Album Notes

THE MERCER A-to-Z SHOW
is a tribute to the music and lyrics of Johnny Mercer, which was originally conceived and performed at Dillon's Restaurant and is now being performed at the new Chelsea club, Helen's. Inspired by Mercer's biography, "Skylark", written by Philip Furia, Ricky Ritzel decided it was time to perform every song that Mercer wrote, which totals somewhere around 2000. Sharing the spotlight and love for Mercer with Leslie Anderson, the dynamic duo began performing 2 sets every Thursday night in a relaxed free form style. This format allowed for comments from the audience, tidbits about Mercer and his music, and spontaneous patter between Leslie and Ricky. The easy-going atmosphere combined with performing different Mercer material every week delight new and not so new Mercer fans. Now they have a CD to complement their show. "Cool, Cool, Cool songs of Johnny Mercer" is a 15 song sampling of Mercer tunes that are a good representation of the material performed in the Mercer A-to-Z show.

RICKY RITZEL
has been a fixture on the nightclub and cabaret scene in NYC for over 20 years
and has received most Cabaret awards including 10 Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs (MAC) Awards in 7 different categories. He has performed all over the United States, as well as London and Paris. An accomplished solo performer, Ricky has also accompanied such greats as Vivian Blaine, Ruth Warrick, Arthur Prysock, Varla Jean Merman, Julie Wilson, Lenora Nemetz and Miss Coco. With famed Chicago jazz vocalist Spider Saloff, Ricky created several award winning revues such as "1938", which was recorded on the Kopathetics label, "Porgy & Bess: a Cabaret Concert" and "Ira and Others". His performance as Jimmy Durante in "Schnozzola!" earned him critical raves and numerous awards. Ricky is half of the kooky "Lounge does Top 40" duo, THE LOUNGEOLEERS with 5 CD's on the Emenar label. He can also be seen as SCARY MAN who comes on to Christian Campbell in the film "TRICK".

LESLIE ANDERSON
has performed on Broadway with the National Actors Theatre, where she worked with Tony Randall, Jack Klugman, Jerry Stiller, Julie Haggerty, Ellen Greene and many others. She has performed in numerous plays and showcases, as well as musical benefits shows, concerts and award shows. Leslie recently performed as featured singer and trombonist with Lyrics and Lyricists at the 92nd Street Y in "Swing, Swing, Swing". Leslie burst onto the cabaret/nightclub scene about 6 years ago. In that time, with Bobby Peaco as her Musical Director, she developed 3 different solo cabaret shows and received a Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs (MAC) nomination for Best Musical Comedy Performer. She has appeared in other performers' cabaret shows, including Eric Pickering's 2004 award-winning show, "Ode To Attention Seekers". Leslie has been nominated for 2 MAC Awards and has performed in 3 consecutive MAC Award shows. She has been nominated for 2 Nightlife Awards and recently received a 2003 BACKSTAGE Bistro Award for Outstanding Piano Bar Performer and continues to perform weekly at Rose's Turn Piano Bar and at Helen's. She is front singer and trombonist with the Skip Martin Big Band and a graduate of the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre. Leslie's website is - LeslieAndersonSings.com