Some say he was born with a microphone in his hand. That would explain why Jonathan Poretz is so comfortable performing his brand of great American jazz standards to audiences large and small. Whether appearing in an intimate club or a large outdoor venue, Jonathan brings an electric energy to any stage he’s on, a talent he’s been cultivating since his early teens, when he sang professionally in bands that featured jazz greats including Charlie Shavers, Chuck Wayne and Joe Puma in his home town of New York City.
Blending the swinging vocal stylings of Sinatra, Torme, Bennett and Darin, Jonthan is equally comfortable performing with a trio or a 17-piece big band, putting his own unique stamp on every song he sings and every story he tells through the great American standard songbook.
Jonathan has been appearing as Frank Sinatra in the “The Rat Pack is Back" in San Francisco, Las Vegas, Boston and Memphis. He also stars in his one-man tribute to the icons of 1960s Vegas, "A Swingin' Night at the Sands," which features the 12-piece Swingin' Night Orchestra big band. In February 2008 Jonathan made his debut at the legendary Yoshi's jazz club in Oakland. He appears regularly at various Bay Area venues, including Jazz at Pearl's, Shanghai 1930 and Le Colonial.
He is also a regular vocalist with the Harold Jones Boss Men big band, led by legendary drummer Harold Jones, the beat behind Count Basie in the ‘70s and Sarah Vaughan in the ‘80s, and currently on tour with Tony Bennett. Past appearances with the Boss Men included performances at the Russian River and Calistoga Jazz Festivals in the fall of 2004.
Jonathan can also be heard as the featured vocalist for the Starduster Orchestra big band and the Joe Agro Sextet, performing swinging standards at pubic venues, such as the Sausalito Arts Fair, the Caledonia Street Fair and Jazz and Blues by the Bay in Sausalito as well as various private events in the Bay Area.
Jonathan’s acclaimed debut CD, “A Lot of Livin’ to Do,” on the Pacific Coast Jazz label was celebrated with a sold-out CD release event at San Francisco’s legendary Jazz at Pearl’s in January 2007. It is can be purchased at CDBaby.com, iTunes.com and most major online music stores.
Promo of A Swingin' Night at the Sands, Starring Jonathan Poretz
Jonathan Poretz Interview with Jan Wahl, KRON-TV To Promote "A Swinging Night at the Sands"
Jonathan Poretz with Jeff Applebaum on KGO-TV's "View From The Bay"
Performing "Mack The Knife" at the Burlingame Art & Jazz Festival - August 11, 2007
Performing "There Will Never Be Another You" at the Burlingame Art & Jazz Festival - August 11, 2007
We love the way you swing and what great timing. Please give our best to Harold Jones... We would love to hear from him... He played on our last cd. Take care and please stay in touch with us. We would love to meet you one day... Keep swinging!!
Hello again Jonathan. It has been a while since visiting, time passes so quickly. My family and I watched your videos, you look so natural up on stage doing what you love:-) Great style and voice! Are you still performing with the Rat Pack? I am about to record, in the studio, some of my English and Italain songs I enjoy singing. Have a wonderful day, Julian Sage and family.
