BIO
JONNY ABELES is a jazz singer whose records have been heard on radio stations across the United States. Jonny began his career at the legendary Village Gate in New York City's Greenwich Village, where he performed regularly until the club’s closing. It was there where this New York native developed his smooth swinging style by performing with NYC’s best jazz musicians while gaining an impressive following.
For the last 17 years Jonny has been a fixture on the New York club scene having performed at many of the City's premier venues including: Birdland, The Squire, The Garage Restaurant, Tatou, The Delmonico Hotel, Arci’s Place, Nell's and The Supperclub just to name a few.
Jonny performs regularly with his trio and quartet in addition to leading his own ten-piece orchestra. He has performed at some of the New York City's most prestigious social events, and could be spotted weekly at many of New York's finest hotel ballrooms such as The Plaza, the St. Regis, the Waldorf-Astoria and the Carlyle. He has also performed at exclusive clubs such as The Players Club, the National Arts Club and the Union Club where he was presented with the Dutch Treat Award. Jonny was also a featured performer playing along side of Saturday Night Live’s longtime Music Director G.E. Smith at the Annual Rain Forest Alliance Banquet , Live at the Pierre Hotel produced by Michael Gelman of “Live with Regis”, hosted by Chevy Chase honoring Olivia Newton-John and Ermenegildo Zegna with special guests: Al Roker, and Rosanne Cash.
Although having some wonderful teachers, especially jazz singing great, Marion Cowings, Jonny says he learned much of what he knows from just listening and studying "the masters" such as Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Johnny Hartman and Nat “King” Cole, just to name a few. This is no doubt responsible for his expansive repertoire in addition to the array of singing impressions, from Mel Torme' to Louis Armstrong. Chip Deffaa of The New York Post writes, "After leaving 'em breathless with romantic ballads, song stylist Jonny Abeles can make audiences laugh by adding a capsule of impressions..."
Jonny’s debut CD “Always” on LBTV Music was released in 1998 and displays Jonny with his ten-piece orchestra with arranger, Dan Levine, a veteran trombonist of the Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles Orchestras and arranger for such greats as Natalie Cole and jazz legend Lionel Hampton. This record received international airplay, distribution and much acclaim.
In autumn of 2001 Jonny released his next CD “Jonny on the Spot” on Nazus Records with a quartet. This more intimate and free-styled recording (15 songs) was recorded in just 6 hours. This record was composed of a list of comfortable tunes that Jonny has been performing for years with the group of musicians he has been playing with for years. This record has received rave reviews and national airplay and is available on the Internet as well as retail stores nationwide.
Presently, Jonny continues to perform and delight audiences in the New York City area and nationwide.