New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Isabel Rose Official Website) TheaterMania Includes Rose Among Such Seminal Artists as Liza Minnelli, Betty Buckley,
Barbara Cook.
Metropolitan Room NYC, January 21st; Catalina's, LA, March 2nd; Blue Note, NYC April 11th.
Rose is proud to announce that the celebrated Clifford Carter (Art Garfunkel, James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Natalie Cole, Bette Midler, Carly Simon, more) will be her Musical Director for the 1/21 Metrolpolitan Room show (https://www.cliffordcarter.com/all_about_cc.html)
Rose: "Two of my greatest sources of inspiration are Edith Wharton and Charo"
Singer Isabel Rose looks ahead to the New Year with the wind in her sails - following months of raves for her debut CD 'Swingin' From the Hip', she has announced her first-ever Los Angeles concert for March 2nd at Catalina's, and New York performances at The Metropolitan Room (January 21st) and Blue Note (April 11th) have been set as well. In TheaterMania's Holiday Gift Guide, critic Andy Propst included Rose's track "I Enjoy Being a Girl" among songs by such famed artists as Liza Minnelli, Betty Buckley, Barbara Cook and others. In a recent interview feature in ShowBiz Chicago, multi-hyphenate Rose is praised as being perhaps "one of the last true Renaissance artists of our time." This week, the Indie Music site WildysWorld chose Rose's acclaimed CD "Swingin' From the Hip" as No 24 on their list of the Top 60 CDs of 2010, and stated simply, "Rose will some day be a legend."
Isabel Rose's wonderfully funny interview with Showbiz Chicago follows - in it, she says, "Two of my greatest sources of inspiration are Edith Wharton and Charo." Learn more about the unusual personal story behind the album title, and more, below -
SHOWBIZ CHICAGO
Singin'- and Swingin'- from the Hip: Interview with Isabel Rose
https://showbizchicago.com/singin-and-swingin-from-the-hip-interview-with-isabel-rose/
December 18, 2010 by Alissa Norby
Isabel Rose may be one of the last true Renaissance artists of our time. A versatile and consummate storyteller, Rose co-wrote and starred in 2003's MGM film musical throwback, "Anything But Love", penned a bitingly sardonic novel ("The J.A.P. Chronicles", a work of fiction that later provided source to her one-woman Off-Broadway musical of the same title), and recently released her debut album, "Swingin' from the Hip". Rose caught up with ShowBiz Chicago to discuss the eclectic album, her multifaceted and celebrated career, and why even an Elvis Impersonator can be a source of paramount inspiration.
Interview by Alissa Norby
ShowBiz Chicago: You have received great success as a screenwriter, novelist, actor, and writer. What inspired you to take on "Swingin' From the Hip", your debut album?
In the film "Anything But Love," I play the role of a cabaret singer. Even though the film was released several years ago, it still plays regularly on cable. I know this because every time it runs, I get fan mail from people asking where they can buy my music . So I made the album for those fans, especially the Elvis Impersonator in Vegas who told me "Anything But Love" is his favorite movie of all time.
On the album, you traverse a myriad of musical genres from Rodgers and Hammerstein to Pat Benatar. Tell me about the selection process for the album, and why you were attracted to putting your own stamp on such disparate styles.
The selection process for the CD was an evolution. Originally, the album was called "Boy Wanted," and it grew out of the shows I was doing at the time- shows that reflected my search for love as a single woman in Manhattan. Temptation, I Enjoy Being a Girl, Boy Wanted, Haven't We Met, Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, I Only Wanna Be With You, Hit Me and On the Street Where You Live all came out of what I call "Phase 1" of the album.
Shortly before "Boy Wanted" was set for release, my doctor told me I needed a hip replacement. I was shocked. I was in my thirties and thought hip replacements were only for seniors. But I'd been dancing since I was a little girl, not to mention running, skiing and dating, which for me, at the time, was a full-contact sport. I explained to my surgeon that I had an album to put out and performance dates to make and he said, "You'll be back on your feet in 6 weeks. No problem."
