Birdland to Welcome Michael Feinstein, A SWINGING BIRDLAND CHRISTMAS and More, 12/22-28

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its Christmas week schedule, running December 22 - 28, 2014 and featuring: Michael Feinstein in "Happy Holidays: Swingin' with the Big Band," Klea Blackhurst, Jane Monheit, Jim Caruso & Billy Stritch in "A Swinging Birdland Christmas," Jay Leonhart Duo, and more. Details below!

Birdland will kick-off their great week of programming with the following acts:

Dec 21-25 (Sunday-Thursday) at 6:00PM, Monday at 7:00PM

Klea Blackhurst, Jane Monheit, Jim Caruso & Billy Stritch in

"A Swinging Birdland Christmas"

Birdland is proud to announce the fifth year of "A Swinging Birdland Christmas," starring Birdland regulars Klea Blackhurst, Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch. In the tradition of beloved seasonal specials, Blackhurst, Caruso and Stritch will perform swinging arrangements of "Christmas Waltz," Kay Thompson's "Holiday Season," "Sleigh Ride," and "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" among other favorites. The singers will be joined by Steve Doyle on bass and Daniel Glass on drums.

All tickets $30, $10 food/drink minimum

Dec 22 (Monday) at 9:30PM

Jim Caruso's Cast Party

Jim Caruso's Cast Party is a wildly popular weekly soiree that brings a sprinkling of Broadway glitz and urbane wit to the legendary Birdland in New York City every Monday night. It's a cool cabaret night-out enlivened by a hilariously impromptu variety show. Showbiz superstars, backed by Steve Doyle on bass, Billy Stritch on piano and Daniel Glass on drums, hit the stage alongside up-and-comers, serving up jaw-dropping music and general razzle-dazzle.

All tickets $25, $10 food/drink minimum

Dec 23-27 (Tuesday - Saturday) at 8:30PM, Friday & Saturday at 8:30 & 11:00PM

Michael Fienstein in "Happy Holidays: Swinging with the Big Band"

Backed by a 17-piece big band, legendary performer, vocalist, pianist and scholar of American popular song, Michael Feinstein, kicks off a year-long, global, centennial celebration of Frank Sinatra with a program of Ol' Blue Eyes favorite standards from the great American songbook.

All tickets $60-250, $10 food/drink minimum

Dec 28 (Saturday) at 6:00PM

Jay Leonhart Duo

Combining the skills of an old school entertainer and virtuoso jazz man, bassist, vocalist and composer Jay Leonhart has been a fixture of the New York scene for over forty years.

Between 1975 and 1995 he was named The Most Valuable Bassist in the recording industry three times by the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences. Jay has now recorded 15 solo albums. His first one-man show "The Bass Lesson" is being received warmly by critics and audiences. Jay's next show "Nukular Tulips" is in the works.

All tickets $30, $10 food/drink minimum

Dec 28 (Sunday) at 6:00PM

Jane Monheit's Jazz Party

With Michael Kanan, Neal Miner, Rick Montalbano

In just over fifteen years, critically acclaimed jazz vocalist Jane Monheit's honey-smooth vocals, silky phrasing and natural knack for storytelling have earned her two Grammy nominations and established her as one of her generation's most beloved and accomplished vocalists. Jane's sincere and romantic interpretations of exceptional songs has made her a favorite in both the jazz and cabaret worlds. The series will provide Jane the opportunity to develop new material at Birdland and collaborate with invited musical guests, in a relaxed environment that is part concert, part jam session, part workshop and all fun.

All tickets $30, $10 food/drink minimum

Dec 28 (Sunday) at 9PM & 11PM

Arturo O'Farrill Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra

Grammy Award winning pianist, composer and educator Arturo O'Farrill -- leader of the "first family of Afro-Cuban Jazz" (NY Times) -- was born in Mexico and grew up in New York City. Son of the late, great composer Chico O'Farrill, Arturo was Educated at Manhattan School of Music, Brooklyn College Conservatory and the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. He played piano in Carla Bley's Big Band from 1979 through 1983 and earned a reputation as a soloist in groups led by Dizzy Gillespie, Steve Turre, Freddy Cole, Lester Bowie, Wynton Marsalis and Harry Belafonte.

All tickets $30, $10 food/drink minimum

Purchase tickets at www.BirdlandJazz.com. For more information and reservations, call 212-581-3080. Ticket prices will vary by performer. At the tables, there is a $10 food/drink minimum per person in addition to the music charge. At the bar, the music charge will include one complimentary drink with no additional minimum.

Named for alto saxophonist and jazz pioneer Charlie "Bird" Parker who dubbed it "The Jazz Corner of the World," Birdland opened on December 15th 1949. For 60 years it has been home to jazz legends, from Parker, John Coltrane Duke Ellington and Count Basie to Oscar Peterson, Hank Jones, Diana Krall and everyone in between. The original 52nd street location was a cultural barometer and meeting place, inspiring the songs "Birdland" and "Lullaby of Birdland," and serving as a regular haunt for celebrities and cultural figures. The modern incarnation is a state of the art nightclub featuring award winning Southern and Cajun cuisine, first rate sound and lighting and a who's who of contemporary musical artists, 7 nights a week.

Birdland is located at 315 West 44th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues), New York, NY 10036. Students (with current ID) & Broadway Theatre-Goers (with Broadway ticket stub from same day of performance): 50% off music charge at 11PM shows only. Birdland serves American Fare with a Cajun Flair nightly from 5PM until Midnight and until 1AM on Friday and Saturdays. Parking is available across the street at 332 West 44th Street. Concert Grand Piano By: Yamaha.

For more information, go to www.BirdlandJazz.com, or follow Birdland Jazz Club on Twitter: @birdlandjazz, Facebook, Instagram, and on Pinterest.

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