Denise Summerford is 'Mellowed' at Ars Nova, Dec. 17

Broadway veteran Denise Summerford, who most recently appeared in Shout! - The Mod Musical, will bring her new solo show "Mellowed" to Ars Nova (511 West 54th Street).  Billed as "a rich merging of lush vocals and guitar wizardry blending jazz, soul, blues, and folk in perfect harmony," the show will be performed on Sunday, December 17 at 8:00 p.m.

Summerford's band will include Manny Moreira on guitar, Frank Canino on bass, Andrew Byrne on Piano, Ron Wilson on drums/percussion and Jene Hernandez on back-up vocals.  The set will also include a special performance by the cast of Shout! - The Mod Musical, in addition to Summerford's new renditions of classic songs by Annie Lennox, Stevie Wonder, Tom Waits and more.

"This is a very different set than what people have come to expect from me. It still has the 'Denise flavor' but is, well.... more mellowed - hence the name of the show.  I wanted to try on the jazz hat and I've come to really enjoy singing that style of music.  Anybody can scream and blow it out and as a singer and one can tend to hide behind all of the "bells and whistles," if you will.  I wanted to get back to great melodies and vocals and that's what makes this set special to me," says Summerford.

Summferford has been seen on Broadway in the musicals Taboo and The Rocky Horror Show and also provided vocals for Saturday Night Fever.  She created the role of "The Red Girl" in Shout! - The Mod Musical Off-Broadway, and tours the country as a member of the popular sketch comedy group "The Water Coolers."  She has sung with many national and international recording artists, including Rock 'n' Roll legend Lou christie and Boy George, and performs regularly with artists such as Kevin Cahoon and Ghetto Cowboy and Euan Morton.  She has performed at such legendary NYC venues as CBGB, Don Hill's, BB King, Avalon, The Zipper and Joe's Pub.

Tickets are priced at $15 (no drink minimum) and are currently on sale at www.Arsnovanyc.com and www.Smarttix.com (212-868-4444).

Photo by Joan Marcus