Rodgers' 12-track debut disc offers "sparkling melodies that blend the sophistication of jazz with the driving energy of rock and roll — with side trips into upbeat New Orleans and Memphis soul music," according to the PS Classics announcement. Expect "a guided tour of American pop."

Since his move from Chicago four years ago, Rodgers has become a staple of the New York club and cabaret circuit, including Birdland, where he debuted the songs from "Box of Photographs." Rodgers has shared the stage with such diverse artists as Sir Paul McCartney, Liza Minnelli, Michael Feinstein and Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders, and has been the recipient of many performance and songwriting awards, including the Backstage Bistro Award for Outstanding Debut.

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The new disc features The Johnny Rodgers Band, including Joe Ravo on guitar, Danny Mallon on drums, Brian Glassman on bass, and guest appearances by Grammy-winner Randy Brecker and Carlos Alomar.

Tommy Krasker and Philip Chaffin, co-founders of PS Classics, first heard Rodgers perform in 2002, shortly after he moved to New York. They found a spot for him on PS Classics' "The Maury Yeston Songbook" CD, for which he performed one of the Tony Award-winning composer's earliest pop tunes, "Danglin'." Richard Barone produced the new solo album.

In celebration of the album's release, Rodgers will be performing at the Jazz Standard on Aug. 15.

The Grammy-nominated record label PS Classics, founded in 2000, has released solo albums ranging from jazz (Jessica Molaskey's "Make Believe") to pop (Luba Mason's "Collage") to pure Broadway (Chaffin's own recently-released "Warm Spring Night"). Its cast recordings include Stephen Sondheim's Assassins, The Frogs and Pacific Overtures, as well as the current revival of Fiddler on the Roof.

PS Classics is distributed exclusively by Image Entertainment.

For more information, visit www.psclassics.com.