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Tuesday, 04-May-10 09:49:10 EDT


JESSICA MOLASKEY WITH NEW CD "MAKE BELIEVE"

FEATURING DUETS WITH JOHN PIZZARELLI AND ADAM GUETTEL

PS CLASSICS will release Make Believe (PS-311), the third in a critically acclaimed series of best-selling albums from jazz and theatre vocalist Jessica Molaskey, on October 5. In addition to full strings and brass, the CD features an all-star jazz ensemble including her husband John Pizzarelli on guitar and vocals; Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar; Larry Goldings, Lee Musiker, and Ray Kennedy on piano; and Tony Tedesco on drums. The arrangements and orchestrations are by John Clayton, Jason Robert Brown, Don Sebesky and Mr. Goldings. The recording was produced by Mr. Pizzarelli.

Jessica Molaskey spent years in the Broadway theatre before emerging as one of the most respected and acclaimed rising vocalists in jazz. Make Believe is her tribute to her intersecting worlds: 42nd Street meets 52nd Street, as swinging jazz tradition is combined with Broadway glamour and Tin Pan Alley wit. In addition to musical theatre chestnuts from classic musicals Ð Oklahoma! ("I Cain't Say No"), The Music Man ("Goodnight My Someone"), Company ("Getting Married Today") Ð and rare gems from the standard American songbook such as Harold Arlen's "Right as the Rain" and "You're A Builder Upper," the disc also includes "Cradle and All," a poignant new song that Ms. Molaskey wrote with celebrated musical theatre composer Ricky Ian Gordon.

Make Believe is the latest release in Ms. Molaskey's popular string of recordings that have captured the attention of the music community. Her first CD, Pentimento (PS-205), released in 2002, put a jazzy new twist on popular songs of the 1920s and 1930s. A Good Day (PS-311), released last year, was inspired by the soft yet sophisticated song stylings of Peggy Lee and her own guitarist-husband Dave Barbour.

Jessica Molaskey has performed with the "First Family of Cool" Ð John, Bucky and Martin Pizzarelli Ð at venues around the world, from FEINSTEIN'S AT THE REGENCY in New York City to the Montreal Jazz Festival. Jessica has also been featured at Lincoln Center's American Songbook Series, Carnegie Hall, Joe's Pub, Rainbow & Stars, and with orchestras and in concert venues across the country. As an actress, she was most recently featured at Lincoln Center Theatre's new musical A Man Of No Importance by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. Other major credits include the world premieres of the new musicals 3hree, directed by Hal Prince and the Stephen Sondheim / John Weidman musical Wise Guys, directed by Sam Mendes. She was featured in the Tony Award winning musical Parade, directed by Mr. Prince, at Lincoln Center and Songs For A New World, directed by Daisy Prince, in which she introduced the new standard "Stars and the Moon."

In just over three years, founders Tommy Krasker and Philip Chaffin have nurtured their "boutique" label PS CLASSICS into a highly-regarded independent, one that's been warmly received by the Broadway and critical community. Recently honored with its first Grammy Award nomination (for its cast recording of the Roundabout production of Nine: The Musical), the label has been profiled in publications such as The New York Times for its diverse line of show albums, solo CDs and songbook recordings.ÊIts cast albums celebrate Broadway (Assassins, Fiddler on the Roof, A Year With Frog and Toad, and Nine), off-Broadway (Ricky Ian Gordon's My Life With Albertine and Tim Acito's Zanna, Don't!), and regional theatre (Gordon's Only Heaven and Michael John LaChiusa's First Lady Suite). Its solo albums range from jazz (Darius de Haas: Day Dream) to folk (Rebecca Luker: Leaving Home) to big-band (Chaffin's own Where Do I Go From You?). And the composers highlighted span seventy years of great songwriting, from Billy Strayhorn and Jerome Moross to Maury Yeston and Jason Robert Brown. The label is distributed exclusively by IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT.

For more information, visit http://www.psclassics.com/ .

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