But there was a problem: I woke up from surgery to discover that one leg was much longer than the other. This made walking very difficult. In fact, it made walking close to impossible without a specially made shoe that had a lift in it. And I'm going to be straight: that shoe was not exactly Prada. Add to that the fact that my body rejected the substance the prosthesis was made of and there you have it: a woman who can no longer perform. Actually, I could no longer think straight. I went from sauntering around in four-inch spikes to hobbling around with a cane, each step sending lightning bolts of pain through my body.
There was some good that came out of that very dark period. While I was recovering from surgery, I met my future husband. And though it was a drag to spend so much time in bed, I did get my second child out of it.
A few months after our son was born, my surgeon took out the wrong prosthesis and replaced it with the correct one. And as soon as I could, I returned to "Boy Wanted." The only problem was, "Boy Wanted," no longer reflected where I was in my life. The "Boy" had been found...
And so began "Phase 2." I reassembled my team and returned to the studio. I didn't want to dwell anymore on anything sad. After 18 months of pain and immobility, I wanted to swing! Exit anything that made me weep. Enter Accentuate the Positive, Aquarius, It's A Lovely Day, The Best Is Yet To Come and Thirteen Men
And there you have it: "Swingin' from the Hip."
"Swingin' from the Hip" boasts influences in jazz, Broadway, pop, and rock. What were your musical influences as an artist throughout the creation process?
I can't lie. I was obsessed with the band "Orleans" while I was recording the album. I couldn't stop listening to "Your Still The One" and "Dance With Me." I also became briefly infatuated with Neil Sedaka's classic, Laughter in the Rain. And whenever I needed an extra boost of inspiration, I listened to Karen Carpenter. "On Top of the World" is probably my all-time favorite song.
Who are the artists, or perhaps mentors, who have influenced you most throughout the various facets and years of your career?
Two of my greatest sources of inspiration are Edith Wharton and Charo.
I learned to write by reading and re-reading everything Edith Wharton has ever written. Though some people thought "The J.A.P. Chronicles" was sheer chic-lit, I wrote it as an homage to my mentor.
As for Charo, she spread laughter and music everywhere she went. She was also a frequent guest star on "The Love Boat," which was another one of my early influences. I loved how every episode began with that infectious trumpet fanfare. Then we all took off on a cruise! What could be better? Especially if Charo came along!
Both your musical and video renditions of "Aquarius", along with "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" showcases your more stylized and contemporary approach to such standards. What interests you about the process of re-interpretation?
Reinvention is really the only way to tackle a classic. I always ask myself how I can make a song my own. For instance, I can't out-sing Pat Benatar, so when I tackled "Hit Me," I had to find a different way in. I explored the quiet side of anger, rather than the bombastic, explosive side. I love the feeling in a club when my band begins to play and no one has any idea what I'm about to sing. When I get that look of recognition it's very exciting.
You're a bit of a "Renaissance Woman" in the sense that you have been able to express both yourself and your stories through many different artistic mediums, such as novels, films, and the stage. How do these different artistic forms influence one another for you? Do you adapt a similar approach when you're telling a story through music as you would a piece of writing?
When I'm writing fiction, I'm listening to the rhythm of the individual words; and when I'm singing, I'm finding the story in each song. I like everything to have a beginning, middle and end. I'm always focused on the journey the audience is taking. I love a good catharsis. I'm very traditional that way.
What initially sparked your interest as a young artist in all of the different forms of storytelling you now use?
I was blessed to be raised by parents who felt it their job to expose me to everyone from Matisse to Mummenschanz. I realized young that I preferred "The Wiz" to "Death of a Salesman." I liked art that was accessible, and ideally, had a kickline as well.
You're a frequent staple of the New York scene, with both your cabaret acts and the "J.A.P. Chronicles". How did the New York theatre and music scenes impact you while growing up there?
