Jason Graae, Sheila Jordan, Maria Schneider & More Set for Birdland, 5/5-11

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its schedule for May 5 - 11, including Jason Graae "49½ Shades of Graae," Sheila Jordan, Maria Schneider Orchestra, Eric Comstock & Barbara Fasano Quartet "Sunday in New York," and more!

May 5 (Monday) at 7:00PM
Jason Graae in "49½ Shades of Graae"

"49½ Shade of Graae" is an evening with ex-Broadway-juvenile-turned-Hollywood-misfit Jason Graae (pronounced Grah, which means Grey in Danish) as he explores the many "shades" of his life and career...from hilarity to tragedy all rolled into one madcap, yet heartfelt romp. Jason features old and new songs that explore his life of sex, drugs and musical comedy. This show is directed by Heather Lee with John Boswell as musical director. Jason Graae is currently featured in the York Theatre Company's production of Inventing Mary Martin, and has starred on Broadway in A Grand Night For Singing, Falsettos, Stardust, Snoopy, and Do Black Patent Leather Shows Really Reflect Up? His Off- Broadway shows include Forever Plaid, Olympus on My Mind, All in the Timing, Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh (Drama Desk Nomination-Best Actor in a Musical) and many more. Jason made his Metropolitan Opera House debut as the male vocalist in Twyla Tharp's Everlast with American Ballet Theatre. He has performed his one man show all over the country from Rainbow and Stars and Birdland in NYC to Feinstein's and the Plush Room in L.A. and San Francisco, winning 4 Bistro Awards and a N.Y Nightlife Award, also making TimeOut NY's Top Cabaret shows of the year. His critically acclaimed show with Faith Prince, "The Prince and the Showboy" won a 2nd Nightlife Award for Best Duo.
All seats $30, $10 food/drink minimum

May 5 (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, Tedd Firth 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

May 6-7 (Tuesday - Wednesday) at 8:30PM & 11:00PM
Sheila Jordan
All seats $40, $10 food/drink minimum

May 7 (Wednesday) at 5:30PM
David Ostwald's Louis Armstrong Eternity Band

Inspired by the noble jazz pioneers Louis Armstrong, Bix Beiderbecke, Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton and their colleagues, David Ostwald's Louis Armstrong Eternity Band breathes life and passion into America's own great art form. Now in its 14th year of residency at Birdland, the weekly post-workday engagement is the city's best musical bargain! Tuba player David Ostwald leads a rotating lineup that features talents such as clarinetist Anat Cohen, trombonist/vocalist Wycliffe Gordon, pianist Ehud Asherie, drummer Marion Felder and more!
All seats $25, $10 food/drink minimum

May 8-10 (Thursday - Saturday) at 8:30 & 11:00PM
Maria Schneider Orchestra
All seats $45, $10 food/drink minimum

May 9 (Friday) at 5:00PM
The Birdland Big Band
With Guest Conductor Rob Middleton

Founded by drummer and musical director Tommy Igoe, the Birdland Big Band features the finest musicians in New York! The BBB roars into action every Friday, playing the finest Jazz, Latin and Brazilian music from the world's best arrangers. After work or before a show, drinks or a great dinner, come hear one of the world's best drummers driving the hardest swinging band in New York. Experience why the BBB is the must-see weekly jazz event in New York and kick off your weekend with what critics are calling "the best live music bargain in all of NYC!"
All seats $30, $10 food/drink minimum

May 11 (Sunday) at 6:00PM
Eric Comstock & Barbara Fasano Quartet
"Sunday in New York"
With Sean Smith (bass) and With Vito Lesczak (drums)

Married musical partners Eric & Barbara ("Exhilarating" -- The New York Times) are as entertaining as they are musically savvy. These award-winning artists celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary later this year, so expect LOTS of love songs. On this New York Sunday at Birdland, they'll celebrate Mother's Day and swing into spring with songs of the season by Cole Porter, Joni Mitchell, Benny Carter, Paul Simon and more. Bring your Mama! ERIC COMSTOCK & BARBARA FASANO, whose electrifying combination of warmth, wit, swing and sensuality have made them the nightclub world's most celebrated team, are every bit as entertaining as they are musically savvy. The multiple MAC, Bistro and New York Nightlife Award winners - they were honored with the 2013 MAC award for Major Duo Artists of the Year - are regular performers at New York's most prestigious clubs and concert halls. They were among the last performers to headline at the Algonquin Hotel's legendary Oak Room Supper Club. Their fast-paced and swinging exploration of the Big Apple "HELLUVA TOWN: A NEW YORK SOUNDTRACK" ("Exhilarating" - The New York Times) has had audiences standing and cheering from coast to coast. Although they've been compared to Nick and Nora, Fred and Ginger, and Lunt and Fontanne, the "golden couple's" style is all their own, with a wide choice of material that brings the generations together. Whether the song is by Cole Porter or Paul Simon, Duke Ellington or Joni Mitchell, Comstock and Fasano make it fresh and new, and their audiences feel they've been to a terrific party where the music and the stories have been equally great.
All seats $30, food/drink minimum $10

May 11 (Sunday) at 9:00PM & 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 seats $30, $10 food/drink minimum

Purchase tickets at: www.BirdlandJazz.com. For more information and reservations call 212-581-3080.

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