ABOUT TORCH

The 2007 MAC (Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs) Award winner for Best Major Artist- Lina Koutrakos "unplugs" and sings the historic and ultimate female expression of the blues through this line up of torch songs. An intimate evening, with Rick Jensen at the baby grand.

Lina Koutrakos has been singing in New York City for over 20 years to a celebrated career in both cabaret and rock and roll. (MAC Awards/NYC, Backstage Bistro/NYC, Petite Piaf/Paris/Village Voice Award, Daily News Acknowledgment) all for Best Female Vocalist. The Village Voice says she 'makes the transition from cabaret to rock with the expertise of a skilled aerialist'.

She has been repeatedly raved-reviewed and/or featured both in for arenas as well. (Daily News, Billboard, NY Post, New York Times, Village Voice, Backstage, Variety and so on).

Long time friend, award winning New York City arranger, musical director and songwriter Rick Jensen, has also straddled both musical worlds over the years. Having literally “come of age” in the cities nightclubs and now with years of music- and life- under their belts, they have teamed up to bring a unique view to this line up of torch songs. “Torch” features the classic songs its title conjures up and the not so expected ones as well.

The nightclubs are where both Koutrakos and Jensen learned, loved and were afforded the opportunity to dissect these songs over and over again and decided last year it was time to interpret them with not only their individual histories, but their collective ones as well…both personally and musically.

After an award winning 8-month run at the Metropolitan Room in New York City, they have discovered that this perspective (both honorable and inventive) have opened “Torch” up to include a contemporary audience.

“Torch” has been successfully performed this past year in Santa Fe, Chicago, Boston, Palm Springs and St. Louis among other places and can be booked through this website. It can be performed piano/vocal or with a trio.