Sony Holland back to Charlie O's, April 1st

Sony Holland is a warm, inviting performer whose unaffected style brims with the infectious joy of singing. This Thursday, April 1st, after her successful gig there last February, she'll be once again jamming @ Charlie O's (13725 Victory Blvc., Valley Glenn, CA, ph: 818-994-3058) with Theo Saunders (piano), Chris Conner (bass), Tony Austin (drums) & Thom Rotella (guitar).

Born in a tiny town north of Minneapolis, Ms. Holland has toured Asia, performed in prestigious jazz festivals and in premier nightclubs such as the Blue Note, Yoshi's, Catalina's, the Dakota, the Rrazz Room and many more. Yet catching one of her live performances one gets a feeling that the best is yet to come.

She has recently relocated to Los Angeles, having performed at Steamers, Left Coast Wine Bar and Culver's Club (at Radisson Hotel) in the past few months. "In order to take it to the next level you have to work with the best musicians and producers and they are here in L.A." the singer explains. "My technique, style and repertoire are always evolving and that's the way it should be" she adds. "I hope to sing better next year than I do now."

"For me the highest tribute comes from people who are moved by my music. I understand. I've had very emotional reactions when I've seen artists like Nancy Wilson, Tony Bennett, etc. A great instrumentalist can wring so much out of a song as well. That's what I'm shooting for every chance I get."

"I am new to LA, so it is really nice to get to know people on the local music scene, which
is FANTASTIC. The musicians and singers are so talented here," Holland says. Raised in Minnesota, she lived in Nashville during the '90s, moved to San Francisco six years ago (where she built a cult-following among Bay Area jazz fans), and now she is in Los Angeles.

Sony has been compared to Nancy Wilson as well as to June Christy and Peggy Lee. It's easy to notice an influence of Tony Benett too. "Sony Holland has a warm deep voice and a very clear tone. One can always understand the words she is singing yet she is not shy to improvise," the renowned jazz writer Scott Yanow once wrote.

"Repertoire for my show will be a wide mix. Like many singers I am including more contemporary songs into my show along with the standards," she tells us. "So along with songs by Harry Warren, Johnny Mercer and Duke Ellington, there will also be songs by Rufus Wainwright ("Sansoucci"), Bob Dylan ("All I Really Want to Do"), and even a jazz/reggae version of a song by Carla Bruni & William Yeats, "Those Dancing Days Are Gone." Also, I sing a few wonderful original songs written by my husband Jerry Holland (originally from New York City) though he has written a #1 Billboard Country song" ("Friends,” recorded by John Michael Montgomery.)

Hope she will also include Hoagy Carmichael's "The Nearness of You" (the theme song of Arnaldo DeSouteiro's radio show at TUPI-FM during the 80s, in a recording by Roland Hanna) and Jobim's "Meditation" on the setlist.