Chesky Records is pleased to announce the national recording debut of vocalist Valerie Joyce with the May 2006 release of New York Blue. New York Blue is a collection of classic jazz, standards, and pop tunes that showcase the singer's distinctively smoky vocal sound and nuanced performance. Producer David Chesky says, "Valerie has a great feel for the music and has one of the most unique singing voices I have ever heard."

Pianist Andy Ezrin worked with Valerie on the arrangements for the album's thirteen tracks that range from tunes by Cole Porter and Rogers & Hart to Miles Davis to the Beatles. They are joined on the album by musicians Lawrence Feldman on saxophones and Eugene Jackson and Tim Lefevre taking turns on bass for a live recording that is pure Chesky.