(croon) 1. To hum or sing softly.
2. To sing popular songs in a soft, sentimental manner. 3. To sing intimately with a microphone.
Before the age of electified amplification, songs and the singers interpreting them were slave to confines of the room or hall they were performing in, and if they wanted to be heard, they had to sing, well, loudly. With the introduction of the microphone, a new style had to be developed, one that was intimate, a technique of singing as intimate as if you were singing in someone’s ear, a new technique that became known as crooning. Todd Murray’s CROON begins by Todd demonstrating to audiences the experience and the limitations of singing without amplification, then he steps up to the microphone, and a marked warmth and richness fills the room. A sigh of relief and comfort is felt in the roon, and everyone knows they are in good hands. The song selections begin in the 1920’s, then as crooning became popular (much to the dismay of older generations, voice teachers, and the church) Todd works his way through each decade to the present. With lush popular ballads, swing, latin beat, all with lyricists such as Berlin, Porter, Lerner/Lowe, Hal David, Leonard Cohen and even Mr. Murray h imself. Todd demonstrates that they all popular music has it’s roots in crooning. With the support of piano, bass, jazz guitar and back-up vocals, CROON is not merely a concert, it is an experience. CROON is back, but in truth, it never left us. Todd connects with conversational lyrics set to heartfelt tunes, and even though it is a public setting, he sings to you, and only you.
in "Croon"
Mon-Tue, 10/24-25, 8pm
$30
The RRazz Room
222 Mason Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
For tickets and more information: 800.380.3095, or http://therrazzroom.com
Crooner/Songwriter, Jazz, Swing, Traditional Pop, Cabaret
