Jeff Mandel

With love of the American Songbook as a backdrop, I cut my musical teeth in Upstate NY’s Borscht Belt doing theatre and ballroom dancing. I went on to leading roles in high school and college theatre, had a brief stint as an LA singer/songwriter, and then took a detour to chase my parents' dream that I become a doctor.  I've now re-dedicated myself to music, endeavoring to bring a modern sensibility to songs from my youth, as well as showcasing contemporary songwriters who link relatable lyrics with ‘hummable’ melodies.   

The music you’ll find on this website is an international collaboration.  All songs were arranged by David Starck, a French pianist and composer with whom I've worked since 2005.  My most recent album features French jazz standards. Charles Gorczynski, my musical director, is a gifted multi-instrumentalist and tango composer, who has hastened my musical education, making a steep learning curve a joy ride.  I've also drawn inspiration from several global musicians with whom i've had the fortune to share my passion and who perform on these recordings.