When you grow up in Manhattan, everything is wonderfully accessible. I remember one Sunday night my dad and I shot downtown spontaneously and caught Stephane Grappelli at the Blue Note. Another night we caught Dizzy Gillespie. Eartha Kitt ended up in my movie (and, in fact, inspired the entire story for my movie) because I went to see her at The Carlyle. Everyone great plays New York. It's all here. And there's nothing quite like seeing a live performance to get inspiration.
Going off of "The J.A.P. Chronicles", what can you tell us about your forthcoming second novel? Any chance of a second album in the future as well?
My next novel is a thriller. It has nothing to do with "The J.A.P. Chronicles," though after serving on jury duty last week I honestly think I could write a successful sequel. As far as my next album goes, the gears are already in motion. I can't wait to get back in the studio!
Finally, since you are a Renaissance artist in all respects, what are the upcoming projects where can audiences find you next?
I'll be performing on Friday, January 21st at 9:30 pm at The Metropolitan Room in Manhattan. Then I'll be in LA in the beginning of March playing at Catalina's Jazz Club on Sunset. In April, I'm back in NYC playing the Blue Note on the 8th. I have some cute clips on YouTube - my music video for Aquarius, as well as live clips from my Joe's Pub shows in NYC and from "J.A.P. Chronicles: The Musical." There is a lot of fun stuff in the works, so checking my website regularly www.IsabelRose.com is the best way to keep abreast of all things Isabel. To purchase "Swingin' From the Hip", please visit www.IsabelRose.com .
THEATERMANIA
Last-Minute Mixes
TheaterMania offers five playlists that can be downloaded and turned into CDs for gift-giving.
https://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm?int_news_id=32862&int_city_id=1&intPage=4No content
By: Andy Propst - Dec 23, 2010 - New York
Let's Hear It for the Girls (Female Vocalists)
This playlist opens with a pair of songs by two legends - Betty Buckley's exuberant "Blue Skies" and Liza Minnelli's wry "Confession." After this, Jane Monheit and Christine Ebersole deliver sterling interpretations of Rodgers and Hart's "There's a Small Hotel" and Noel Coward's "If Love Were All." A pair of songs from Stephen Sondheim follow (performed respectively by Hilary Kole and Barbara Cook), marking the end of this disc's more rueful section.
What follows are two musical theater anthems - from Sunset Boulevard and The Color Purple - offered, respectively, by Maria Friedman and Fantasia. And then, this group of tunes takes a turn for the bombastic, starting with Isabel Rose's teasing "I Enjoy Being a Girl," and ratcheting with increasing intensity through such songs as Jane Krakowski's hilariously contemporary "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend" and Caroline Sheen's equally amusing "Mr. Hopalong Heartbreak," to Kerry Ellis and Brian May's thunderous collaboration on "Defying Gravity."
Blue Skies - Betty Buckley - Bootleg: Boardmixes From The Road (Practical Magic Productions)
Confession - Liza Minnelli - Confessions (Decca)
There's a Small Hotel - Jane Monheit - Home (Emarcy Records)
If Love Were All - Christine Ebersole Sings Noel Coward (Ghostlight Records)
I Remember - Hilary Kole - You Are There (Justin Time Records)
Send in the Clowns - Barbara Cook - Sondheim on Sondheim (Original Cast Recording) (PS Classics)
As If We Never Said Goodbye - Maria Friedman Celebrates the Great British Songbook (Sepia Records)
I'm Here - Fantasia - Back To Me (J-Records)
I Enjoy Being a Girl - Isabel Rose - Swingin' From The Hip (www.isabelrose.com
Diamond's Are a Girl's Best Friend - Jane Krakowski - The Laziest Gal in Town (DRG Records)
Mr. Hopalong Heartbreak - Caroline Sheen - Raise the Curtain (SimG Productions)
Electricity - Linda Eder - Hallelujah Broadway (Manhattan Records)
Defying Gravity - Kerry Ellis - Anthems (Decca)
WILDY'SWORLD chose Rose's CD as No 24 on their list of the Top 60 CDs of 2010 - read the full review, here: https://wildysworld.blogspot.com/2010/08/isabel-rose-swingin-from-hip.html
On the heels of a recent headlining concert at Joe's Pub and a showcase at Lincoln Center, Isabel Rose has confirmed two NY-area performances for the New Year, as well as her Los Angeles concert debut:
JANUARY 21, 2011:
METROPOLITAN ROOM - New York
9:30pm
For reservations: 212-206-0440
More details here: https://www.metropolitanroom.com/
March 2, 2011:
CATALINA'S JAZZ CLUB - Los Angeles
9:00pm
More details here: https://www.catalinajazzclub.com/
APRIL 11, 2011:
THE BLUE NOTE
8pm and 10:30pm
More details here: https://www.thebluenote.com/
Additional concert dates will be announced soon.
