As the band begins to play, a well-dressed gentleman steps into the spotlight. He smiles at his sophisticated audience and begins to sing. Which of his many standards will he perform? "I Left My Heart in San Francisco"? "Mack the Knife"?
No, it's not the iconic Tony Bennett, who popularized I Left My Heart, or Bobby Darrin, who enjoyed a huge hit with Mack the Knife. It's Russ Lorenson, crooner extraordinaire and a popular fixture in the City's cabaret circuit.
Lorenson is a longtime resident of Alamo Square, and his venue of choice is Feinstein's, the glittering, old-fashioned cabaret inside the Hotel Nikko near Union Square (222 Mason).
Feinstein's gets its name from Michael Feinstein, the Grammy- and Emmy Award-nominated singer/entertainer. Feinstein, who performs around 200 shows per year and once worked for legendary songwriter Ira Gershwin, has made it his life's mission to keep the classic Great American Songbook—the pop music from the first half of the 20th century—alive and to bring those tunes to new audiences.
Lorenson has lived on Alamo Square since 1997. "I'm very fortunate to have found the place," he said. "We're the only single-family house left on a block of apartment buildings and multi-flat units. We're lucky to have a garage, an extra alley for parking, and a nice big backyard to entertain in."
He said that when he first moved in, the area was considered "a neighborhood in transition", which he tells us is code for "sketchy, but getting better."
"I was obviously drawn to the park, not just for the beauty, but for the practicality of providing a place for my dog to romp," he explained. "Over the years the neighborhood association has worked so diligently on improvements, from the water fountain to the playground, and now they are hard at work on improvements to the irrigation system and the restrooms."
The work has paid off, Lorenson noted. "Now the neighborhood is even better, because I live halfway between the newly thriving Divisadero scene, and the renewed Fillmore jazz scene," he said.
Lorenson, like many of the performers who play Feinstein's, self-identifies as "crooner". "A crooner is a singer, but one who sings in a particular style," Lorenson explained to Hoodline. "Crooner is a label given to male singers of jazz standards, mostly from the Great American Songbook, either backed by a full orchestra, a big band, or by a piano."
Famous crooners such as the still-active Tony Bennett and the late Bobby Darrin are among Lorenson's primary influences, and he has performed tribute shows to them. "But there are other singers I admire as well," he said. "Nat King Cole, Johnny Harman, and Sinatra of course. I'm most inspired by singers who respect the material, who interpret a song rather than just sing it, who deliver a lyric in a heartfelt and genuine way."
Lorenson also said that current singers who also inspire him are Michael Buble and Harry Connick Jr, as well as lesser known names such as Tony DeSare, Peter Cincotti, and John Pizzarelli. Singing has been a part of his life for as long as he can remember.
"I started performing when I was seven years old, in my hometown of Philadelphia," he recalled. "I sang in choirs all throughout my school years, and eventually became a choral conductor and composer. When I discovered musical theater in junior high school, I thought it was just about the most perfect thing in the world."
Lorenson, who said he doesn't come from a musical family, is "really nerdy" about musical theater. He did take a break from music, moving to San Francisco in 1997 to work in the tech field during the first tech boom. But music never stopped calling out to him. He no longer works in tech, and now pursues performing full time.
Fans who attend Lorenson's April 1st show at Feinstein's will be treated to a mix of jazz, funk and musical theater standards. "I tell some 'road warrior' stories, punctuated by songs about many of the places I've been," he said. "It's very eclectic."
Lorenson expressed gratitude for the opportunities he's had in being able to express himself and grow as an artist. "Live music venues have had a tough time of it the past few years, and so I am thrilled that Feinstein's is thriving, and has made a commitment to showcase local artists," he said.
Catch Russ' show, "A Little Travelin' Music", at Feinstein's at the Hotel Nikko on Wednesday, April 1st at 7pm. (Tickets here). And thanks to George Russell for the tip.
