The new dates - again celebrating his album Close to You: Bacharach Reimagined - follow on the heels of two sold out New York shows earlier this year, in addition to two acclaimed evenings at The Wallis in Beverly Hills, which were featured in a Los Angeles Times profile.
Accompanying himself on guitar, Riabko will perform his celebrated arrangements of such classics as "Alfie," "I Say A Little Prayer," "Walk On By," "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head," and many more. Close to You's Original London Cast Recording is currently available on Ghostlight Records.
Close to You: Bacharach Reimagined revitalizes the catalog of the iconic American composer for a new generation with Riabko's visionary interpretations on the genre-spanning catalogue of Burt Bacharach, with lyrics by Hal David and others. The show was hailed as "one of the year's 10 best" by The New York Times and Burt Bacharach himself said "Kyle has done something truly unique. It's brilliant. It's a very fresh take on my music and it's a huge tribute to me." The album also features special bonus tracks of Kyle's never-before-heard original demos, which formed the basis for the project. The 28-page booklet includes a note from Riabko, liner notes, production and studio photography and opening night photos of Bacharach with the cast. Close to You: Bacharach Reimagined is produced and arranged by Kyle Riabko with David Lane Seltzer of Entertainment 360 serving as executive producer. To order, visit www.sh-k-boom.com/close-to-you-bacharach-reimagined.
The recording features over 30 hits as performed by Riabko and the other incredibly talented young singers and musicians who made up the cast of this magical show. The album showcases beautifully-reimagined versions of classics such as "Alfie," "I Say a Little Prayer," "Walk On By," "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head," "The Look of Love," "What's New Pussycat?", "I'll Never Fall in Love Again," "Don't Make Me Over," "(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me," "A House Is Not A Home," and the enduring title track.
Burt Bacharach appeared at the show's opening night in the West End, and said, "This is star musicianship. Kyle is a beautiful singer and one hell of a guitar player. This is truly a gift. It's a love letter to me."
Kyle Riabko is a singer, guitarist, composer and actor who grew up in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Before starring on Broadway in both Spring Awakening and Hair, Kyle released a full-length album of original music on Columbia/Aware Records and spent his teen years appearing as an opening act for a wide range of artists including: B.B. King, James Brown, John Mayer, Keb' Mo', Buddy Guy, Jason Mraz and Maroon 5, among others.
After appearing in various film and television roles, Kyle created and starred in an earlier incarnation of the show at New York Theatre Workshop and The Menier Chocolate Factory under the title What's It All About? Bacharach Reimagined. The production received a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Revue, an Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical and four Lucille Lortel Award nominations, including ones for Outstanding Musical and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical for Kyle.
The album features Kyle Riabko (vocals, guitars, keyboards, ukulele), Daniel Bailen (vocals, electric bass, upright bass, cello, guitar), Greg Coulson (vocals, guitars, keyboards), Anastacia McCleskey (vocals), Stephanie McKeon (vocals), Renato Paris (vocals, keyboards) and James Williams (percussion).
Kyle Riabko will be presented at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater on Friday, September 29 at 9:30 PM and Saturday, September 30 at 7:00 PM. The venue is located in The Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street (between East 4th and Astor Place) NYC. For tickets - which cost $25 - call (212) 967-7555 from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM or visit joespub.com, or visit in person at The Public Theater Box Office at 425 Lafayette Street from 2:00 PM daily. There is a $12 food / two (2) drink minimum per person per show, unless otherwise noted.
Named for Public Theater founder Joe Papp, Joe's Pub at The Public opened in 1998 and plays a vital role in The Public's mission of supporting young artists while providing established artists with an intimate space to perform and develop new work. Joe's Pub consistently presents the best in live music and performance nightly, continuing its commitment to diversity, production values, community and artistic freedom. The organization also offers unique opportunities like New York Voices, an artist commissioning program that provides musicians the resources and tools needed to develop original theater works. Commissioned artists have included Ethan Lipton, Toshi Reagon, Bridget Everett, Allen Toussaint and more. In 2011, the Pub received a top-to-bottom renovation, leading to improved sightlines, expanded seating capacity and a new menu from acclaimed Chef Andrew Carmellini. With its intimate atmosphere and superior acoustics, Joe's Pub presents talent from all over the world as part of The Public's programming downtown at its Astor Place home, hosting approximately 800 shows and serving over 100,000 audience members annually.
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