Carmen McRae News

Today's top stories: Ciara Renee, McKenzie Kurtz, and Ryan McCartan join Frozen, and more!

In this episode, Ben and Daniel talk to cabaret superstar and musical theater actress Marilyn Maye about her 1967 album 'Step To The Rear.' They also discuss Jerry Herman, 'Mame, 'Hello, Dolly!', Mel Tormé, Rosemary Clooney, Barbara Cook, Tommy Tune, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae, Billy Stritch, Tedd Firth, Provincetown, The Anchor Inn, Palm Springs, Feinstein's/54 Below, Birdland, and The Art House. Marilyn tells stories from her career as a singer and recording artist, and shares her expertise on how to build a show and sing to an audience. Marilyn has released seven albums and thirty-four singles, and performs all over the country to rooms full of adoring fans. Marilyn also holds the record for the most frequent singer on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, where she appeared a total of seventy-six times.

Below is the upcoming schedule at Birdland Jazz Club and Birdland Theater February 3 through February 16: 

Birdland Jazz Club and Birdland Theater are pleased to present the schedule for the month of February! At Birdland Jazz Club, catch the iconic Lionel Hampton Big Band Featuring Jason Marsalis, current GRAMMY nominee Catherine Russell, the Birdland debut of AGUAS Trio with Omar Sosa, Yilian Cañizares and Gustavo Ovalles, and iconic vocalist Jane Monheit. Internationally recognized trumpeter Rachel Therrien, the Seth Weaver Big Band, and The Voice contestant Melinda Rose Rodriguez will also be performing upstairs. 

Manoa Valley Theatre has announced a second season of the Manoa Valley Theatre Music and Comedy Series featuring some of Hawaii's favorite entertainers in a six-part subscription series beginning on January 28th with Erhu virtuoso Tsun-Hui Hung along with two-time GRAMMY Award-nominee slack key guitarist Jeff Peterson.

The 48th season of the popular Highlights In Jazz continues on March 19, 2020, when producer Jack Kleinsinger presents 'Ellington Everlasting.' The concert turns the spotlight on the maestro's timeless compositions and enduring legacy, through the dynamic vision of featured performers like trombonist Art Baron & The Duke's Men, drummer Bernard Purdie, bassist Bill Crow, saxophonists Bill Easley and Mark Hynes, pianist James Weidman and vocalist Ira Hawkins. In keeping with the beloved HIJ tradition, a surprise special guest will be on hand for the concert, to be held at BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center.

Today Norfolk & Norwich Festival has announced new acts for its 2020 line up. John Grant will play Great Yarmouth Hippodrome on Friday 8 May; Kandace Springs will play St Andrew's Hall on Tuesday 12 May and Frozen Light will perform at The Garage on Tuesday 12 - Saturday 16 May.

The Winter Celebration concert features the four levels of orchestras in InterSchool Orchestras of New York including Morningside, Carnegie Hill, Concert Orchestra and the ISO Symphony, conducted by Dr. Matt Rotjan, Steve Rochen, Joseph Meyers, and Barry Stern respectively. The ISO Symphony will be joined on stage by Renée Manning and members of Mingus Dynasty, providing a snapshot of ISO's dynamic season and showcasing the achievement of the students.

Cyrille Aimee: A Sondheim Adventure, Brandon Goldberg Trio, Sheila Jordan Birthday Celebration and more announced for the week of November 18-November 24 at Birdland Jazz Club. 

One of the top jazz pianists of the past half-century and an eclectic improviser who has long had his own sound and open-minded style, Kellaway has been featured on hundreds of recordings and written a countless amount of music since the 1960s. As is obvious from his most recent recording, a?oeThe Many Open Minds of Roger Kellawaya?? (IPO Recordings) he has lost none of his creativity, virtuosity, enthusiasm or willingness to stretch himself.

InterSchool Orchestras of New York and the Mingus Dynasty are collaborating to present MINGUS.  This concert features never-before-heard full orchestra arrangements of popular Mingus tunes arranged by Earl McIntyre.  It will also feature solo performances by the Mingus Dynasty.

Celebrating eight decades of a historic jazz record label, the Harris Center welcomes Blue Note Records 80th Birthday Celebration--The State of Jazz 2019, featuring three jazz stars, each with a stellar band ready to sizzle Stage One. Performing with her trio, a?oeKandace Springs has a voice that would melt snowa?? (Prince). James Francies has worked with jazz royalty from Christian McBride to Pat Metheny; performing with his trio, he's a?oea pianist with liquid dynamism in his toucha?? (New York Times). Finally, saxophonist James Carter has 18 recordings under his own name; he a?oecan be sumptuously romantic or exhilaratingly funkya?? He's at his earthiest and most accessible with this classic Hammond organ trio lineupa?? (Guardian) which he'll have in tow with him for the tour.

You can physically build a welcoming and attractive Cabaret Room (in this case Mr. Finn's at Barrington Stage). You can have a name on the door that represents important musical theater (William Finn). However it really doesn't have any greatness unless the music and artists that appear on it's stage are of the highest order.

The classic songs and standards of some of the ?nest ladies in jazz, including June Christy, Carmen McRae, Cleo Laine and Rosemary Clooney will be explored by Joan Jaffe in Little Girl Blueat Pangea on Thursday, August 1st and Tuesday, August 6th at 7:00 pm.

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

Irish Repertory Theatre will present a concert performance of Christine Tobin: Sailing to Byzantium on the Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage on Tuesday August 27, 2019, at 7pm.  

Traveling the world as an entertainer and as a Cruise Director on numerous cruise ships has given Michael a wealth of first-hand tales from his journeys that he has combined with popular music from The Great American Songbook and Broadway Musicals. A talented singer and dancer with a flare for comedy makes him a natural for live theater and he's performed his cabaret shows in multiple cities throughout the US but 'Fabulous Places' will mark his cabaret debut here in the desert.

Jazzmobile Inc. and Harlem Jazz Enterprises have entered into a new partnership to present live music at the iconic Minton's Playhouse jazz club, 206 West 118th Street, in Harlem. This open-ended residency will begin on Independence Day with pianist Nat Adderley, Jr. and will continue every Thursday evening with a world-class jazz band. The Summer lineup will be announced at the opening celebration on July 4.

Birdland Jazz Club announces July 2019 Schedule featuring Veronica Swift with the Emmet Cohen Trio, Freddy Cole Quartet, Steve Smith's Groove Blue Organ Trio, John Pizzarelli: Two-week engagement, Nancy Kelly, Konrad Paszkudzki and Pasquale Grasso, Lew Tabackin Trio, Michael Wolff Trio, Laura Osnes, Alyssa Allgood Quartet, Ladybugs, The Lineup with Susie Mosher, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more.