Ella Fitzgerald News

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.

Producing Artistic Director Carolyn Griffin has announced that the award-winning musical by Thomas W. Jones II Bessie's Blues will be on stage at MetroStage beginning Jan. 22, 2015. Thomas W. Jones II will direct and choreograph, and William Knowles will music direct. A musical odyssey of African American people in the 20th century, it was ground-breaking in 1994 and is a perfect production for our stage as we celebrate our first 30 years.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its February 2015 schedule, featuring John Pizzarelli Quartet, Marilyn Maye, Sarah Gazarek, Billy Childs Jazz Quartet, The 5th Annual Broadway Belts for PFF, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more. Details below!

The North Carolina Symphony will pay tribute to two of the most beloved performers of the 20th century with Louis and Ella: All That Jazz, which will feature the music of Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald performed by trumpeter and vocalist Byron Stripling and vocalist Marva Hicks, with drummer Robert Breithaupt. The Symphony concerts, which will be led by Associate Conductor David Glover, will take place in Meymandi Concert Hall in downtown Raleigh, tonight, Jan. 16, and Saturday, Jan. 17, at 8 p.m. each night.

Grammy and Oscar award-winning vocalist ?Patti Austin returns to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra for a performance devoted to the brilliance of Washington, DC native Duke Ellington and 'The First Lady of Song,' Ella Fitzgerald, Thursday, February 19 at 8 p.m. at The Music Center at Strathmore, and Friday, February 20 at 8 p.m. Saturday, February 21 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, February 22 at 3 p.m. at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall.

Joe's Pub at the Public has announced its nightly performances, January 14 - 25, 2015. Details below!

The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at the University of British Columbia (UBC) is proud to present an evening of jazz and cross-genre musical exploration in a spectacular double bill featuring drummer, composer, producer, and entrepreneur, Terri Lyne Carrington's Mosaic Project and vocalist and Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition winner Cécile McLorin Salvant on Sunday, February 15 at 7pm in the Chan Shun Concert Hall. The concert will be preceded by a pre-concert talk with Terri Lyne Carrington, moderated by CBC's Margaret Gallagher, at 6:15pm in the Royal Bank Cinema, during which Carrington will discuss her GRAMMY Award-winning The Mosaic Project.

Tickets are $18 plus a one drink minimum. Once sold out, a limited number of standing room tickets are available for $10. Advance reservations are strongly recommended. Call The Winter Park Playhouse box office at 407-645-0145 or purchase online at www.winterparkplayhouse.org .

The North Carolina Symphony will pay tribute to two of the most beloved performers of the 20th century with Louis and Ella: All That Jazz, which will feature the music of Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald performed by trumpeter and vocalist Byron Stripling and vocalist Marva Hicks, with drummer Robert Breithaupt. The Symphony concerts, which will be led by Associate Conductor David Glover, will take place in Meymandi Concert Hall in downtown Raleigh, Friday, Jan. 16, and Saturday, Jan. 17, at 8 p.m. each night.

Joe's Pub at the Public has announced its nightly performances over the next couple weeks, January 6 -18. Details below!

Today we are celebrating a wow-worthy selection of performances of Frank Loesser's classic seasonal offering 'What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?' in honor of tonight's hallowed year-end holiday.

If you've been a regular reader of this particular reviewer's musings, you know that every year there are long stretches of time where I just haven't been able to critique all the shows I've seen that deserve commentary. So I end up playing what they call in sports, 'Catch-up ball,' and post a mash up of belated reviews from past shows. It's kind of like a critic's version of the song 'Six Months Out of Every Year,' from Damn Yankees. Give or take a month or two, that's usually the time period during which I store unpublished reviews in my fevered brain and then unload them all in one seemingly endless column-like this one is going to be. If my cabaret-show reviewing days will be over (as chronicled here), I might as well go out with a bang-and relieve my procrastination guilt during holiday season. Now I can scratch one New Year's resolution off the list.

This January and February 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.

The Angel Of Music shares her holiday favorites!

Stage, television and film chaunteuse Nita Whitaker brings a very special holiday show to the COPA Palm Springs for one night only - December 20 at 8:00 pm. The former Miss Louisiana and Hall of Fame Star Search Grand Champion Winner has shared the stage with the likes of Barbra Streisand, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Bolton, Patti Austin, Broadway legend Ben Vereen, Josh Groban, Michael Buble' and Chris Botti, to name a few. She recently penned her first award winning memoir titled, 'Finding My Voice: My Journey through Grief to Grace' and produced her newest CD release just in time for the holidays. I had the chance to chat with Ms. Whitaker as she was preparing for her holiday concert at The Copa. Here are a few excerpts from that conversation:

Cynthia Felton released her new album SAVE YOUR LOVE FOR ME via Felton Entertainment this October.

The Muny announced today the directors, choreographers and music directors for the Muny's 2015 Season, which opens on June 15 with My Fair Lady. 'This is a thrilling roster of artists,' said Muny Artistic Director and Executive Producer Mike Isaacson. 'We look forward to bringing their vision and talent to our grand stage.'

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College continues its 60th Anniversary Season of music, dance, theater, and family programming for 2014-15, reflecting the multicultural diversity of Brooklyn. The line-up features award-winning performances from Jamaica, Russia, Canada, South Africa, and China as well as the United States, including both Brooklyn premieres and returning favorites.

Tonight, Dec. 16, Michael Feinstein is slated to introduce teen vocalist Madelyn Baillio as part of his limited engagement at Birdland Jazz Club. Baillio is the winner of the 2014 Great American Songbook Academy, a project founded by Michael Feinstein.

Polly O. Entertainment will proudly present Harmony is King: the Greatest Songs of the 60's & 70's, starring the sterling four-part harmonies of recording artists THE FOUR KING COUSINS