Nellie McKay: "Normal as Blueberry Pie: A Tribute to Doris Day"

DATES:

Saturday, Jun 12, 2010:   8:00PM  10:30PM

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed "Best of New York" by New York Magazine and "an invaluable New York institution" by The New York Post, continues its star-studded Spring 2010 season with the debut of critically acclaimed singer, songwriter and actress NELLIE McKAY from June 1 – 12. For her show at Feinstein’s Ms. McKay will celebrate the release of her latest CD, Normal As Blueberry Pie: A Tribute to Doris Day. All shows will take place at the Regency Hotel (540 Park Avenue at 61st Street).

Normal As Blueberry Pie – which “ranks among the killer overhauls of American standards, with sharply original arrangements,” according to The New York Times – features 12 songs handpicked from over 600 recordings of Ms. Day's, as well as an original by McKay. The album bridges the big band era of the ‘40s from “Sentimental Journey” to “Dig It” with Day’s later film career from “The Very Thought of You” from Young Man With a Horn to “Send Me No Flowers” from the film of the same name.

“We were trying to connect with the many time periods in Doris’ life,” McKay explains, “from the big bands to the post–McCarthy era.” Exasperating, exhilarating, and altogether uncategorizable, her latest album showcases Nellie’s fresh take on music and life with a curtsy to Doris, a nod to convention, and a unique twist all her own. Nellie reviewed a recent biography of Day for The New York Times, and is one of the few people in 30 years to be granted an interview with Ms. Day (The Bark Magazine, 2007). “What she possessed – beyond her beauty, physical grace and natural acting ability – was a resplendent voice that conveyed enormous warmth and feeling,” writes Nellie (The New York Times, 2007).

NELLIE McKAY has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and on numerous national television and radio shows, opened for Bo Diddley and Sting, dueted with Eartha Kitt, Trey Anastasio and Taj Mahal, interviewed Doris Day, and shared the stage with Odetta, Lou Reed, Elvis Costello and other notables in aid of various progressive causes. Since her audacious double-album debut Get Away From Me, Nellie McKay has been a creative dynamo, releasing three self-produced albums including Pretty Little Head and Obligatory Villagers. She won a Theatre World Award for her portrayal of “Polly Peachum” in the Broadway revival of The Threepenny Opera and was featured in the Richard LaGravenese film PS I Love You where she sings and plays the role of “Ciara,” Hilary Swank's younger sister. She also performs standards and original music for the Rob Reiner movie Rumor Has It. Up next, she is slated to star in the David Grubin film Russian Blue opposite violin prodigy Phillipe Quint and is currently creating the Broadway musical version of the book and movie Election.

• Nellie McKay