Patti Austin Brings 'For Ella' On The Road

Patti Austin has gone live with songs off her Grammy nominated tribute, 'For Ella' and a collection of adventurous new arrangements of Gershwin classics featured on her forthcoming album 'Avant-Gershwin' out March 6 (Rendezvous Entertainment). Patti kicked off the tour in Philadelphia on January 14 and will be making stops nationwide performing songs off her two recent albums in addition to some of her contemporary hits (programs vary in each city) . Two special Los Angeles performances are scheduled, on April 15 Patti will perform with the USC Trojan Marching Band at Cerritos Performing Arts Center and on April 18 she will perform with the University of Southern California Big Band at the Bovard Auditorium. Patti will also be performing in the Legends of Jazz Tour with Ramsey Lewis, Al Jarreau & Boney James in the fall of 2007 (September 5 - October 21).

At a recent performance during Jazz at Lincoln Center's George Gershwin tribute concerts, Austin received a standing ovation for her uptempo rendition of "Lady Be Good." In a review of that show, the New York Times deemed her an "alluring vocalist."

Early reviews of 'Avant-Gershwin' describe the album as "a slice of jazz heaven" (USA Today) and "a wise and witty love-fest of Gershwin gems" (Downbeat).

A musical scholar (Patti holds an honorary doctorate from Berkley School of Music), Patti will also be teaching masters classes to music students. At USC (Los Angeles, CA) they will focus on Gershwin and at the Koger Performance Arts Center (Columbia, SC) they will provide an overview of Patti's musical knowledge. More classes to be announced soon.

Patti Austin has crossed numerous music genres over the course of 16 solo albums and has performed her award-nominated hit songs on the Grammy's ("Baby Come to Me") and the Oscars ("How Do You Keep the Music Playing"). In addition to her own CD 'Avant-Gershwin, ' Patti also performed on and contributed to the 2006 Luther Vandross tribute album "Forever, For Always, For Luther Volume II" as well as the 2006 critically acclaimed "Ray Sings, Basie Swings" project and is featured on the new George Benson/Al Jarreau project.

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