AJ Croce

Artist information

A.J. Croce

From his debut as a jazz influenced blues-based artist to his evolution into a pop music iconoclast, singer-songwriter A.J. Croce has traveled a circuitous musical road. In celebration of his career, A.J. Croce just re-released his highly successful album, That’s Me in the Bar, on the year of its 20th anniversary, which is his first album to chart on the radio, twice in two different decades. With his unique jazz piano stylings and blues-tinged voice, the 12-track album established Croce as a singular artistic force in 1995. The rerelease included a bonus track, “If You Want Me to Stay,” recorded 20 years ago but locked in the vault until now. The album features music luminaries including Ry Cooder, David Hidalgo (Los Lobos), Robben Ford, Bill Payne (Little Feat), Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers) on the bonus track, and producer/drummer Jim Keltner (Eric Clapton). Both this year’s re-issue and last year’s new album Twelve Tales were released on Compass Records (Ron Sexsmith, Colin Hay) and available on both CD and vinyl.

The son of legendary singer-songwriter Jim Croce, A.J.’s career began with his first tour at age 18 opening up for B.B. King. In the span of a 20+-year career, A.J. has headlined festivals, concerts and major listening venues worldwide. He has been seen and heard on shows including Jay Leno, David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, Austin City Limits, Good Morning America, E!, and CNN, and he has shared the stage with an innumerable list of eclectic artists from Willie Nelson to Ray Charles, Béla Fleck to James Brown, Lyle Lovett to Morphine, and Rod Stewart to Ben Harper.

A loyal and appreciative audience and glowing press from Rolling Stone to the New York Times confirms the appeal of A.J’s genre-spanning music, with seven of his albums positioned in various radio charts including Top 40, AAA, Americana, College, and Jazz. An ivory-searing New Orleans piano style established an essential juju, but his exploratory pop gems revealed a spectrum of influences from art rock to Americana and beyond. Initially signed as a jazz artist, he subsequently charted with an Americana roots release and recorded two well-regarded releases for BMG Records that expanded his audience exponentially. His subsequent albums were released on various independent labels and his own label, Seedling Records, established in 2003 to release his own records and that of other artists.

Having spent three years in Nashville where a packed weekly schedule of co-writing sharpened his writing to a keen edge, A.J. says that back home in California his song craft took an instant turn. “I began writing for myself again,” he confirms. He also began collaborating with the great Leon Russell (“A Song for You,” “This Masquerade”). “It’s a thrill and a little surreal to collaborate with Leon Russell. He’s been an influence and an inspiration as long as I can remember,” said A.J. at the time.

A dedicated family man, an adventurous artist and a confident creator; in this phase in his life and career, A.J. is focused less on expectations and more on instincts. “I generally want to do the stuff that makes me feel good,” he says. And like the blues greats who influenced him, A.J. Croce continues to create stellar music with longevity, authenticity and truth.
 

Bookings

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Upcoming shows

No shows scheduled currently

Past shows

2018

AJ Croce Maastricht , Muziekgieterij
AJ Croce Rotterdam, Lantaren Venster
AJ Croce Groningen , Oosterpoort
AJ Croce Tilburg, PaRaDox
AJ Croce Amsterdam, Concertgebouw Amsterdam

2017

AJ Croce Utrecht, TivoliVredenburg

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