished tenor has thrilled audiences throughout the US and Europe. Since his breakout club debut in 2005, Russ Lorenson has established a reputation as one of the San Francisco Bay Area’s leading interpreters of jazz standards. As a singer, he is equally at home whether entertaining a concert hall audience or performing in the more intimate cabaret setting. With comparisons to Tony Bennett, Mel Tormé, and Chet Baker, Lorenson has a voice one savors and remembers. It’s no wonder he’s called “San Francisco’s Favorite Crooner.” In recognition of his solid and sophisticated musical vocabulary, Downbeat called him “a showman of taste and discretion.” The Los Angeles Times said that he brings “a supple voice and strong sense of characterization to all his songs.” The San Diego Union-Tribune said that his “relaxed, easy deliveries…seem natural and heartfelt.” The Coronado Journal simply called him “…

irresistible…”

https://www.russlorenson.com/