JEFF HARNAR

In Jeff Harnar Sings Sammy Cahn: The Second Time Around, the acclaimed singer revisits his 2001 Sammy Cahn recording, long out of print. The original album has been remixed, reimagined and expanded upon, reflecting both Harnar’s desire to widen his perspective on the lauded lyricist’s work – new tracks feature special guest appearances by Clint Holmes, MOIPEl and Grammy winner Nicole Zuraitis – and his own growth as an artist and interpreter. By the numbers alone, Sammy Cahn was one of America’s greatest songwriters: the most Academy Awards for Best Song; nearly 100 tunes recorded by Frank Sinatra; the highest paid songwriter of his day. Working largely with composers Jule Styne and Jimmy Van Heusen, Cahn turned out lyrics that were by turns romantic, witty and punchy, with a touch of melancholy that touched the hearts of millions; songs such as “Come Fly with Me,” “All the Way” and “I Fall in Love Too Easily” – all included here – became embedded in the fabric of the nation. Originally a stage show, Harnar’s tribute to Cahn was a New York Times Critics’ Pick and led Liza Minnelli to rave, “I wish Sammy could have heard this; he would have loved it. I certainly did.” Now, with Alex Rybeck – Harnar’s music director and pianist of over 40 years – providing arrangements for both the tracks retained from the original album and the five newly-recorded ones, this celebration of a pillar of the Great American Songbook is made all the sweeter through the workings of time: lovelier, as Cahn himself wrote, the second time around.