ITUNES REVIEW - 11/10: Author/actress Isabel Rose's talents as a jazz/pop chanteuse shine smartly in these immaculately arranged tracks. Produced by singer/composer Julian Fleisher, the album surrounds Rose in a retro-musical ambiance that both celebrates and has fun with its diverse batch of material. Emulating such exuberant show queens as Ann-Margret, Isabel teases fresh life out of Hair's "Aquarius," toys with female fantasies in "Thirteen Men" and slides from trills to growls in "I Enjoy Being a Girl." Stretching further, she transforms Pat Benatar's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" into a sultry cabaret number and reconsiders Dusty Springfield's "I Only Wanna Be With You" as a slow-burning ballad. "Temptation" brings her close to early rock territory. Rose finds contemporary meaning in standards like "On the Street Where You Live" and gets frisky with clever fare like "Boy Wanted" without descending into camp. Throughout her sweet-toned vocals are marked by deft phrasing and a light rhythmic touch. Playful yet heartfelt, Swingin' From The Hip is a classy, risk-taking release served with a sly twist.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/swingin-from-the-hip/id383138242?ign-mpt=uo%3D4
In 2010, a critical consensus quickly emerged for singer Isabel Rose and her "one hell of an impressive debut," 'Swingin' From the Hip' - as noted in the ITUNES Editorial review, above, the "playful yet heartfelt" CD "is a classy, risk-taking release served with a sly twist." During a recent in-studio interview with WBAI'S EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN, the engaging, witty banter between Rose and Host David Kenney revealed her to be an 'Entertainer' in the old-school sense of the word. It's no wonder she's regularly referred to as evoking Ann-Margret, Peggy Lee and other multi-hyphenates of years past. NYC'S TOWN & VILLAGE NEWSPAPER buzzed, "This Album is Pure Fun," and spoke of Rose's "incandescent charm" on 'The Street Where You Live,' adding that her version of 'Thirteen Men' is "the sexiest track to arrive in some time." Other recent or upcoming coverage includes THEATERMANIA (see Andy Probst's review, below,) SHOWBIZ CHICAGO, NEUFUTUR QUARTERLY MAGAZINE, TALKIN' BROADWAY, HOTHOUSE JAZZ MAGAZINE and more. Listen to samples of the jazz/pop/swing/Cabaret hybrid, here: https://isabelrose.com/listen.html.
Check out the fill WBAI interview, here:
WBAI'S EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN
https://archive.wbai.org/files/mp3/101107_210001eoinagain.MP3
THEATERMANIA included a review of 'Swingin' in a feature on '15 VERSATILE VOCALISTS.' Writer Andy Probst says Rose "brings to mind the sultriness of Peggy Lee."
https://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm?int_news_id=31007&int_city_id=1&intPage=3No content
There's an unmistakable retro sound to this syncopated jazzy CD, which is filled with a host of musical theater favorites and American Songbook standards. Rose's buoyant vocals coax smiles in her jubilant "Oh What a Lovely Day;" while her version of "I Enjoy Being a Girl," brings to mind the sultriness of Peggy Lee. Most ingeniously, on Pat Benatar's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot," Rose sounds as if she might have conceived this 1980s anthem for a 1950s Beat cafe.
