Kay Thompson News

On Monday December 22 the terribly amusing song stylist Cortes Alexander presented his annual Swell Noel to an uber packed house at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal. Alexander has such frenetic energy and charm that, and I've said this before, you just want to wrap him up. What a joyous Christmas present...and with his two glorious backup singers, the Swell Girls Melissa Bailey and Julie Gar

Birdland presents the fifth annual "A Swinging Birdland Christmas" celebration at Birdland Jazz Club starring Birdland regulars Klea Blackhurst, Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch. To celebrate the holidays Blackhurst, Caruso and Stritch will perform swinging arrangements of beloved seasonal specials like "Christmas Waltz," Kay Thompson's "Holiday Season," "Sleigh Ride," and "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" among other favorites.

John Schneider and Tom Wopat -- the original stars of 'The Dukes of Hazzard' -- have hit the Billboard Top 10 with their new album Home for Christmas. For the week of December 20, the recording debuts at #10 on the 'Traditional Jazz' chart.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its Christmas week schedule, running December 22 - 28, 2014 and featuring: Michael Feinstein in "Happy Holidays: Swingin' with the Big Band," Klea Blackhurst, Jane Monheit, Jim Caruso & Billy Stritch in "A Swinging Birdland Christmas," Jay Leonhart Duo, and more. Details below!

Birdland Jazz Club has announced their amazing line-up of talent for December 15 - December 21, featuring Michael Feinstein in "Happy Holidays: Swingin' with the Big Band," James Langton's New York All-Star Big Band, Jim Caruso, Billy Stritch and Klea Blackhurst in "A Swingin' Birdland Christmas," and more.

John Schneider and Tom Wopat -- the original stars of 'The Dukes of Hazzard' -- will appear at Barnes & Noble for a special in-store performance and CD signing to celebrate their new album Home for Christmas tonight, December 3 at 7 PM. The special holiday recording, which is currently available from D13 Entertainment in stores and online, commemorates the 35th Anniversary of the iconic TV show.

John Schneider and Tom Wopat -- the original stars of 'The Dukes of Hazzard' -- will appear at Barnes & Noble for a special in-store performance and CD signing to celebrate their new album Home for Christmas on Wednesday, December 3 at 7 PM. The special holiday recording, which is currently available from D13 Entertainment in stores and online, commemorates the 35th Anniversary of the iconic TV show.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its December 2014 schedule, featuring Michael Feinstein with Swingin' Big Band, Eliane Elias, Stacey Kent & Marcos Valle, Daniel Reichard, Erich Bergen,Barbara Carroll, "A Swinging Birdland Christmas" with Klea Blackhurst, Jane Monheit, Jim Caruso & Billy Stritch, and more!

JOHN SCHNEIDER and TOM WOPAT - the original stars of 'The Dukes of Hazzard' - will release a special holiday album Home for Christmas to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the iconic TV show. The recording will be available from D13 Entertainment in stores and online today, October 28

Complete principal casting has been announced for the new Broadway production of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's beloved Oscar and Tony Award-winning film and stage musical, Gigi. Victoria Clark, who won a Tony Award for her luminous performance in The Light in the Piazza and was also Tony-nominated for Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella and Sister Act, will star as Mamita Alvarez. Dee Hoty, who has starred on Broadway in City of Angels, Me and My Girl and Mamma Mia! and is a three-time Tony Award nominee for The Will Rogers Follies, The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public and Footloose, will star as Aunt Alicia. Gigi also stars Vanessa Hudgens in the title role, two-time Tony Award-nominee Howard McGillin (The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Anything Goes, The Phantom of the Opera) as Honore Lachaille, Corey Cott (Newsies) as Gaston Lachaille and Steffanie Leigh (Mary Poppins) as Liane d'Exelmans.

JOHN SCHNEIDER and TOM WOPAT - the original stars of "The Dukes of Hazzard" - will release a special holiday album Home for Christmas to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the iconic TV show.

The Carlyle, a Rosewood Hotel, will welcome Jim Caruso & Billy Stritch back to Bemelmans Bar for an extended Sunday night residency. The upcoming performances will build upon their recent run of shows in the intimate, storied New York City lounge, favorites not only of music fans and critics, but also of fellow artists. Jim Caruso & Billy Stritch shows are a place where some of the city's foremost entertainers go to commune with their own-and sometimes sit-in for a song or two-on their nights off. The pair will be at Bemelmans with their evening of swinging standards Sunday nights, September 7-28; November 2-December 28.

Liza Minnelli gave a spontaneous performance at New York's Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle last night.

The Carlyle, a Rosewood Hotel, is pleased to welcome Jim Caruso & Billy Stritch back to Bemelmans Bar for an extended Sunday night residency. The upcoming performances will build upon their recent run of shows in the intimate, storied New York City lounge, favorites not only of music fans and critics, but also of fellow artists. Jim Caruso & Billy Stritch shows are a place where some of the city's foremost entertainers go to commune with their own-and sometimes sit-in for a song or two-on their nights off. The pair will be at Bemelmanswith their evening of swinging standards Sunday nights, April 6 - May 25.

On Sunday December 22 the amazing Cortes Alexander presented his Thou Swell Noel to a packed house at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal. Alexander has such frenetic energy and charm that, and I've said this before, you just want to wrap him up. What a joyous Christmas present...and with his two glorious backup singers, the Swell Girls Melissa Bailey and Julie Garnye, who could ask for anything more? Yes, a band! There was an electric four-piece band with musical director Norman Ludwin on bass, David Arana at the piano, Mark Converse on drums and Paul Landry on guitar.Paul's 10-year old son Zeut Landry was a very special guest who accompanied Alexander on a Cajon Drum Box during his beautiful composition 'Marguerite'. This 'Little Drummer Boy' is also big on talent!

Tickets are now on sale for the fourth annual 'A Swinging Birdland Christmas' celebration at Birdland Jazz Club. To celebrate the holidays, Birdland regulars Klea Blackhurst, Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch will perform swinging arrangements of beloved seasonal specials like 'Christmas Waltz,' Kay Thompson's 'Holiday Season,' 'Sleigh Ride,' and 'I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm' among other favorites. The singers will be joined by Steve Doyle on bass and Carmen Intorre on drums.

Jay is an enormous fan of Broadway and all its denizens and has done many Broadway Cast Albums, but he has also worked with every great star of our time in every category of music.

Jim Caruso & Billy Stritch return to Bemelmans at The Carlyle Hotel this month with their evening of swinging standards. The two performers, who have performed extensively on their own, gained national exposure together as the host and musical director of the wildly popular open mic, Cast Party, which celebrates talent every Monday at Birdland in NYC, and tours nationally. During their November run at Bemelmans, the duo received critical acclaim, and made news when rock legend Bono joined them in an impromptu performance. Check out more photos from their concert below!

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its schedule for December 23-29. Check out the listings below!

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its schedule for December 16-22, featuring Michael Feinstein, Cyndi Lauper, and more! Check out details below!