Linnzi Zaorski
Encyclopedia
Linnzi Zaorski is an American indie
jazz
singer and songwriter based in New Orleans, Louisiana
. She started out performing with the New Orleans Jazz Vipers
, and then formed her own backing band, Delta Royale, when she had the opportunity to get a regular gig in New Orleans. Delta Royale has been described as a "formidable band" for its instrumental talent. Zaorski still performs primarily in New Orleans, but has also toured the United States performing in cities such as New York City
and Los Angeles, California
. She has released several albums, including Linnzi Zaorski & Delta Royale, Hotsy-Totsy, Hot Wax & Whiskey, It's a Wonderful Record, etc.
In September 2006, Zaorski was the subject of a national radio piece by National Public Radio commentator Andrei Codrescu
.
", "Stars Fell on Alabama
", and "Dream a Little Dream". The album contains seven live tracks recorded at the Spotted Cat in New Orleans and six studio tracks. Zaorski provides vocals, with Delta Royale providing guitar, bass, saxophone, clarinet, and trumpet. No drums appear on the recording. New Orleans music magazine Offbeat
described her as having earned recognition for the style of the album. Another publication, the Gambit Weekly
, described Zaorski and her debut album as being part of an influential traditional jazz movement in New Orleans that was bringing new energy to the scene.
" and "It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
". Delta Royale added violin and washboard to the ranks, and recorded without clarinet or drums. Offbeat Magazine
describes Zaorski's first songwriting effort as fitting "snugly in the confines of Depression-era pop music".
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
singer and songwriter based in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. She started out performing with the New Orleans Jazz Vipers
New Orleans Jazz Vipers
The New Orleans Jazz Vipers are a seven-piece swing band from New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A. The band's repertoire comes from the likes of Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, and Louis Armstrong as well as lesser-known artists....
, and then formed her own backing band, Delta Royale, when she had the opportunity to get a regular gig in New Orleans. Delta Royale has been described as a "formidable band" for its instrumental talent. Zaorski still performs primarily in New Orleans, but has also toured the United States performing in cities such as New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. She has released several albums, including Linnzi Zaorski & Delta Royale, Hotsy-Totsy, Hot Wax & Whiskey, It's a Wonderful Record, etc.
In September 2006, Zaorski was the subject of a national radio piece by National Public Radio commentator Andrei Codrescu
Andrei Codrescu
Andrei Codrescu is a Romanian-born American poet, novelist, essayist, screenwriter, and commentator for National Public Radio. He was Mac Curdy Distinguished Professor of English at Louisiana State University from 1984 until his retirement in 2009....
.
Linnzi Zaorski & Delta Royale
In 2002, Zaorski and Delta Royale recorded their self-titled debut album, including standards such as "The Way You Look TonightThe Way You Look Tonight
"The Way You Look Tonight" is a song featured in the film Swing Time, originally performed by Fred Astaire. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1936. The song was sung to Ginger Rogers as Penelope "Penny" Carroll by Astaire's character of John "Lucky" Garnett while Penny was busy...
", "Stars Fell on Alabama
Stars Fell on Alabama
"Stars Fell on Alabama" is the title of a 1934 jazz standard composed by Frank Perkins with lyrics by Mitchell Parish.- History :One of the earliest recordings was by the Guy Lombardo orchestra, with his brother Carmen doing a vocal. This version was recorded on August 27, 1934, and issued by Decca...
", and "Dream a Little Dream". The album contains seven live tracks recorded at the Spotted Cat in New Orleans and six studio tracks. Zaorski provides vocals, with Delta Royale providing guitar, bass, saxophone, clarinet, and trumpet. No drums appear on the recording. New Orleans music magazine Offbeat
OffBeat (magazine)
OffBeat is a monthly music magazine in New Orleans, Louisiana first published in 1988. It mainly focuses on the music scene of New Orleans and Louisiana. It covers wide range of local music including R&B, blues, brass bands, jazz, cajun music, zydeco, to rock....
described her as having earned recognition for the style of the album. Another publication, the Gambit Weekly
Gambit Weekly
Gambit is a New Orleans, Louisiana-based free alternative weekly newspaper that was established in 1981 as Gambit Weekly. Gambit features reporting about local politics, news, food and drink, arts, music, film, events, environmental issues and other topics, as well as listings...
, described Zaorski and her debut album as being part of an influential traditional jazz movement in New Orleans that was bringing new energy to the scene.
Hotsy-Totsy
Recorded in 2004, Hotsy-Totsy includes Zaorski's first original composition, "Better Off Dead", and standards such as "Hernando's HideawayHernando's Hideaway
"Hernando's Hideaway" is a tango show tune from the musical The Pajama Game, written by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross and published in 1954. The lyrics describe a dark and secretive nightclub....
" and "It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
"It Don't Mean a Thing " is a 1931 composition by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Irving Mills, now accepted as a jazz standard. The music was written and arranged by Ellington in August 1931 during intermissions at Chicago's Lincoln Tavern and was first recorded by Ellington and his orchestra for...
". Delta Royale added violin and washboard to the ranks, and recorded without clarinet or drums. Offbeat Magazine
OffBeat (magazine)
OffBeat is a monthly music magazine in New Orleans, Louisiana first published in 1988. It mainly focuses on the music scene of New Orleans and Louisiana. It covers wide range of local music including R&B, blues, brass bands, jazz, cajun music, zydeco, to rock....
describes Zaorski's first songwriting effort as fitting "snugly in the confines of Depression-era pop music".
Discography
- Linnzi Zaorski & Delta Royale (2002)
- Hotsy-Totsy (2004)
- Hot Wax and Whiskey (2007)
- It's a Wonderful Record (2009) Summertone Recordings
- Naughty Sweetie (2011)
Other Appearances
- "Better Off Dead" was featured in the 2011 film The Mechanic with Linnzi Zaorski herself playing the "Jazz Club Singer"