Marian McPartland News

Metropolitan Opera star Deborah Voigt is the special guest in Bending Towards the Light ... A Jazz Nativity.  Chelsea Opera joins forces with Kindred Spirits, Inc. to present this fresh and dramatic telling of the Christmas story.  WQXR's Terrance McKnight and WBGO's Sheila Andersonco-host this 30th anniversary production of Bending Towards the Light ... A Jazz Nativity, featuring jazz greats Ingrid Jensen, Steve Wilson, Wycliffe Gordon, and 93-year-old Latin congo player, Candido.  Performances take place at Christ and St. Stephen's Church, 120 West 69th Street in NYC, on Sunday, December 20 at 5 pm and 8 pm.  Tickets range from $25 to $50, available online and at the door (cash/check only).

Chicago's acclaimed Jefferson Award nominated actress and winner of the After Dark Award for 'Outstanding Cabaret Artist' and the Chicago Cabaret Professionals Gold Coast Award, Suzanne Petri brings her brand new show, TORCH, SASS AND SWING!, to Davenport's Cabaret (1383 N Milwaukee Ave). The show runs tonight, October 28, and November 4 & 7, 2015.

The Wilmette Theatre is proud to partner with the Music Institute of Chicago to screen the jazz documentary 'Lady Be Good' with a post-screening talk-back led by filmmaker Kay D. Ray. The Theatre is located at 1122 Central Avenue, Wilmette, 60091. Tickets are $12 ($10 for Music Institute students and families) and are available at the Theatre's Box Office, by phone 847.251.7424 or online at wilmettetheatre.com.

Chicago's acclaimed Jefferson Award nominated actress and winner of the After Dark Award for "Outstanding Cabaret Artist" and the Chicago Cabaret Professionals Gold Coast Award, Suzanne Petri brings her brand new show, TORCH, SASS AND SWING!, to Davenport's Cabaret (1383 N Milwaukee Ave). The show runs October 28, November 4 and November 7, 2015.

Acclaimed trumpeter Wynton Marsalis will perform a 'Tribute to Clark Terry' with the New Jersey City University Alumni Jazz Big Band conducted by NJCU Professor Richard Lowenthal. 

The Daytime Emmy and Peabody Award-Winning PBS series A Chef's Life returns for a third season tonight, September 3, 2015

The Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition is the world's most visible jazz vocal competition of its kind and provides a platform for one outstanding female singer to launch a career in the music industry. The competition started in 2012 and was co-produced by NJPAC and JAZZ ROOTS, a Larry Rosen Production. Jazz fans are invited to review and vote for entries online; then five finalists are selected for a live performance at NJPAC as part of the TD James Moody Jazz Festival, where a panel of expert judges decides the recipient of the SASSY Award.

Acclaimed trumpeter Wynton Marsalis will perform a 'Tribute to Clark Terry' with the New Jersey City University Alumni Jazz Big Band conducted by NJCU Professor Richard Lowenthal. 

The Daytime Emmy® and Peabody Award-Winning PBS series A Chef's Life returns for a third season on Thursday, September 3, 2015

After completing a 15th anniversary season which featured a critically heralded performance of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, David Bernard, Music Director of the award-winning Park Avenue Chamber Symphony, has announced the ensemble's 2015-16 season of concerts.  Highlights include a roster of superb soloists (pianist Jeffrey Biegel, jazz pianist  Ted Rosenthal, and cellist Inbal Segev,) insightful programs spanning music from Beethoven through Bartók, and a new concert format where the audience sits among the players of the orchestra for a performance of Beethoven's  Fifth Symphony.

Stacy Sullivan is a warm and amusing storyteller with an entertaining family history. The first six numbers of her new Metropolitan Room show on Thursday night, Since You Asked (after the Judy Collins song), are bridged by tales of her parents, grandparents, great grandparents, and her upbringing in Oklahoma. Unfortunately, five of these songs have only the most tenuous relationship to material that follows, diminishing reception with thoughts of--Where's the connection? What's she trying to say?

The singer, songwriter and recording artist Carolyn Montgomery-Forant continued her recent comeback as performed her critically acclaimed 'Visible Phoenix' at the Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 West 42nd Street, a show which took off in October. The flame-throwing wit's first solo show since returning to the stage in January of last year, 'Visible Phoenix' marches on Fridays, March 13, and April 10. All shows are at 7pm. Check out photos from the show below!

From the Oscars to the Tonys, the Grammys to Emmys, awards ceremonies are always a hit-or-miss situation. Either the event is absolutely excellent or ends with spectators saying, 'Well, they'll do a better job with it next year.' The 2015 MAC Awards, presented by the Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs, and held once again this year at BB King's on West 42nd Street, absolutely fell into the former category. It was a splendid affair (albeit it's usual 3-plus hours) that was expertly directed by MAC President Lennie Watts.

At a ceremony held last night in New York, the Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs announced the winners of the 2015 MAC Awards. The show was hosted by Karen Mason, with musical direction by Barry Levitt, and was produced by Julie Miller and directed by Lennie Watts.

GABRIELLE STRAVELLI - the acclaimed pop/jazz vocalist called 'ingenious' by The Wall Street Journal and known from her tours with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, appearances at the 92nd Street Y and her long-running Soho jazz brunch - will join tenor saxophonist Ed Finkel as he brings a group of well-known New York jazz artists to the Heinz W. Otto Gallery at the Watchung Arts Center in Watchung, NJ tonight, March 28 at 8 PM. A dessert reception will follow the performance.

Following the success of the previous two festivals, the 3rd Annual New York Hot Jazz Festival -- produced by the impresario Michael 'Misha' Katsobashvili, performer Bria Skonberg, and composer/producer Patrick Soluri (of Prohibition Productions and The Salon) -- returns to The Players this year and promises some of the biggest stars of the Hot Jazz and swing scenes in a summit of uptown and downtown talent spanning three generations.

GABRIELLE STRAVELLI - the acclaimed pop/jazz vocalist called 'ingenious' by The Wall Street Journal and known from her tours with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, appearances at the 92nd Street Y and her long-running Soho jazz brunch - will join tenor saxophonist Ed Finkel as he brings a group of well-known New York jazz artists to the Heinz W. Otto Gallery at the Watchung Arts Center in Watchung, NJ on Saturday, March 28 at 8 PM. A dessert reception will follow the performance.

The singer, songwriter and recording artist Carolyn Montgomery-Forant continues her recent comeback as she adds new shows to the critically acclaimed run of 'Visible Phoenix' at the Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 West 42nd Street, a show which took off in October. The flame-throwing wit's first solo show since returning to the stage in January of last year, 'Visible Phoenix' marches on Fridays, tonight, March 13, and April 10, May 8. All shows are at 7pm.

The singer, songwriter and recording artist Carolyn Montgomery-Forant continues her recent comeback as she adds new shows to the critically acclaimed run of "Visible Phoenix" at the Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 West 42nd Street, a show which took off in October. The flame-throwing wit's first solo show since returning to the stage in January of last year, "Visible Phoenix" marches on Fridays March 13, April 10, May 8. All shows are at 7pm.

Miller Theatre at Columbia University School of the Arts presents the 2014-15 Jazz series finale: AARON DIEHL QUARTET featuring Aaron Diehl, piano, Peter Washington, bass, Pete Van Nostrand, drums, and Warren Wolf, vibes. Tonight, March 7, 2015, 8:00 p.m. at the Miller Theatre at Columbia University (2960 Broadway at 116th Street).