Direct from London, San Francisco native Holly Penfield brings her eclectic, critically-acclaimed new show, Fragile Human Monster, toFeinstein's at the Nikko for two performances only- Friday, May 4 (8 p.m.) andSaturday, May 5 (8 p.m.). In this weird, whimsical show, Penfield will perform a collection of original rock songs with a gypsy jazz influence, as well as gut-wrenching ballads written from the bottom of her tangled heart. Tickets for Holly Penfield range in price from $18.75-$45 and are available now by calling 866-663-1063 or visiting www.ticketfly.com.
Holly Penfield, a luminary on the London jazz cabaret scene for over fifteen years, is a native of San Francisco. She began singing at the age of 12, trained by the legendary vocal coach
Judy Davis who coached
Barbra Streisand,
Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr. Moving to Los Angeles, the singer/songwriter talent secured three record contracts, the most noteworthy being the records she made with
Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn (producers for
Pat Benatar, Blondie, The Knack,
Suzi Quatro, Exile, and
Tina Turner). She recorded five albums of her own material, reaching the American charts. Many of the aspects of her rock 'n roll sensibilities Penfield applies to her jazz cabaret performance.
Penfield, like
Josephine Baker, was lured by the European mystique, but made her career in London rather than Paris. Achieving great success as a jazz cabaret singer, she appeared at Pizza on The Park, Cafe de Paris, Beach Blanket Babylon, Pizza Express, China Jazz, and Scott's on Mount Street - where she was, (like Sally Bowles) the toast of Mayfair! Penfield has also performed for
Prince Charles and Princess Diana at the opening of a major London film studio, wowing guests including the Lord Mayor of London. She has headlined major dinner concerts for 250 guests at the Savoy Hotel, playing a two-hour concert with a 12-piece band, and has sung in many prestigious London hotels including The Savoy (3 years weekly resident) the Lanesborough, The Landmark, The Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Knightsbridge, The Dorchester and The Ritz (at a private party for Prince Andrew and
Sarah Ferguson). She has been seen by Dame
Shirley Bassey, Lionel Ritchie,
Kate Moss,
Tony Blair, Margaret Thatcher,
Boy George,
George Michael,
Michael Jackson (with whom she performed at the 1996 Brit Awards) and many more! In addition to public performances, she carries out hundreds of exclusive private parties all over England and Europe.
In London, Penfield has blazed a trail on the lively cabaret and burlesque scene. Many performers have followed in her high-heeled footsteps at the venues Penfield launched, including the Soho Revue Bar, Volupte Supper Club and the historic Cafe Royal. At the London Hippodrome in Leicester Square Penfield participated in the "Alternative Miss World" pageant, wearing wild costumes inspired by her electric stage presence, designed for her by leading designers of the time.
Penfield is often hired for her creativity with elaborate costumes to fit special themes, including a show in the historic vaults underneath London Bridge for an event built around "Dante's Inferno" illustrating the seven deadly sins. In addition to performing in upmarket establishments, she also has a fondness for appearing in unorthodox venues including wine cellars, boats and hot air balloons.
Penfield has toured Europe extensively. She has performed at ski resorts in the Alps, at a Russian art gallery in St Moritz (for
Faye Dunaway,
Jacqueline Bissett,
Michael York and
Geraldine Chaplin), in an amphitheater in Sicily and in many a chateau for French farmers. In Norway she conducted a 13-city tour culminating in a concert in Oslo. European credits include music festivals in France, Italy and Germany, gigs in Istanbul, Munich, Copenhagen, Tel Aviv and Tokyo (at the enormous Budokan Theatre where she competed in the Yamaha Song writing Festival, winning a motorcycle!) She has appeared with her quartet at Cairo 's legendary Mena Hou Oberoi Hotel, at the base of the Keops Great Pyramid, singing swing at the El Khalifa Room.
Penfield herself is a fine pianist whose serious song writing talents come to the foreground in her original compositions on her CD's "Both Sides Now" and "Le Jazz Hot" recorded live at the legendary Pizza on the Park.
Located within Hotel Nikko (222 Mason Street, San Francisco), Feinstein's at the Nikko presents a wide range of entertainers from stage and screen all within an intimate 140-seat cabaret setting. There is a $20 food and beverage minimum per person inside the showroom which guests can use towards cocktails as well as a variety of small plates crafted exclusively for Feinstein's at the Nikko, through Restaurant Anzu. Cheese and dessert platters will also be available in the showroom.
Guests of Feinstein's at the Nikko can enjoy a variety of food and beverage options before performances. Kanpai Lounge, located in Hotel Nikko's lobby, offers light cuisine, a full bar and specialty cocktails. Restaurant Anzu, Hotel Nikko's intimate restaurant located on the second floor, serves sustainable California cuisine enhanced with Asian flavors. Restaurant Anzu will also offer Feinstein's at the Nikko guests a special three-course prix-fixe dinner ($45 per person) prior to all performances. Reservations can be made by calling(415) 394-1100.
For additional information on Holly Penfield, visit:
www.hollypenfield.com.
For additional information on Feinstein's at the Nikko, visit:
www.feinsteinsatthenikko.com.
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