Echoes of Etta, A Tribute to Etta James Opens 25th Anniversary of Milt Hinton Jazz Series at Baruch Performing Arts Center, October 21 -

The roots of Soul and R&B are back with a vengeance and a twist in one of Time Out New York’s Critics’ Picks of 2013/2014, Echoes of Etta. Echoes is an energetic, no holds barred performance that will move you out of your seat. With unparalleled vocal ability and showmanship, William Blake, the Echoes band, and “The Peaches,” a trio of gorgeous back-up singers, excel with stellar musicality led by Michael Thomas Murray’s (Musical Director/Arranger/Co-Creator) rockin’ authentic period arrangements with a contemporary twist. This, combined with one of the greatest songbooks of all time has been bringing sold houses to their feet at some of New York’s top venues, including Joe’s Pub, Birdland Jazz Club, and the Cafe Carlyle. Blake delivers palpable life to these long-loved classic songs in this musical testimonial to the legend who bridged the gap between Rock ‘n’ Roll and Rhythm and Blues.

Fans can expect to hear many of their favorite Etta James tunes such as, A Sunday Kind of Love, At Last, Good Rockin’ Daddy, I’d Rather Go Blind, Something’s Got A Hold On Me, and exceptional Etta covers like Leave Your Hat On and Take it to the Limit.

Echoes of Etta won the 2014 MAC Award for Show of the Year, has been selected as a Critics’ Pick by Time Out New York in 2013 and 2014, was one of BroadwayWorld.com’s Best of the Best in 2013, and received nominations for the BroadwayWorld.com Awards for Best Tribute Show in 2012 and Best Musical Director & Best Band in 2013.

“Pulsating, polished and powerful.” – Broadway World

“Blake is a genuine and unique talent…memorable and unmissable” – Huffington Post

William Blake is an American Idol alumnus having participated in their 4th Season in Hollywood. Since his move to NYC in 2007, William has performed in such notable venues as Carnegie Hall (with Michael Feinstein), Town Hall (with Liza Minnelli & Chita Rivera), and Rose Hall at Lincoln Center. In 2012, he won the BroadwayWorld.com Award for Best Male Vocalist. In 2014, he won the Bistro and New York Nightlife Award for Outstanding Vocalist.

Michael Thomas Murray, Music Director, Arranger, Keys, 50 Shades! The Musical Parody, Off-Broadway, Music Director, Arranger, Keys, Associate Producer of Forever Dusty Off-Broadway. He has had the honor of working with some of the luminaries of old-school rhythm and blues including the Chantels, the Orioles, the Spaniels, Frankie Lymon’s Teenagers, the Vandellas, and his mentor, Soul and R&B legend, Jimmy Guilford, who was the inspiration for his R&B musical, Great Googley Moo.

The remaining concerts of the 25^th anniversary of the Milt Hinton Jazz Perspectives series, named for the late Baruch faulty member and bass player, include a diverse array of jazz artists: the flute-duo Flutronix featuring Natalie Joachim and Allison Loggins-Hull on December 2, The Yotam Silberstein Quartet on February 17, and Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks on April 7.

Baruch Performing Arts Center’s 2016-17 season presents 40 programs across the disciplines of jazz, chamber music, opera, dance, theatre, film and talk commencing September 21. Intimate concert hall, black-box, and café spaces located in the heart of Flatiron, draw audiences close to a season including more new works than have ever been presented at BPAC. This includes premieres by composers Cindy Cox, Tarik O’Regan, Vivian Fung, Theodore Wiprud, and Reena Esmail in programs byAlexander String Quartet; Boston Symphony Orchestra principal horn player James Sommerville and the Christiane trio, andthe innovative Cantata Profana. Choreographers Jawole Willa Jo Zollar (Urban Bush Women), Gabrielle Lamb, Sidra Bell,and theatre director Jessica Bauman will make new works while in residence at BPAC. Cuban theatre-maker and activistRoxana Piñeda will make her U.S. debut in March with Hojas de Papel Volando. Heartbeat Opera’s Spring Festival is in residence in May with bold, theatrical transformations of the classics Madame Butterfly and Carmen, as well as their boundary-breaking Collaboret series.