Duke Ellington News

Just announced at The Iridium: Prince's protege LIV WARFIELD on October 15 & 16!

There's not much one can say when you look at the resume of Ben Vereen. I have to admit I thought the email to interview Mr. Vereen was a hoax or a vile trick someone was playing on me. Now the reason I say this is because he is one of my idols and reasons I studied musical theatre in college and left to go to NYC to work professionally. We are familiar with his work with Bob Fosse as the Leading Player in PIPPIN and as Judas in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR but Mr. Vereen still continues to give us the ole razzle dazzle on the stage and on the screen. He's starred in 9 Broadway shows, has received the coveted Antionette Perry Award (The Tony), a Drama Desk Award, and a Prism Award. Nominated for an NAACP Image Award, starred in 30 plus movies and television shows, and has a huge crossover career. Ben Vereen hit the scene in Martha Graham's PRODIGAL SON in 1965 and he's been working ever since. I had the esteemed pleasure to sit and talk about his illustrious career and the current projects he's working on currently.

The Music Institute of Chicago announces the 2016-17 season of its Faculty and Guest Artist Series, showcasing noteworthy keyboard artists, illustrious alumni, and the legacy of Louis Armstrong. All but one of the concerts take place at the historic Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Avenue in downtown Evanston. In March, the Music Institute presents one special performance at its partner venue, Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E. Chestnut Street in downtown Chicago.

The Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, UC Davis announces its 15th season of performing arts, filled with the leading artists in music, dance, theater and speakers.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its schedule for October 3-9, featuring the Pharoah Sanders Quartet, Natalie Douglas, Barbara Carroll, and more. Scroll down for details!

Kevin Black's recent hit production, The Soul of Motor City, had audiences on their feet and dancing in the aisles.  The show received a Carbonell recommendation, and was extended numerous times past its originally scheduled closing date.  It's no wonder then, that Stage Door Theatre's Executive Producer Derelle Bunn has asked Black to develop another brand new show for her ever-popular theatre.

The Dramatists Guild Fund and Program Chairs Michael Korie, Laurence O'Keefe, and Diana Son have announced the 2016-2017 class of DG Fellows James Christy, Khiyon Hursey, Patricia Ione Lloyd, Michael R. Jackson, C.A. Johnson, David Mallamud, Zoey Martinson, Madeline Myers, Nicole Pandolfo, and Len Schiff.

Back by popular demand after last season's sold out performances at Playhouse Square, The Musical Theater Project and Cleveland Jazz Orchestra will co-produce "Curtain Up at The Cotton Club - An Encore Presentation" for two performances: Saturday, October 15 (3pm) at Lakeland Community College (Dr. Wayne L. Rodehorst Performing Arts Center) and Sunday, October 16 (2pm) at Lorain County Community College Stocker Arts Center, (Hoke Theater).

The nationally regarded Fulton Theatre opens a monumental new season with the triumphant Billy Elliot: The Musical through October 16. The Tony Award-winning musical features infectious music by the incomparable Sir Elton John including "Shine," "Solidarity,"  "Electricity," and many more!   

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its schedule for September 26-October 2, featuring Ron Carter Big Band, Miss Coco Peru, Eric Comstock and Barbara Fasano, and more!

The nationally regarded Fulton Theatre opens a monumental new season with the triumphant Billy Elliot: The Musical through October 16. The Tony Award-winning musical features infectious music by the incomparable Sir Elton John including "Shine," "Solidarity,"  "Electricity," and many more!   

Savion Glover isn't about to let his rehearsal get off on the wrong foot.

Last October the first Jaffa Jazz Festival took place in Israel, led by musician Amikam Kimelman who served as the director of Rimon School of Music for 24 years. The festival was a huge success even before its first musical note was played. This year, the festival will take place on September 15-17.

Bayou City Concert Musicals will celebrate its tenth season at the Heinen Theatre with the only Broadway show written by the legendary songwriting team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David, Promises, Promises. BCCM will follow up Promises, Promises with a cabaret evening of non-Broadway music of Bacharach and David in February 2017.

Broadway's Rufus Bonds, Jr. will be tilting at windmills on The 5th Avenue Theatre stage when he takes over the role of Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha. Bonds was recently seen as Porgy in The Gershwins' Porgy & Bess in London's West End, and was a member of the original Broadway casts of RENT and Parade.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its October 2016 schedule, featuring Pharoah Sanders Quartet, Ron Carter Big Band, Eliane Elias, ShowBiz After Hours with Frank DiLella, Jane Monheit, Kurt Elling, Jane Bunnett and Maqueque, Natalie Douglas, Bryce Pinkham, Jim Caruso's Cast Party and more. Scroll down for details!

John Pizzarelli, the world-renowned jazz guitarist and singer, who has been called 'hip with a wink' by Town & Country, 'madly creative' by the Los Angeles Times and 'the genial genius of the guitar' by The Toronto Star brought his Swing Seven to Birdland this past week and Broadwayworld was there for his closing night.  Son of the legendary guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, New Jersey native John Pizzarelli has become one of the most recognizable faces and voices in contemporary jazz. John Pizzarelli has had a multi-faceted career as a jazz guitarist, vocalist and bandleader, known around the world for the cool jazz flavor he brings to classic standards, late-night ballads, and each of his hugely entertaining live performances and masterful recordings. His most recent CD release, Rockin' In Rhythm, combines the enduring work of Duke Ellington with Pizzarelli's incredible ability to reinterpret the Great American Songbook. Rockin' In Rhythm is the follow up to Pizzarelli's critically-acclaimed 2008 release, With A Song In My Heart - John Pizzarelli Sings the Music of Richard Rodgers, which featured Don Sebesky's Grammy-nominated arrangement of 'Johnny One Note.' With his active touring schedule, Pizzarelli continues to charm audiences with his warmth, conversational humor, and musical moxie.

Soloists from Musica Viva, the Aeolus String Quartet and Musica Viva Artistic Director and pianist Dr. Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez are featured in Colla Voce, a program of vocal chamber music, on Sunday, September 25 at 5:00 p.m. at All Souls Church, opening Musica Viva's 39th season.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its schedule for September 19-25, including Coltrane Revisited With Steve Kuhn, Steve Smith, Eric Alexander, Jaleel Shaw and Lonnie Plaxico, Amanda Green With Constantine Maroulis, Will Chase, Alice Ripley, Jarrod Spector, Alysha Umphress, Miss Coco Peru, and more!

The only vocal competition of its kind in the world, the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition culminates in a rousing performance on the final day of the TD James Moody Jazz Festival (November 1-20), a yearly celebration of jazz at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center