Dan Gross News

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its April 2015 schedule, featuring Sheila Jordan with the Steve Kuhn Trio, Ms. Lisa Fischer, Eliane Elias, James Carter Organ Trio, Barbara Carroll, The Beegie Adair Trio with Monica Ramey, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more.

To borrow an analogy from Robyn Spangler, the Los Angeles-based singer (now spending more time in New York) who brought her show “Riddle, Ronstadt and Me” to the Metropolitan Room on Monday, January 12, a dress may be fine off the rack, but when tailored specifically for a particular body, it can uniquely highlight the physical assets of the woman wearing it. Likewise, the artistry of the musical arrangement comes when it wraps a familiar song around an individual's voice and style ands allow the song to be heard in a fresh, and hopefully, wonderful way.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Nelson Riddle / Linda Ronstadt collaboration of the Great American Songbook, 2001 BroadwayWorld Award Winner for 'Best LA Cabaret Performer' Robyn Spangler will bring her show featuring selections from the three platinum certified albums: “What's New”, “Lush Life,” and “For Sentimental Reasons” to the Metropolitan Room on January 12 and 17.

The multi-faceted musical director/arranger/accompanist/composer Alex Rybeck flexed his talent this past Sunday night, sharing songs of every ilk with an appreciatively packed 54 Below. 'Tonight is proof positive that dreams come true, just not how you imagine. I always thought you had to have a hit song to headline an evening here…' Delivered by many of his celebrated singer friends he's worked with often (including the Callaway Sisters, Liz and Ann), entertaining selections from the writer's canon included bossa nova, ballads, musical theater numbers, pop, comic turns, seasonal songs, and 'Serenade,' a haunting piece of music the author composed for his mother which seemed like portraiture: strong, proud, thoughtful, warm, light.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com or call (646) 476-3551.

Broadway's 40 theatres aren't the only places to catch performances from your favorite stars! Well after Broadway orchestra's begin their overtures, ensemble members take their dance breaks, and performers belt out their eleven- o'clock numbers, the party continues at various cabaret venues throughout New York City. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you some cabaret highlights for this week as picked by our theatre editors, including: Broadway on 22nd Street, Ryan Scott Oliver and Lindsay Mendez's ACTOR THERAPY, The Songs of Adam Wachter: Just Come to This, A Night Like This Live in Concert, and The Music of Alex Rybeck.

This November and December 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54thStreet. For a detailed schedule of upcoming performances at 54 Below and to purchase tickets, visit www.54Below.com.

It's hard to believe that it has been 20 years since Roslyn Kind has appeared in a nightclub in New York City. Back in the day, she played 'em all, including the Continental Baths (yes, Bette Midler was not the only singer to play the famed location). BroadwayWorld.com was allowed exclusive access on Sunday night, April 6th, to film footage. Here are some highlights, filmed and edited by Becky Rosky.

54 Below just welcomed Roslyn Kind back to the New York club scene, where she hasn't been seen solo in 20 years. Having recently toured the U.S., Canada, Europe and Israel performing with her sister, Barbra Streisand, and nephew, Jason Gould, It's Been a While, which returns on April 20, features both new material & vintage 'Rozzie' tunes. BroadwayWorld brings you photos of Kind in action below!

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

Rapper Snoop Lion, who has been one of the most outspoken proponents of ending gun violence, has joined with singer Tony Bennett to support VOICES AGAINST VIOLENCE, a campaign launched last month by Bennett, his son and manager Danny Bennett and the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. The campaign supports common sense gun laws and calls for ending the gun violence that takes thousands of innocent lives each year in communities across America.

By the last August, I had fallen so far behind on writing reviews of cabaret shows from the spring and early summer (I guess it's a positive when there are more performers and shows in New York than days in the week) that I decided to play catch up by combining a bunch of critiques into one big column. I hadn't planned on doing that again, but this fall there were so many shows that once again I couldn't keep up. but at least I've beaten my self-imposed deadline New Year's Eve deadline of posting these reviews of 12 shows, all staged between September-December by lovely, attractive women (okay, so one is a gender-bender) of varying talents and levels on the cabaret depth chart, from established stars to MAC and Bistro Award-winners to comeback 'kids' to interesting beginners and occasional performers who are in the game to follow their bliss. Whether their performances were rave-worthy, earning of qualified praise, or not quite up to snuff, they all deserve kudos for taking the plunge.

