New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Savoy Communications) San Francisco born vocalist Shepley Metcalf brings her critically acclaimed Fran Landesman tribute to the Rrazz Room at Hotel Nikko San Francisco for one show in June. "Something Irresistible," featuring songs by Landesman (Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most) and the British jazz composer
Simon Wallace, performs Tuesday, June 21 at 8pm. Joining Metcalf will be one of the San Francisco's favorite pianists, Mike Greensill.
Metcalf's recent recording, "Something Irresistible: Songs of Fran Landesman + Simon Wallace," released in March of 2010, was given four stars by Jazzwise, the UK's noted jazz magazine.
"Something Irresistible" is a fine, exquisitely programmed 15-song collection," wrote Jazzwise, "Metcalf's central triptych of 'Down', 'Scars' and the salutary caught-with-your-pants-down tale of 'Feet Do Your Stuff" is outstanding."
The recording represents a stunning expansion of Landesman's discography, which has had very few additions since the mercurial tunesmith withdrew to London in the mid-60's. Metcalf was drawn to Landesman's mature and thoughtful themes which often speak to real life situations in addition to those staples of American Songbook lyricists, love and romance. Her attraction is not a leap, when you consider that the singer was Director of Communications at New England's largest homeless shelter for nearly a decade.
"All Fran's lyrics are deep, literate and clever," says Metcalf. "Having said that, at the same time her themes are often basic, practical and very human, wrapped in exquisite humor and poetry."
Her admiration of Landesman has been shared by Ella Fitzgerald, Bette Midler, Sarah Vaughn and other greats who have covered Landesman's best known songs, the beloved "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most," and "The Ballad of the Sad Young Men."
After hearing some newer but lesser known compositions, Metcalf contacted Simon Wallace, a the pianist, composer and arranger who has been Landesman's collaborator since 1994. She expressed her vivid interest in any new Landesman tunes and arranged to meet Wallace in New York at the Cafe Carlyle. There, he generously handed over the mother lode of songs (which Wallace was preparing to publish as the first Landesman/Wallace songbook). Within a year, "Something Irresistible" was recorded and pressed.
Shepley Metcalf's "Something Irresistible," featuring new songs by Fran Landesman and the British jazz composer Simon Wallace, performs Tuesday, June 21 at 8pm at the Rrazz Room at Hotel Nikko San Francisco, 222 Mason Street.
The cover charge is $20, with a two-drink minimum.
For reservations call 415.394.1189.
For information or to order online, visit https://www.therrazzroom.com
