Born: March 6 Primary Instrument: Piano
ERIC COMSTOCK , pianist, vocalist, arranger, writer, and raconteur, as been described as “suave, smart, funny, and utterly delightful ... an ingenious musical wit ... an ideal balance of swinging precision and good-humored warmth” by Stephen Holden of The New York Times and “an icon in the making” by The New Yorker. Recently Eric and his trio appeared at New York’s Metropolitan Room in “Manhattan Masters”, a series of four different shows in as many weeks, highlighting the careers of Charles Strouse, Yip Harburg, Jule Styne, and the saloon singers and songwriters of New York’s nightclub scene. Eric and his trio launched three new concert programs in 2006: a tribute to composer Jule Styne, “The Music That Makes Me Dance”, at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Allen Room, “Mostly Strayhorn”, an evening of songs by Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington, and “Remembering Charles DeForest”. In 2005, Eric added the role of acclaimed recording artist to his success as an entertainer with his third and latest CD, “NO ONE KNOWS”, a refreshing mix of standards and rarities by Duke Ellington, Benny Carter, Stephen Sondheim and other masters of pop and jazz. “Comstock has a voice that flows as smoothly as rye and sweet vermouth over ice ... jump for joy ” raved JazzTimes critic Christopher Loudon. The title song is a Billy Strayhorn song being given its premiere vocal recording. Solo New York engagements include Lincoln Center’s American Songbook series, Birdland, Iridium, The Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel, Feinstein’s at The Regency and The Supper Club. Concert appearances include Carnegie Hall (JVC Jazz Festival and the Harold Arlen Centennial Concert), Alice Tully Hall, Symphony Space, Merkin Hall, Town Hall and the 92nd Street Y’s “Jazz in July” festival.
Eric is the co-creator of three critically acclaimed shows which tour coast to coast: “Our Sinatra”, which ran over 1,300 performances Off-Broadway; “Made for the Movies: A Hollywood Songbook”, a jazz spin on American film music that ran two consecutive years at the Algonquin’s Oak Room; and “Singing Astaire”, which enjoyed a long run at the legendary jazz club Birdland. He has been featured on CBS’s Early Show, CNN’s Showbiz Today, National Public Radio’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross and JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Public Radio International’s The Next Big Thing with Dean Olsher. He has been profiled in Newsday, The San Francisco Chronicle, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The San Francisco Examiner, The Star Ledger and magazines such as Time Out New York, Avenue, Savvy, Gavin, and Cabaret Scenes. His work has been referenced in articles in Vanity Fair and The New York Review of Books and the recent books Intimate Nights and The American Songbook. Eric has published articles on the lyricist E.Y. (Yip) Harburg, the composer Cole Porter, jazz musician Freddy Cole and the entertainer Bobby Short.
Eric’s solo recordings include “NO ONE KNOWS,” “ALL HART,” and “YOUNG MAN OF MANHATTAN.” In 2006, he appeared as a guest on Barbara Fasano’s Harold Arlen CD “WRITTEN IN THE STARS” (Human Child Records) and with Audra McDonald, Kelli O’Hara, Marin Mazzie, Rebecca Luker, and Victoria Clark on PS Classics’ “JULE STYNE IN HOLLYWOOD.”
In Rex Reed’s words, “Eric Comstock is a busy little wunderkind, keeping a cherished tradition alive for a new generation.”
Eric lives in New York with his wife, vocalist Barbara Fasano.
Artist website: www.ericcomstock.net
-- William Grim, AAJ
“A breakout effort for the young singer/pianist.”
-- Dan McClanaghan, AAJ
No One Knows
Harbinger
2005
All Hart
After Nine
2000
Young Man Of Manhattan
Harbinger
1998
Jule Styne In Hollywood
PS Classics
2006
various artists
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