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Jonathan Poretz

Some say he was born with a microphone in his hand. That would explain why Jonathan Poretz is so comfortable performing his brand of great American jazz standards to audiences large and small. Whether appearing in an intimate club or a large outdoor venue, Jonathan brings an electric energy to any stage he’s on, a talent he’s been cultivating since his early teens, when he sang professionally in bands that featured jazz greats including Charlie Shavers, Chuck Wayne and Joe Puma in his home town of New York City.

Blending the swinging vocal stylings of Sinatra, Torme, Bennett and Darin, Jonathan is equally comfortable performing with a trio or a 17-piece big band, putting his own unique stamp on every song he sings and every story he tells through the great American standard songbook.

Jonathan has been appearing as Frank Sinatra in the “Tribute to Frank, Sammy, Joey & Dean (The Rat Pack)” in San Francisco, Las Vegas, Boston and Memphis. He also appears regularly at various Bay Area venues, including LJ’s Martini Club, Jazz @ Shanghai 1930 and The Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay.

He is also a regular vocalist with the Harold Jones Boss Men big band, led by legendary drummer Harold Jones, the beat behind Count Basie in the ‘70s and Sarah Vaughan in the ‘80s, and currently on tour with Tony Bennett. Past appearances with the Boss Men included performances at the Russian River and Calistoga Jazz Festivals in the fall of 2004.

Jonathan can also be heard as the featured vocalist for the Starduster Orchestra big band and the Joe Agro Sextet, performing swinging standards at public venues, such as the Sausalito Arts Fair, the Caledonia Street Fair and Jazz and Blues by the Bay in Sausalito as well as various private events in the Bay Area.

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330
Album Review

Jonathan Poretz: A Lot Of Livin' To Do

Read "A Lot Of Livin' To Do" reviewed by Michael P. Gladstone


In the category of young male vocalists like Michael Bublé and Peter Cincotti--and probably the role model for both, Harry Connick, Jr.--comes a new entry with his debut album. San Francisco-based vocalist Jonathan Poretz has also been linked more seriously in the press to Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, Tony Bennett and Bobby Darin. These are some serious comparisons, and Poretz does have experience “being" Sinatra in a travelling tribute show to the Rat Pack. He has none of the bel ...

276
Album Review

Jonathan Poretz: A Lot of Livin' to Do

Read "A Lot of Livin' to Do" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


Frank Sinatra's footwear makes for some tough shoes to fill. But judging by A Lot of Livin' to Do, San Francisco-based vocalist Jonathan Poretz has done an able job of rendering Old Blue Eyes in “Tribute to Frank, Sammy, Joey & Dean (The Rat Pack)," a show with performances in San Francisco, Las Vegas and Boston. Not that Poretz sounds like Sinatra on the recording. With a delivery that is closer to that of that of another Sinatra-influenced singer, Bobby ...

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107

Recording

Jonathan Poretz CD Rel Party Jan. 18th Jazz at Pearl's

Jonathan Poretz CD Rel Party Jan. 18th Jazz at Pearl's

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

Jonathan Poretz Thursday, January 18th, 2007 CD Release - 8:00 & 10:00 p.m. Jazz at Pearl's

256 Columbus Avenue (Pacific) San Francisco CA 1-800-838-3006 Price: $15 http://www.jazzatpearls.com/

Celebrating the release of A Lot of Livin' To Do on the Pacific Coast Jazz label.

Featuring Lee Bloom on piano, Jeff Neighbor on bass, Vince Lateano on drums and Noel Jewkes on reeds.

“Silky smooth and swingin', Jonathan ...

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

A Lot Of Livin' To Do

Pacific Coast Jazz
2007

buy

A Lot of Livin' to Do

Pacific Coast Jazz
2006

buy

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