CANCELED – Amy and Leslie Valentine’s Concert

Amy Fradon and Leslie Ritter are back to the Cafe for a delightful Valentine’s evening of the most luscious harmonies you will ever hear. Their unique and magical blend of voices and vocal arrangements won them widespread critical acclaim and two recording contracts, as well as numerous recording sessions for artists such as Livingston Taylor, Happy and Artie Traum, and Ed Sanders and the Fugs. Amy and Leslie sing a broad span of music, from folk and country to blues and gospel, backed up by the elegant work of Cathie Malach on keyboard and Helen Avakian on guitar. If you have not yet heard Amy and Leslie, your heart will surely sing when you spend Valentine’s Day eve with them at the Cafe, for an intimate and truly memorable performance of sensational, vocal music.

Amy Fradon is well-known for her sweet and soaring vocals and heartfelt songwriting. She has a wide range of styles and has been compared to Joan Baez as well as Aretha Franklin. Amy has been a successful session singer and has toured extensively with various theatre and music ensembles, including Pumpboys and Dinettes, the Vananver Caravan and Face the Music. She has 3 critically acclaimed, solo, self-produced CDs; and is the creator of the Vocal Visionary Voice Work, helping people to discover confidence and freedom through the voice.

Leslie Ritter’s lush tones and crystal clear melodic lines deliver songs that soar, crafted with lyrics that give a personal spin on universal themes: love and longing, that illusive balance between independence and inter-relatedness, sorrow, joy… life. Leslie grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs. Her mother, a Julliard trained pianist and teacher and her father a French horn player, nurtured her early affinity to music. By age five she was singing show tunes, Frank Sinatra ballads and Puccini arias. Since then she has performed and recorded with an ever-widening circle of artists who appreciate her unique sensibilities as a live performer and superb studio vocalist, including James and Livingston Taylor, Robbie Dupree, David Wilcox, Rory Block, Dr. John, Jules Shear, John Sebastian, John Hall, Kris Kristofferson, Artie Traum, Rick Danko, The Fugs, and others.

Cathie Malach has been playing and composing on piano for over 45 years (and yet, she’s only 35 years old …a miracle). She’s composed and recorded several albums with Kim Rosen, and collaborated with artists such as Peter Kater, Chris White, David Darling, Paul McCandless, and of course, Amy and Leslie. She’s also composed for children’s theatre and performed improvisational music for transformational workshops throughout the country.

Helen Avakian is a singer-songwriter and guitarist who cultivates an idiosyncratic, often dreamy sound, with influences ranging from Suzanne Vega to JS Bach. Helen’s impressive musicianship coupled with her down-to-earth stage manner has endeared her to an ever-increasing audience. Helen meshes her classical guitar roots with a song writing style that adds a new dimension to the realm of acoustic performers. Helen has recently released her latest CD, “I Love The Moon,” which is receiving great reviews and song writing awards. – http://HelenAvakian.com

Due to the expected high turnout for this event, and the Cafe’s first-come-first-serve policy, audience members are encouraged to come as early as possible for seating.

“An acoustic duo from the Hudson Valley reunited… and played like they had never been apart a day …Amy & Leslie’s heavenly blend was always their calling card and in Albany, that was not diminished one iota. Looking casual and comfortable… it was simply captivating.” –David Malachowski, on Amy and Leslie’s reunion performance in Albany, from http://TimesUnion.com/