Pt Richmond Acoustic presents Claudia Russell and the Folk Unlimited Orchestra March 4
(Point Richmond, CA, February 17, 2011) Point Richmond Acoustic continues its spring concert series Friday, March 4, at 8 pm with a hometown favorite -  acclaimed singer/songwriter Claudia Russell. The concert is held at the First United Methodist Church, located at 201 Martina Avenue in Point Richmond. Songwriter Laura Zucker opens the show. Tickets are $15 and $12.50 for seniors and students. More information is available at www.folkunlimited.com.

Besides being a local favorite, Russell is a nationally-touring artist who was interviewed last year on NPR’s All Things Considered. In 2006, Russell was named Best Musician in the East Bay Express Reader’s Poll. She and her band, the Folk Unlimited Orchestra, play Americana - an eclectic blend of folk that is woven from blues, country, pop, swing and traditional music. The band consists of Bruce Kaplan on mandolin and guitar, Mark Petrella on acoustic bass.

Traversing a broad musical landscape, Russell’s remarkably expressive voice is as at home on a whispery ballad as a full-tilt Buddy Holly-styled romp. It’s no wonder – she is a third-generation professional singer. Her father, Val Rosing, sang with the San Francisco Opera Company and was most noted as the original vocalist on such BBC Orchestra 1930s hits such as “Teddy Bears Picnic” and “Try a Little Tenderness.” Her grandfather, Vladmir Rosing, taught opera at the Eastman School and produced operatic pagents at the Hollywood Bowl. Russell has surely inherited the family gift. In a review of her Live Band Tonight CD Sing Out magazine had this to say: 
"Claudia Russell is a great performer. And her band - let’s just say they’re hot. Connect them to the power grid and they’d light up a medium-sized town.”
Though Russell is a commanding singer, she is no diva. Her stage manner is kitchen table friendly, and the banter with her husband/accompanist  has a George Burns/Gracie Allen flavor to it. Homespun humor and shaggy dog stories fill in the spaces between songs.
Opener Laura Zucker is no stranger to Bay Area audiences. A new Jersey transplant, Zucker writes classic songs in the style of James Taylor and Carol King. She has twice been a finalist in the prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival’s New Folk contest.

Point Richmond Music is the ongoing concert series features accomplished singer-songwriters in intimate, historic setting and is co-sponsored by Point Richmond Music, Folk Unlimited and the First Methodist Church of Point Richmond. The Point Richmond First Methodist Church is an intimate place for concerts, and music is an important of its program. Built more than one 100 years ago, the octagonal shaped sanctuary makes for wonderful acoustics and accentuates the up close and personal nature of the music.

Visit www.folkunlimited.com or for more information on the series, www.claudiarussell.com for YouTube links to Russell and her band, and http://www.laurazucker.com for more information on Laura Zucker.