Here is my Craziest Dream...
My father is a seasoned pianist and arranger who has played with the likes of Roy Eldridge, Gene Krupa, and Bobby Hackett, just to name a few. I've looked up to him all my life while singing along with Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald records, imagining my father as Teddy Wilson and myself as Billie... then I was able to live that dream while making my very first full-length, independently-released CD.

That is the story of Herb Gardner and Abbie Gardner. The father-daughter team that has been compared to Nat King Cole and his daughter, Natalie, except that they are still alive and well. In fact, they've only just begun.

ABBIE GARDNER BIOGRAPHY

HISTORY
Abbie began singing Jazz standards with The Galvanized Jazz Band in 2001 and has since cut her teeth as a vocalist with Stan Rubin's Tigertown Five, The Stan Rubin Orchestra, Vince Giordano's Nighthawks, The New Deal Orchestra and Herb Gardner's Groundhog Band. Her singing style has been compared to Billie Holiday and Norah Jones.

Abbie's interest in music started as a young child. She played flute classically throughout school and began singing in a cappella groups in 1992. As the musical director for the Boston University Treblemakers, Abbie released an a cappella CD in 1997 called "Treble in The Waters." In 1998, Abbie began playing guitar and has been writing and performing original acoustic blues/folk songs since then, with independent recording efforts "Tea and a Cookie, " "Southern Rain," and self-titled CD "Abbie Gardner". Performing in coffee shops across the country led Abbie to develop the "Open Mic Directory," a portion of her website that has been an invaluable resource to independent musicians nationwide since 1999.

RECORDING
Abbie's debut jazz recording, "My Craziest Dream," is a father-daughter effort, featuring Herb Gardner on piano and consummate and in-demand NYC musicians Dan Levinson (reeds), Robbie Scott (drums) and Mike Weatherly (bass). These cats bring to life such favorites as "Mean to Me," "Them There Eyes" and "Paper Moon," while Ms. Gardner's vocals glide along top like Fred Astaire in a movie made long before her time.

LIVE
Abbie sings regularly with Stan Rubin's Orchestra downtown in NY at The Cajun Restaurant and several father-daughter shows are in progress. Upcoming performances include: The Pee Wee Russell Memorial Stomp, Jim Lowe and Company Radio Show and The Millpond Tavern Mardi Gras celebration with the Galvanized Jazz Band. A CD release show is in the works for March 2004. For information check out www.abbiegardner.com.



HERB GARDNER BIOGRAPHY
Soon after moving to New York in 1963, Herb Gardner began touring with Wild Bill Davison, Kenny Davern and Dick Wellstood as well as becoming a regular at the Metropole, Jimmy Ryan's and Eddie Condon's nightclub. During the '60s and '70s he appeared with virtually all of the classic jazz musicians in the New York City area, including Roy Eldridge, Gene Krupa, Henry "Red" Allen, Bobby Hackett, Jimmy Rushing, Doc Cheatham, Max Kaminsky and even Wingy Manone.

For many years, Herb served as co-leader of Vince Giordano's Nighthawks, playing for the inauguration of George Bush, Bill Clinton's victory party and countless other society affairs. In June, 1997 he conducted the "Big Broadcasters" in the opening concert of the New York City JVC Jazz festival.

Through his association with Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins and the Smith Street Society Jazz Band, Herb has written the music and words to many specialty songs heard regularly on New York radio, including "Jazzbeaux's Time of Night" and theme songs for many other radio personalities.

Herb's latest CD, "Groundhog's Day", features 14 original songs and several Jazz Age classics. This adds to an extensive discography of over 20 recordings, including two albums with the great Leon Redbone. For more information go to www.herb-gardner.com