WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW – The Bacharach Songbook In Concert

WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW – The Bacharach Songbook In Concert is a show dedicated to honoring the award-winning music of iconic Burt Bacharach. With a catalog that spans seventy-three U.S. and fifty-two UK Top 40 hits, six Top 40 No. 1 songs, six Grammy Awards, three Academy Awards and an Emmy, there is no shortage of songs known all around the world.

Due to the vastness of the Bacharach catalog, the format and scale of the show is fluid and can be custom-scaled for specific runs of dates and large, one-off events. In addition to a core band of musicians and singers, the show often makes use of established guest artists known for their affiliation with Burt and his songs along with new, exciting artists. The show is especially well-suited for PAC performance venues and concert halls as well as large-scale venues with a number of superstar guest artists on the show.

The show is co-produced and led onstage by music director, pianist and arranger Rob (Shrock) Shirakbari who traveled the world many times over performing at the most premiere venues as keyboardist and arranger for both Bacharach and Dionne Warwick. Rob started working with Bacharach and Warwick in his late teens and continues to this day as Ms. Warwick’s music director and arranger. Much of Bacharach’s touring show since the 1990s was arranged and orchestrated by Rob, as is Ms. Warwick’s current live show.

Rob has also worked with numerous international stars onstage and in the studio including Stevie Wonder, Sting, Gladys Knight, Elton John, Elvis Costello, Frank Sinatra, Michael McDonald, Adele, and many more. With a working relationship with both Bacharach and Warwick that has spanned nearly 40 years and a uniquely personal insight into the Bacharach song catalog, Rob is the ideal musician and arranger to play and
conduct the band.

Show co-producer Angelo Bundini is also the creator and producer of the global Celebrating David Bowie concerts. Since their inception in 2016, they have performed in premiere venues to devoted Bowie fans in 17 countries on 5 continents with appearances by Sting, Gary Oldman, Todd Rundgren, Seal, Ewan McGregor, Simon LeBon and other superstar guests, choirs and orchestras. Angelo’s new show, BEAT, is very quickly selling out shows throughout the US this Fall 2024. BEAT features former King Crimson members Adrian Belew and Tony Levin with superstar players Steve Vai and Danny Carey from Tool performing selections from the 1980s King Crimson albums Discipline, Beat, and Three Of A Perfect Pair.