26 September 2025
Newsdesk
Three-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright has joined forces with the Pacific Jazz Orchestra (PJO) to announce their compelling new tribute album, I’m a Stranger Here Myself – Wainwright Does Weill. Set for release on Friday, November 21 via Pacific Jazz Orchestra/Thirty Tigers, the project sees the 40-piece Los Angeles-based orchestral jazz ensemble and Wainwright delving into the rich and complex songbook of the legendary German-American composer Kurt Weill.
The album is heralded by the release of their inventive rendition of Weill's most iconic song, ‘Mack the Knife’.
"The songs of Kurt Weill have long haunted my imagination and remain solidly mysterious," says Rufus Wainwright. "Be it the opening trap of Mack the Knife or closing explosion of Lost in The Stars, this wondrous musical journey began, continues and will never end.”
Wainwright’s fascination with Weill’s music—celebrated for its fusion of classical, cabaret, and jazz elements—spans decades. He has long admired Weill’s unique blend of "pop music with an operatic sensibility, the profane with the divine." I’m a Stranger Here Myself not only honors this legacy but continues Wainwright’s own artistic exploration of high art, pop culture, and emotional excess.
The album stems from Wainwright's acclaimed live performance, which premiered at New York City’s Café Carlyle in 2023. He later expanded the concept into a fully orchestrated concert with the PJO under the baton of Chris Walden in 2024. Now captured on record, the album features classic songs such as ‘Surabaya Johnny,’ ‘September Song,’ and ‘Lost in the Stars’. With guest appearances by Viola Odette Harlow and the Netherlands’ famed Metropole Orkest, the album channels Kurt Weill’s music through a 21st-century lens with wit, grandeur, and unapologetic heart.
The album will be available on standard vinyl, CD, and streaming/digital download. Wainwright is also slated for a wide range of international live dates, including a very special performance of his landmark Rufus Does Judy concert at London’s renowned Royal Albert Hall on June 10, 2026.
