An Update from Mover and Shaker Jenna Esposito for June!

Jenna is delighted to be returning to the legendaryFeinstein's at Loews Regencywith her brand new show, Italian Undercover!    Sure, most people are aware that Dean Martin, Tony Bennettand Connie Francis are Italian.  And most people are also aware that their names have been changed considerably.  But not everyone knows that the same can be said for countless others including Lou Christie, Harry Warren, Frankie Laine and more!  In this show, Jenna revisits the music of some of the most popular and influential pop singers of the 20th century...who all happened to be Italians, undercover!  This show will also feature Jenna's five-piece band: musical director Fortune Esposito on guitar, David Crone on piano Rob Broelmann on bass, Bobby Sher on drums, and Brian Broelmann on tenor sax, mandolin, and accordion.    Details: Jenna Esposito in  Italian Undercover Tuesday, August 30th 8:30 p.m. Feinstein's at Loews Regency 540 Park Avenue at 61st St. New York, NY $25 General Admission or $40 Premium Seating + $25 food/drink minimum Reservations: (212) 339-4095 Online ticket purchase: Click here! A note from Jenna... Happy June, All!  I hope you've been enjoying your spring...although, with the heat wave we've been experiencing in NYC, it definitely feels more like summer!  I've been keeping busy working on my new show, Italian Undercover, which I am really excited about!  I was inspired to create it after reading a terrific book by Mark Rotella, Amore - The Story of Italian American Song.  It was a fascinating read, and one of the things that amazed me was the amount of Italian-American singers who altered their names to be less "ethnic-sounding."  Of course, this group includes many performers who are known to be of Italian descent, including Dean Martin, Connie Francis, and Tony Bennet.  But it also includes many less obvious  performers with Italian in their blood, including Lou Christie, Bobby Darin, Bobby Rydell, and Joni James.  When you look at the breadth of the work created by this group of "Italians undercover," as I've fondly dubbed them, their collective influence on the history of popular music is staggering!  So, I decided it was time to give them the recognition they deserve and pay tribute to them in the form of a show!  I'm having a blast putting it together, and I can't wait to premiere it at Feinstein's in August!  I hope to see you there!      I'm also very much looking forward to the weeklyMetroJam!  I love hosting the 'Jam, and I'm thrilled to be able to do it more often now!  I'm very grateful to our regulars, who have made MetroJam what it is today, and also to all of our "special guests" who have provided some truly memorable moments!  And, I'm also incredibly grateful to our producer, Jeff Leibowitz, who has been a stalwart supporter of MetroJam and who has turned the idea of weekly MetroJam into reality!    Thanks, as always, for taking the time to read this and for your support!!  I hope to see you soon!     All the best,  Jenna  **California Dreaming!!** Well, right now, it's just a dream, but on December 31st, Jenna will be returning to the Torrance Cultural Arts Center in Torrance, CA, to ring in the new year with a bang...and some sparkle, of course!     So, California friends, get those calendars marked and get ready to party hearty on New Year's Eve!     Details: Jenna Esposito at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center Nakano Theatre 3330 Civic Center Drive Torrance, CA Saturday, December 31, 2011 Shows at 6:30 and 9:30 p.m.    Ticket information to be released soon!! Jenna's busting out all over!  That's right, folks!  With some exciting new show announcements, the continuation of her regular gig atGrappa Ristorantein Warwick, NY, andMetroJam's switch to a weekly (instead of monthly!) schedule, it's going to be easier than ever to catch Jenna performing!  Read below for all of the details on Jenna's upcoming gigs, including her return to Feinstein's at Loews Regency on August 30th!

Upcoming Gigs

06/12/11  Jenna Esposito at                 Grappa Ristorante, Warwick, NY 06/19/11  Jenna Esposito at                 Grappa Ristorante, Warwick, NY 06/26/11  Jenna Esposito at                 Grappa Ristorante, Warwick, NY 07/01/11  MetroJam at                 The Metropolitan Room, New York, NY 07/08/11  MetroJam at                 The Metropolitan Room, New York, NY 07/15/11  Jenna Esposito at                 Festival Square, Middletown, NY 08/13/11  Jenna Esposito in                 Little Italy, New York, NY 08/30/11  Jenna Esposito at                 Feinstein's at Loews Regency, New York, New York 12/31/11  Jenna Esposito at                 The Torrance Cultural Arts Center, Torrance, CA *****************************************************************************************

Jenna Continues at  Grappa Ristorante!