Isabel Rose is a singer/actress/author/Off-Broadway star with moxie. She has used grit and determination to get a film made and a book released (and then adapted the book into a successful Off-Broadway show!) Her debut CD is filled with sophisticated arrangements and an eclectic mix of songs.
One of the album's highlights, 'Aquarius', gets a kitschy, retro makeover from Rose in this vibrant music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOmKYkJ-sa0. The pedigree of the production is evident - Director of Photography was Russ Swanson, who, along with Nigel Dick, has lensed some really big music videos, among them Matchbox 20's "Push", Fuel's "Hemorrhage", and Nickelback's "Photograph" (which won Best Rock Video at the 2006 Much Music Awards). He has also shot videos for The Corrs, Good Charlotte, Staind, and Dashboard Confessional, among others. The video can also been seen via Rose's new website: https://www.isabelrose.com/Welcome.html
Coverage includes Blogcritics, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Cleveland Plain Dealer, a glowing write-up by JazzTimes' Christopher Loudon, Sirius/XM airplay via radio legend Jonathan Schwartz and more. See below:
BLOGCRITICS - CD REVIEW
9/29/10 BY JACK GOODSTEIN
https://blogcritics.org/music/article/music-review-isabel-rose-swingin-from/
JAZZTIMES.com - HEARING VOICES
Isabel Rose: From Tin Pan Alley to Power Rock
07/19/10 - By Christopher Loudon https://jazztimes.com/articles/26306-isabel-rose-from-tin-pan-alley-to-power-rock
WBAI's Everything Old is New Again
Listen to the archived broadcast: https://archive.wbai.org/files/mp3/100822_210001eoinagain.MP3
WILDY'SWORLD - CD REVIEW
By Wildy Haskell, 8/10
https://wildysworld.blogspot.com/2010/08/isabel-rose-swingin-from-hip.html
EDGE MAGAZINE - CD REVIEW
By Padraic Maroney, 8/10 (excerpts)
DIG THESE DISCS!
Isabel Rose already has a thriving career-well actually, a couple. In the last decade she wrote and starred in Anything But Love and also signed a deal with Doubleday to write a novel. But now she is releasing her debut album. Swingin' from the Hip is a cabaret album filled with new renditions of both standards and other popular songs. The songs get a jazzy, swing makeover. It works better on some songs than others. "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me" is a rendition that is just as welcome as the original version. The most interesting of her remakes is of Pat Benatar's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot." It's a completely new take on the song and one that is both surprising and fun to listen to.
MORE ABOUT ISABEL ROSE:
Isabel Rose has moxie-the kind that made multi-hyphenates such as Ann-Margret, Peggy Lee and Bette Midler so appealing in years past. Rose's never-say-never attitude has carried her through many an odd challenge over the course of her fascinating career. Whether writing and starring in a major motion picture released by Samuel Goldwyn, getting a mega-deal from Doubleday for her debut novel, or composing and starring in an Off-Broadway musical adaptation of that novel, she's always found a way to make big things happen. Already praised by critics as a writer and actress, she achieves the hat trick with Swingin' from the Hip, her debut CD.
A natural performer, Rose has been praised as "vibrant" by Time Out New York and "Impressive" by The New York Times. Her recent show at Joe's Pub (5/10) sold out three weeks in advance.
Produced by Julian Fleisher, himself a popular figure in the New York nightclub scene, with arrangements by Jeff Klitz, Swingin' from the Hip is a cohesive and kicky collection that will take you by surprise and keep you smiling.
Track listing: Aquarius; Lovely Day; I Enjoy Being A Girl; Temptation; Hit Me With Your Best Shot; Haven't We Met; Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me; I Only Wanna Be With You; Boy Wanted; On The Street Where You Live; Thirteen Men; Ac-cent-tchu- ate the Positive; The Best Is Yet To Come.
Visit https://www.isabelrose.com
