The Paul Simon Songbook

Nashville-based singer-songwriter Paul Loren has always been steeped in the classic American songbook. With his earlier work channeling 60’s R&B, Brill Building pop and even big band-era crooning, Paul’s voice, tailored sense of style, and twinkle-in-his-eye personality has won over fans and devotees from coast to coast. Loren launched his solo career with a string of sold-out shows in New York City at famed venue Joe’s Pub at the Public with his ‘One-Night Only Band’ in early 2014. His first solo single, “All By Myself,” released in 2015, was supported by radio stations Lightning100 in Nashville, SiriusXM’s The Pulse, WCOO/Charleston and KPND/ Spokane, among others.

A six-song debut EP came in 2016, Paul Loren Is…Available!, featuring swing-era covers of classic songs by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen, the songwriting team behind Sinatra’s classic 50’s run. 2017 saw the release of the single and video for the original song, “I Know A Place,” inspired by Civil Rights-era anthems and “evoking the somber hope of Louis Armstrong’s “What A Wonderful World.” (HuffPost) A slew of singles followed, including the 50’s-inspired “(Gonna Take) A Little Time,” with its accompanying whimsical video filmed at Brooklyn’s The Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club and premiering on Parade.com. During this time, Loren was personally selected by Jennifer Lopez to perform at her Birthday Gala in Las Vegas; appeared on “The Tonight Show” starring Jimmy Fallon, partnered with The Ryan Seacrest Foundation; performed at the legendary STAX Museum in Memphis Tennessee; and recorded in the world-renowned Sun Studio. He has opened for and supported touring artists including: The Temptations; singer-songwriter Brendan James; American Idol Winner Taylor Hicks; folk singer and guitarist David Bromberg; British soul singer James Hunter; and has shared the stage with Paul Shaffer, Queen Latifah, Christie Brinkley and food personality Giada De Laurentiis.

With his 22-song collection Betwixt & Between, Paul has pivoted in a new and exciting musical direction. The songs, while retaining his knack for melody and timeless songwriting chops, traffic in a depth and brutal honesty not found in his earlier material. There’s a connective thread in the new songs reminiscent of Elvis’ early Sun Studios recordings, spun fresh with Americana and folk influences. “While his earlier material put him on the map, Loren’s heightened, and at times devastating, lyricism set against an upbeat groove-based sonic backdrop sets the LP as a career milestone.” (American Songwriter). Through it all, he ties together the more profound lyrical territory with a blazing rhythm section that feels rearing and ready to hit the road again.

Daniel Berryman received a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Michigan. He has performed in major productions of Call Me Madame (Ensemble/Encores! New York), Sweeney Todd (Vacation Swing/Barrow Street), The Golden Apple (Ensemble/Encores!), and The Fantasticks (The Boy/Theatre Center). His roles in national tours include Les Misérables (Swing) and The Sound of Music (Ensemble). His performances in regional productions include Sweeney Todd (Anthony/Denver Center), Hello, Dolly! (Ambrose/Muny), The Most Happy Fella (Ciccio/Goodspeed), and Rent (Mark/The 5th Ave Theatre). In the symphonic world, Berryman performed with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in 2018 to celebrate 100 years of The Muny, St. Louis’ historic outdoor theatre, under the direction of Ben Whitely.

Originally from Oklahoma, Emily Drennan has been a featured soloist at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Radio City Music Hall. She was seen in the New York Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes (the summer counterpart to the holiday show), and was seen touring Europe and the Caribbean playing Tanya in Mamma Mia! Drennan was also seen as “Mezzo” in the Lucille Lortel Award-winning a cappella show, Voca People, in its off-Broadway performances as well as touring performances in Israel, Japan, and Dubai. Drennan has also been seen in NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice, filmed versions of The Radio City Christmas Spectacular (on NBC, PBS, Netflix), and Toxic Audio, an off-Broadway a cappella show that won the Drama Desk Award.

Drennan was a National Presidential Scholar in the Arts, before graduating from Oklahoma State University, summa cum laude, with two degrees (Economics, Spanish) and four minors (Finance, Marketing, International Business, and Latin American Studies). Drennan’s voiceover and studio recording work can be heard nationally in English and Spanish on her albums and singles. She has been a guest soloist with over 25 orchestras, sharing the stage for more than 100 performances.

Eric Metzgar is an in-demand drummer and versatile collaborator who offers his musicianship to various jazz/pop artists and symphony orchestras worldwide. He has had the opportunity to play with numerous first-rate performers including Jeff Tyzik, Sutton Foster, Joe Locke, Jimmy Greene, Shayna Steele, Byron Stripling, and Delfeayo Marsalis.

Metzgar is a passionate educator deeply invested in music teaching and learning. Each summer, he teaches at the Cape Ann Jazz Workshop under the direction of saxophonist Alexa Tarantino. He maintains a private studio and serves as a clinician at grade schools and universities.

Metzgar holds a BM in Drum Set Performance and an MM in Music Teaching and Learning from the Eastman School of Music. He lives in New York City and tours frequently around the world.