The debut album from married musical duo Julie Benko and Jason Yeager's drops August 26 on CD and in digital and streaming formats.
Benko is featured on vocals, clarinet, flute, and percussion, and pianist-composer Yeager accompanies on piano, Wurlitzer, Rhodes, celeste, organ, and percussion. A cover of Fats Waller’s “Louisiana Fairy Tale” was previously released as the first single from the album.
Benko is currently starring as Fanny Brice in the Broadway revival of Funny Girl, succeeding Beanie Feldstein after serving as the standby for the leading role. Her stint continues through September 4, and then she will cover all Thursday performances once Lea Michele joins the company. Her additional Broadway credits include Fiddler on the Roof and Les Misérables.
The album encompasses theatre favorites and hits from the jazz and pop genre along with original songs. Broadway tracks include “People” from Funny Girl, “All I’ve Ever Known” from Hadestown, “If I Were a Bell” from Guys and Dolls, and “Another Life” from The Bridges of Madison County. Also featured on the album, produced and arranged by Benko and Yeager, is a cover of Janis Joplin’s “Mercedes Benz” and the original compositions “Sweet Pea” and “Just Begun.”
The pair will celebrate the new recording with a concert at Birdland Jazz Club August 29 at 7 PM.