Jenna continues her Sunday evening stint Grappa Ristorantein Warwick, NY, on Sundays in June!  She'll be joined byFortune Esposito on guitar and Rob Broelmann on bass.  As always, there is no cover and no minimum, but there is a full (and delicious!) menu available!  Weather permitting, performances will be outdoors, in the lovely courtyard.   Details: Jenna Esposito at Grappa Ristorante      Sunday, June 12, 2011 Sunday, June 19, 2011* Sunday, June 26, 2011 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Grappa Ristorante 22 Railroad Ave. Warwick, NY Reservations: (845) 987-7373   *Note: In the case of inclement weather on June 19th (Father's Day), there will be no performance.  As the indoor space at Grappa is intimate, every inch of space indoors will be needed to accommodate Father's Day reservations!

MetroJam to Go Weekly!

MetroJam, the monthly open mic at The Metropolitan Room hosted by Jenna Esposito, is ready to heat things up in Manhattan this summer when it goes weekly, starting in July!  That's right, beginning on July 1st, MetroJam will now be held EVERY Friday night!  Come on down to 22nd Street and see what all of the buzz is about as some of NYC's hottest entertainers take the mic!  Performers in recent months have included Bill Boggs, Tony DeSare, Nicolas King, Jennifer Sheehan, William Blake, and more!  It's always an enjoyable evening, and we hope to see you there soon! Also featured, of course, is be the rockin' MetroJam Band: John DiPinto on piano, Ritt Henn on bass, and Bobby Sher on drums. If you'd like to perform, please be sure to bring 2 copies of your music (uptempos are preferred). Reservations are recommended; please make yours by calling 212-206-0440. Details: MetroJam with host Jenna Esposito Produced by Jeff Leibowitz Friday, July 1, 2011 and EVERY Friday thereafter! 10 p.m. - midnight The Metropolitan Room 34 W.22nd St., NYC $20 cover + 2 drink minimum $15 cover for MAC/Cabaret Hotline members* $10 cover for ALL PERFORMERS who perform at MetroJam that evening!* *2 drink minimum still applies Reservations: 212-206-0440 (please call ahead so that the club can plan accordingly!).

Jenna in Hometown Concert This Summer!

Jenna is very excited to be returning to her hometown of Middletown, NY, for a special performance of her show That's Amore: Jenna Sings Love Italian Style as part of the Middletown Recreation & Parks Department Summer Concert Series.  She'll be joined by her fabulous five piece band (led by musical director Fortune Esposito) and celebrating the music of some of the greatest Italian-American singers of the last century, including Tony Bennett, Dean Martin, Connie Francis, and (of course!) Frank Sinatra.  Details: Jenna Esposito at Festival Square with Musical Director Fortune Esposito (guitar), Rob Broelmann (bass), David Crone (piano), Brian Broelmann (tenor sax), and Connor Crone (drums) Friday, July 15th, 2011 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Festival Square West Main Street, Middletown, NY FREE!!

Jenna to Sing in Little Italy August 13th!

Jenna is thrilled to be returning to Little Italy for a free outdoor concert as part of the historic neighborhood's annual Ferragostocelebration.  She'll be singing in Italian and English, featuring classics such as "Arrivederci Roma," "Non Dimenticar," and "Al Di La," and will be joined by her fabulous 5-piece band!    Details:    Jenna Esposito in Little Italy! with Musical Director Fortune Esposito (guitar), Rob Broelmann (bass), David Crone (piano), Brian Broelmann (tenor sax), and Bobby Sher (drums) Saturday, August 13, 2011 4:00 p.m. Little Italy, NYC Hester St. between Mulberry St. & Baxter ST. FREE!!

Have You Brought Jenna Home Yet?

Both of Jenna's CDs are available for purchase on CDBaby.com as well as iTunes!  So, if you're unable to make it to a show (or you just can't get enough Jenna!), you need not fret!  Jenna's first CD, 13 Men...and Me!, is a crowd-pleaser featuring her stylistic versatility with well-loved standards such as "Just In Time" and "Down With Love," pop hits including "One Less Bell To Answer" and "Since I Fell For You," as well as contemporary jazz/pop songs and the sizzling title track, "Thirteen Men."  Her second CD, To Connie...Love, Jenna, is a live recording of Jenna's Connie Francis tribute show, which was recorded during her June-July, 2009 run of the show at The Metropolitan Room in New York City.  It features a number of Connie's biggest hits like "Stupid Cupid," "Who's Sorry Now," and "Where The Boys Are," as well as several lesser-known gems. Click on the links below to purchase!  Jenna on CDBaby  Jenna on iTunes

Links

Jenna's Website Jenna on YouTube Jenna on iTunes  Jenna on CD Baby  Jenna in the Daily News Jenna on LX New York Jenna's Column on Broadway World