Susan Werner is to songwriting what Temple Micah is to synagogues: smart and innovative, thought-provoking and meaningful, bold and witty and downright fun. Her songs span and blend musical genres and eras, from folk to showtunes to country, rock and jazz. A classically trained singer, Susan performs to sold-out crowds nationwide. And now she is coming to Micah for a special performance combined with a conversation with Rabbi Zemel. This event is open to the public. A light reception will follow.
Please register in advance to attend.
Copyright: Susan Werner
Over the course of her twenty five year career, Susan Werner has earned a reputation as “one of the most innovative songwriters working today” (Chicago Tribune). With formidable chops on guitar (she began playing at age 5) and piano (she was a guest on Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz), along with a graduate degree in voice performance, her shows are a one-woman master class in musicianship. Although best known as an acoustic songwriter that came up through coffeehouses and folk festivals, the Chicago-based artist has written songs in the style of Gershwin and Cole Porter (I Can’t Be New, 2004), gospel music (The Gospel Truth, 2007), traditional Cuban “son” (An American In Havana, 2016), and New Orleans junk piano (NOLA, 2019).
In 2014 she composed the music and lyrics to the musical theater score Bull Durham, The Musical (MGM). Her songs have been recorded by Tom Jones, Michael Feinstein, and Shemekia Copeland, and her latest recording of originals, The Birds of Florida, took flight in 2022.