Primary Instrument: Vocal
On March 20, 2007 Broadway veteran Lillie Kae celebrated her first studio recording “I'm Glad There Is You” and the release of her first single “That's All”; by performing a stunning set of jazz standards at Birdland in New York City. Her trio featured guest soloist and legendary guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli.
Along with a handful of record label representatives, the audience was dotted with industry friends, such as Ashford and Simpson. Valerie Simpson has endorsed Lillie Kae before. “There wasn't one song that I didn’t thoroughly enjoy. The choice of material and Lillie Kae’s interpretation were simply beautiful”�”and the evening of March 20 was no exception.
In May of 2006, Ho Ho Kus resident Lillie Kae debuted her sound at Ridgewood, New Jersey’s Blend lounge for two sold-out audiences. She then devoted the following ten months to developing her first studio recording. The album features a pared-down kind of jazz first popularized by Nat King Cole. Lillie Kae honed this sensibility over course of her work with Pizzarelli and his protégé, Edward Decker.
The result is spare and smoky, featuring renditions of standards such as “Day In, Day Out,” “That's All”, and “Talk to Me Baby”. The album also features rarely recorded verses in “What is There to Say” and “I'm Glad there is You,” along with other gems from a golden age in American songwriting.
Lillie Kae’s entrance into the jazz/cabaret scene came on the heels of an impressive run in touring productions of West Side Story, Sunset Boulevard, Evita and Crazy for You. After a two-year stint performing in the Broadway production of CHICAGO, Lillie Kae took time off from the stage to pursue other personal interests �” primarily to dedicate quality time to her young family.
Today, Lillie Kae is celebrating the completion and release of her first studio recording. The debut CD features Pizzarelli, along with seasoned pianist Tony Monte.
Preview copies of the album have been distributed and have the radio community buzzing. Jim Stone of WLNZ in Michigan said the album is “Magnificent!” Lou Powers of WBCD in Philadelphia called Lillie Kae’s CD, “Terrific and wonderful in every way”; and deemed Pizzarelli's solos to be “the best I have heard him play.”
Len Triola, the former Program Director for WNEW has been promoting the project with tremendous energy. After just one week of promotion and radio interviews, Lillie Kae’s music has been put into regular rotation on the Jazz Café at Hofstra’s WRHU as well as stations in Philadelphia and Detroit. R20;We are already on a number of radio stations across the country building our national profile” said Decker, who is now serving as Lillie Kae’s Musical Director and guitarist.
A national tour of live performances is currently being planned. Lillie Kae hopes to be sharing her sound with audiences across the country very soon
“I'm Glad There Is You” is currently available at record stores and online at www.lilliekae.com.
You can see Lillie Kae perform locally at Border's Bookstores in the next two months:
April 6 Riverdale 8:00 pm April 13 Fort Lee 8:00 pm April 20 Rockaway 8:00 pm May 4 Ramsey 8:00 pm May 5 White Plains 2:00 pm
For the latest on Lillie Kae’s projects, visit www.lilliekae.com.
For press information contact: Angela Thomas (201)-503-1333
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