Todd Gordon - Part 1 - How to sing in a small cabaret room

Gordon has performed at various UK venues such as London's Pizza on the Park, the 606 Club in Chelsea and the Pizza Express in Soho. In the US he performed at The Plaza and Algonquin hotels in New York as well as jazz festivals and concerts. I first heard about him through his work with the BBC Big Band with whom he's appeared in joint concerts in the UK and US. He's also developed a following in South East Asia after one of his recordings was licensed as the theme song for a TV series.

Todd's recorded three albums with producer/singer Ian Shaw: Love’s Illusions (with Alan Barnes and Bruce Adams) and Ballads from The Midnight Hotel with musicians Guy Barker, John Parricelli and a duet with Jacqui Dankworth. In January 2009 he released a retrospective CD of the  composer Johnny Mercer. His latest album is Helping the Heroes, a big band album with the Royal Air Force Squadronaires.

In part 1, we talk about working in a small cabaret room as opposed to large concert halls, chatting to the audience between songs and using comedy in the show.

This is a 3 part interview. Throughout it, you'll hear Todd doing some very entertaining name-dropping as he shares stories about his heroes including Michael Parkinson, Ella Fitzgerald and Tony Bennett.