Jazz Vocalist and Composer Michael Franks Delivers Long-Awaited Studio Recording 'Rendezvous in Rio,' on June 27th, 2006

NEW YORK, NY (KOCH Records) - Michael Franks, a mainstay in the contemporary jazz scene since the '70s, is back with "Rendezvous in Rio," his new album featuring 10 new original songs with distinctive arrangements from long-time collaborators Jeff Lorber, Jimmy Haslip, Russell Ferrante, Chuck Loeb and others. "Rendezvous in Rio" will be released on June 27th, 2006.

The music of renowned Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Jobim has been a great influence to Franks' previous music, and it can be seen in this album as well. "Rendezvous in Rio" includes an 'unrequited love' song "The Question is Why," "The Critics Are Never Kind" from his musical "Noa Noa," which portrays a musical conversation between artists Gauguin, Van Gogh, and Degas, the bittersweet "Songbirds," and two jazzy numbers: "The Cool School" and "Hearing 'Take Five.'"

Michael Franks, a California native, has been creating and recording music for the past 33 years, and has released 16 albums to date. He studied music and literature in college, receiving his Masters from UCLA, and his PhD from the University of Oregon. He later taught undergraduate music courses at both UCLA and Berkeley.

His musical style seamlessly weaves lyrics of stunning sensuality, wit, reflection and literary eloquence over music that tastefully utilizes top shelf shadings of jazz, soul, pop, chamber and music from around the globe. His most well known songs include "Popsicle Toes," "Monkey See-Monkey Do," "The Lady Wants To Know," "When the Cookie Jar is Empty," "Tiger in the Rain," "Rainy Night in Tokyo" and "Tell Me All About It." His music has been covered by Ana Caram, Natalie Cole, Patti Labelle, Miss Peggy Lee, Melissa Manchester, Carmen McRae, Ringo Starr, Livingston Taylor and the Yellowjackets.