2009 has grand things in store for Amanda beginning with appearances at the Rrazz Room in San Francisco and her New York City debut at the Metropolitan Room in October. Most recently, Amanda performed in the “Leading Ladies” concert series with the prestigious San Francisco Chamber Orchestra. She performed Gershwin tunes arranged for the orchestra by Bay Area jazz icon Jeff Neighbor (who also happens to be her regular bassist). A sterling series where the critics loved the arrangements - and Amanda!

“The evening was topped off with the ‘Jewel of the Nile’ – Amanda King who treated us to five wonderful Gershwin songs. King was of course, backed by the fantastic Chamber Orchestra. She came out on the stage dressed in a classic black gown. The only glitter was a stunning brooch that sent shafts of light around the room. King started off with “Our love is here to stay.” The lyrics came out like butter: “the rockets may tumble, but our love is here to stay.” – King’s performance was flawless. It was glorious!” Lee Hartgrave, Beyond Chron.org

Throughout 2008 Amanda appeared at clubs around San Francisco and the Bay Area including a standing room only show at Jazz at Pearl’s. A vibrant and lively performer, Amanda’s appearances are met with infectious enthusiasm at every venue. In July, Amanda made her debut at the Fillmore Jazz Festival a legendary music vehicle for San Francisco’s thriving jazz scene. She was an instant hit! In May, she was featured as the lead in Duke Ellington’s rarely performed jazz opera (his only one) “Queenie Pie”, produced by the Oakland Opera Theatre. Her performance combined her theatrical and musical smarts, and she garnered wonderful reviews.

“Amanda King performs Queenie in a blond wig, exuding lots of stage presence and powerful vocal skills. In the middle of her range she sounds a bit like Ella. She also has a light, full high voice which she uses in her shipboard lament about missing New York, and a low, low voice set way deep in the chest and solid gold in placement. My only complaint was that most of the songs she sang were very short, almost conversational in tone. I longed to hear her sing on, to tell us the story, verse and refrain.” Jaime Robles, Berkeley Daily Planet

She comes from a solid theater background having performed in scores of productions, musical and dramatic. After several appearances in showcases throughout San Francisco, she developed a devoted following. That group quickly grew when she performed her acclaimed one-woman show "It's About Damn Time!" in the fall of 2007 at the New Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco.

“This singer was a suberb (sic) performer. I expected a louder, brassier voice, and I was pleasantly surprised to be wrong. Her choice of material was delightful, and her delivery was pitch-perfect. I was SO glad I had taken a chance on this unknown (to me) singer.” p.g. cabaret appreciator (Goldstar online review)

After the success of that show, Amanda leapt feet first into singing and was invited to perform in the Castro Street Fair, an annual San Francisco festival started by Harvey Milk. With a last minute opportunity to perform at an historic cabaret venue, she mounted a show that was to become the basis of her first CD. That show, “Chanteuse”, at the famous Empire Plush Room in January 2008 met with great acclaim and since that performance her voice, her following, and her musical expression have grown enormously.

“King at the Empire Plush Room was in her perfect element. The singer is a true throwback to the golden days of nightclubs… The audience was watching a more seasoned performer on the Plush Room stage. King has found new confidence and her voice has taken on many new horizons…and the thrilling “Black Moonlight” was so masterful that I never wanted it to end. The arrangement had enough power to send a rocket to the moon.” Lee Hartgrave, BeyondChron.org

With this new talent, most definitely the best is yet to come!

See videos and hear more music @ www.amandaking.com