Gabrielle Stravelli Fills in for Jazz Legend Annie Ross at the Metropolitan Room Tonight

Gabrielle Stravelli -- the celebrated pop/jazz vocalist and songwriter called an "outstanding singer" by The Wall Street Journal and "hotter than the equator" by The Village Voice -- will fill in for jazz icon Annie Ross for her longstanding Tuesday night residency for two concerts tonight, January 19, and January 26 at 9:30 PM. Both shows take place at The Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street between 5th and 6th Avenues).

Her triumphant engagement at Feinstein's / 54 Below earlier this season was praised by The New York Times for its "intense joy" and "voluptuous delight." The upcoming shows will feature Jim Ridl (January 19) and Art Hirahara (January 26) on piano, Pat O'Leary on bass and Eric Halvorson on drums. The evening will include songs from her upcoming album produced by David Cook (Taylor Swift, Jennifer Hudson, Marianne Faithfull) with its new single "Dream Dancing," a passionate reworking of the Cole Porter classic available now on iTunes here.

Gabrielle recently returned from concerts in Azerbaijan, Moldova, Slovenia and Malta as part of the U.S. State Department's "American Music Abroad." In October, she co-starred in world premiere of Rooms of Light, the new song cycle with music by renowned jazz pianist Fred Hersch and December marked her second annual performance at the Jonathan Schwartz Christmas Show opposite John Pizzarelli, Karrin Allyson, Bill Charlap and more. She will sing with the Santa Rosa Symphony opposite Billy Stritch in February, the 92nd Street Y "Lyrics and Lyricists" series in March and headline the Eleuthera Jazz Festival in the Bahamas in April.

Her new podcast "Big Modern Music with Gabrielle Stravelli" features interviews with stars of jazz, pop and beyond. The latest edition features special guest Sachal, the vocalist and songwriter who discusses his latest album Slow Motion Miracles. The first episode, released earlier this year, includes a conversation with two-time Grammy nominated vocalist Jane Monheit. Both are available on iTunes.

Waiting in Vain, Gabrielle's adventurous debut record, was named "Album of the Week" by The Jonathan Channel from WNYC/New York Public Radio and Jonathan Schwartz. It combines the smoky ambiance of an underground supper club with exciting vocal chops, rhythmic dexterity and emotional yet intelligent interpretations. Highlights include "So What Boy," which blends the Miles Davis jazz classic with the Buddy Holly pop hit; a haunting reinvention of the Peter, Bjorn and John 2006 global chart smash "Young Folks"; and a lilting version of the Bob Marley song title song; in addition to the standards "Skylark," "In A Sentimental Mood" and "Love For Sale." The recording, captured live at Zeb's in New York, is available on iTunes, Amazon and other music retailers.

GABRIELLE STRAVELLI toured the states with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra performing Marsalis's Abyssinian: A Gospel Celebration. At age 15, Gabrielle began singing as a soloist with orchestras and has since performed on stages from Amsterdam to New York including Lincoln Center's Midsummer Night's Swing, Birdland Jazz Club, 92Y's Lyrics and Lyricists, Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall at Kaufman Center, the Hammerstein Ballroom, Iridium Jazz Club, BB King Blues Club, Somethin' Jazz, The Garage, Fulton Theatre, and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) where she opened for Esperanza Spalding and Cassandra Wilson.

Praised for her "forceful emotional presence and a versatile, well-shaded voice," by Adam Feldman of Time Out New York, Gabrielle joins the soulful sensitivity of a vintage song stylist with a distinctively modern sensibility. She has garnered critical accolades and a loyal following from her vibrant singing, extraordinary vocal tone and flexibility, original songs and unique takes on material from the American songbook, as well as music by artists as varied as Pink Floyd and Duke Ellington, Dolly Parton and Johnny Mercer.

Gabrielle has appeared as a soloist with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra and the Cincinnati Pops, was a finalist for the international 2011 Shure-Montreux Jazz Festival Vocal Competition and was the 1st runner-up at the 2009 Jazzmobile Vocal Competition in Harlem. Earlier in 2015, she was given the Backstage Bistro Award for "Jazz Vocalist" and the MAC Award for "Best Female Vocalist."

Gabrielle Stravelli will perform at The Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street between 5th and 6th Avenues) for two performances only, Tuesdays January 19 and January 26 at 9:30 PM. Tickets are $20 each with an additional two-drink minimum.Visit www.MetropolitanRoom.com for additional information, or go to www.GabrielleStravelli.com for performance schedule, videos, sound clips and more.

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