Linda Kosut CD Release - Tribute to Oscar Brown Jr. October 29, 2007

San Francisco jazz and cabaret performer Linda Kosut brings her show and CD Release, “Long As You're Living,” a joyous and moving tribute to the late Oscar Brown Jr., back to San Francisco’s prestigious Empire Plush Room on Monday, October 29 at 8:00pm. Linda will be backed by the original CD band: musical director, pianist & trombonist Max Perkoff, Tom Shader on bass and Paul van Wageningen on percussion. Reservations (866) 468-3399 or www.theempireplushroom.com. Tickets $25 + 2-drink min.

Kosut started this show’s run in San Francisco and the CD Release Tour has taken her to Los Angeles’ Jazz Bakery, Davenport’s in Chicago, Reprise Room at Dillon’s in New York, and home to San Francisco again.

“Long As You're Living,” is a tribute to Brown and a launch for Linda’s CD of many of his songs. Brown was an inspirational and influential composer and playwright who died in 2005 at the age of 78. “I grew up on his music,” said Kosut. “When I was a young girl, I listened to Sin and Soul and Between Heaven and Hell, Brown's first Columbia recordings. I was mesmerized. The emotion and drama he brought to his music were clearly evident as you listened to his songs. His lyrics and delivery were penetrating - performing with an artistic intensity that went right through me.”

Oscar Brown Jr.’s work has been described as “…monuments to socially conscious songwriting on a par with the best work of Curtis Mayfield and Gil Scott-Heron, …the full panoply of black life -- joy, anger, love, frustration, humor -- and helped define Afrocentrism. Brown did it first, in a way that managed to be both entertaining and serious, melding soul, jazz and musical theater into a body of work that always deserved far more recognition than it got.”

Linda Kosut has been performing to steady acclaim on the cabaret scene for several years. Her 2003 debut CD, “Life Is But A Dream,” was selected as one of the top female vocalist CDs of the year by Cabaret Hotline Online. She has appeared in clubs in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and many San Francisco Bay Area jazz & cabaret venues including the Empire Plush Room, The Purple Onion, Jazz at Pearl’s and Anna’s Jazz Island in Berkeley.

Linda, a New York native, now lives in San Francisco with her fiancé, 2 dogs, 2 chickens, a rabbit and 40 aquariums!
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“She gives Brown’s songs a fresh slant ... showcases her vocal ability ... bang in the groove ... slinky and sly in unraveling the blues ... mettle as a jazz singer.” - Jerry D'Souza, All About Jazz

"This album is almost like a collaboration. Oscar's personality is ever present. She is a singer of great ability." - Maxwell Chandler, JazzReview

"This show is a welcome reminder of the multi-faceted work of the man who proudly defied being categorized. Linda doesn't seem to have much interest in being labeled either." - Rob Lester, CabaretExchange

"She brings this timeless material to life for a new generation of listeners." - Steve Murray, Cabaret Scenes Magazine

" ... a complete theatre piece. It was a brilliant tour de force, an emotional roller coaster"- Dr. Elyse Curtis

“ This album is almost like a collaboration. She is a singer of great ability.” - Maxwell Chandler, JazzReview

"The music, the poetry, everything about the show was outstanding. Yes, it was classic Jazz & very soul-filled. Yet to say only that is an understatement." - Jonathan Farrell, writer

Official Website: http://www.lindakosut.com