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04/01/2011 07:12 PM

Nathan Gunn Sets New Standard At The Carlyle

By: Donna Karger

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Grammy Award winning baritone Nathan Gunn is back on the New York scene, but this time a few blocks north of the Metropolitan Opera. NY1's Donna Karger filed the following report.

Celebrated opera singer Nathan Gunn and his wife, Julie Gunn, are a musical power couple. Together, they're cranking out sweet tunes nightly at the legendary Cafe Carlyle.

With the Grammy award winning baritone at the mic and his wife, a celebrated musician in her own right, at the keys, this show marks the first time the couple is playing the legendary music room at the Carlyle. The act, entitled "An Evening with Nathan Gunn," features music by Rodgers and Hart, Gershwin, Porter and more.

"Since it is the Carlyle I feel like we need to have some standards and standards I love to do," said Nathan Gunn. "So things like 'I've Got a Crush on You,' 'My Funny Valentine' and 'Polka Dots and Moonbeams' as well as some that I think could become standards."

"We've been practicing every day for 20 years together," said Julie Gunn.

Gunn is widely known for his work in opera. In recent years, he's branched out to explore musical theater and beyond.

In 2008, Gunn appeared as Lancelot opposite Broadway's Marin Mazzie in the New York Philharmonic's production of "Camelot." He credits that production with introducing him to the cabaret stage.

"This is the perfect venue to be able to sing some of those great songs that need to be amplified, that need to have a different saloon atmosphere," Gunn said. "I would love is for somebody to say, 'Ya know I came to the show and for an hour and 15 minutes, an hour and a half, I was out of time.'"

"I also think there could be some pleasure within it being American music of all sorts and for people to take pride in the vast diversity of great songs that we Americans have written over the last let's say hundred years,' said Julie Gunn.

You can catch the married duo at the Cafe Carlyle now through April 16.

For more information, visit thecarlyle.com.