CBS News' FACE THE NATION WITH BOB SCHIEFFER is the #1 Sunday morning public affairs show. FACE THE NATION placed first in viewers and households on Sunday, Dec. 16. The CBS broadcast posted a 2.8/07 in households, 3.77m viewers and 0.9/04 in adults 25-54, according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings. FACE THE NATION posted its best household rating since January 23, 2005, best viewers and adults 25-54 deliveries since October 28, 2012. Editor's Note: FACE THE NATION's second half-hour was broadcast contiguously across 45% of the CBS affiliates.

Feinstein's at Loews Regency continues its Spring 2012 season with the debut of multi-award winning singer Jennifer Sheehan in her new show "I Know A Place." Sheehan and her trio traverse the vast spectrum of music that was the sensational soundtrack of the '60s. Plus, she shares how younger generations are falling in love with these classic songs just as their parents did. Brimming with songs and stories, "I Know A Place" features music by songwriters such as Burt Bacharach, The Beatles and Antonio Carlos Jobim and songs made famous by Barbra Streisand, Petula Clark, Carole King and more. The show opened last night, May 23 and runs from May 23 through June 2 at the Loews Regency Hotel. Check out photos of the concert below!

Uptown Express, the Bistro Award-winning and seven-time MAC Award-nominated male vocal pop quartet, delivers 'love songs both surprising and sweet, spanning the history of pop music, with their new show, Sh-Boom! From classics by artists like The Beach Boys and Paul McCartney to some of today's most talented entertainers including Bruno Mars, Michael Bublé and Jason Mraz, Uptown Express has a jam-packed curriculum.' The show will also feature a soon-to-be-announced guest star.

Uptown Express, the Bistro Award-winning and seven-time MAC Award-nominated male vocal pop quartet, delivers 'love songs both surprising and sweet, spanning the history of pop music, with their new show, Sh-Boom! From classics by artists like The Beach Boys and Paul McCartney to some of today's most talented entertainers including Bruno Mars, Michael Bublé and Jason Mraz, Uptown Express has a jam-packed curriculum.' The show will also feature a soon-to-be-announced guest star.

Long time Hollywood Casting Director, Wendy Kurtzman, is stepping out from behind the camera to pursue what she loves most: singing. This spring, Kurtzman will release a debut CD, "Just for a Thrill". Ms. Kurtzman will celebrate with a pre-release performance at The Metropolitan Room on April 25th at 9:30pm.

Long time Hollywood Casting Director, Wendy Kurtzman, is stepping out from behind the camera to pursue what she loves most: singing. This spring, Kurtzman will release a debut CD, "Just for a Thrill". Ms. Kurtzman will celebrate with a pre-release performance at The Metropolitan Room on April 25th at 9:30pm.

I forgot which one said it, Donny or Marie, but Feinstein's at Loews Regency had a 'Little Bit of Country' last night. For one night only, Daryl Glenn & Jo Lynn Burks brought their entertaining musical satire of Robert Altman's movie 'Nashville' to the cabaret stage usually inhabited by the American Songbooks most skilled performers, (Michael Feinstein & Lina Eder currently residing).

SUZANNE CARRICO, winner of the 2008 MAC Award for Best Female Debut for THE ART OF THE CAHN, Music from the Sammy Cahn Songbook, will celebrate the Christmas season & her new holiday CD, WHAT CHRISTMAS TIME MEANS TO ME, at Metropolitan Room this December. She will be joined by The Don Rebic Quartet, Dan Gross on percussion, Jim DiMatteo on bass & Windham Hill recording artist, Sean Harkness on guitar. Also joining her will be MAC Nominee Booth Daniels.