Linda Purl and Diva Jazz Orchestra Bring BIG BAND ROMANCE to Birdland in April

Birdland has announced that singer/actress Linda Purl, joined with internationally, acclaimed DIVA Jazz Orchestra, returns to its historic stage on Monday April 1 at 7pm with Big Band Romance for a celebration of some of the extraordinary music that defined the classic big band sound and the songs that helped made them famous. The show will include Pick Yourself Up, Come Rain or Come Shine and Love Me or Leave Me. This evening of musical homage and fun, on the heels of Woman’s History month, will be under the music direction of Tedd Firth with special guest, Nicolas King, 

MORE ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Linda Purl is known for her running rolls on multiple, iconic television series. Besides being Richie Cunningham‘s girlfriend, and Fonzie‘s fiancé on Happy Days, Charlene Matlock on Matlock, and Helene Beesley, Pam‘s mom/Steve Carell‘s girlfriend on The Office, she has started over 47 made for TV movies. Past concert venues include Dizzy’s and Rose Hall at Lincoln Center, Jazz, Catalina Jazz Club, Colorado Springs Symphony, Naples Philharmonic, Crazy Coqs in London, Club Raye in Paris and Satin Doll in Tokyo. She has performed with the Glenn Miller, Stoneback, Diva Jazz and Orlando Jazz orchestras. Solo albums are Alone Together, Out of This World, Midnight Caravan Up Jumped Spring, Taking a Chance and most recently This Could Be the Start. Theatre credits (partial listing) West End:The Year of Magical Thinking. Broadway: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Getting and Spending. Off Broadway: Mr Toole, The Baby Dance. UK Tour: Catch Me If You Can. Regional work at such theaters as: Long Wharf, Actors Theatre of Louisville, The Old Globe, Mark Taper Forum, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Santa Fe Opera, Cleveland Playhouse.   www.lindapurl.com

DIVA Jazz Orchestra is an ensemble of fifteen versatile, multi generational musicians…a hard charging, powerful band that loves to swing! Headed by drummer Sherrie Maricle, DIVA exudes the excitement and force found in the tradition of historic big bands with any eye towards originality. With New York as their home base, DIVA performs all over the world playing original, contemporary and mainstream big band jazz composed and arranged specifically  for the band and tailored to fit their distinct ensemble sound while highlighting each soloist’s unique personality and style.  Since their premiere performance over 30 years ago, DIVA has toured the world to critical and popular acclaim. Performance highlights include Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Dizzy’s Club, Hollywood Bowl. INternainoal appearances include Berlin Jazz Festival, Salzburg Music Festival, Teatro  de Sistine in Rome, Montreal, Ottawa, Bogota and Croatia Jazz Festivals

Nicolas King Broadway: "Beauty & The Beast", "A Thousand Clowns" with Tom Selleck, Carol Burnett's "Hollywood Arms" directed by Hal Prince. TV: “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”, appearances on  "The View", "Today", "Sally Jesse Raphael", twice on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno, "Kenny The Shark", 8 consecutive years on Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon in Las Vegas and numerous national TV commercials, including award-winning 'Oscar Mayer Lunchables'. Winner of 1995 and 1996 Talent America Award, 2010 Julie Wilson Award, 2015 AMG Award Artist of the Year, 2012 Bistro Award 'Outstanding Performer of the Year', 2019 Legends Award, and the 2020 BroadwayWorld Award for ‘Best Swing Act’. Appearances include Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Ronnie Scott’s, Birdland, 54 Below, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. He’s performed and collaborated with artists as Neil Simon, Tony Danza, Linda Lavin, Jane Monheit, Norm Lewis. Debby Boone, Billy Paul, Jennifer Holliday, and around the country for over 10 years as opening act for his mentor, Liza Minnelli. His latest album on Club44 Records, "Act One", available now everywhere.

Tedd Firth is a New York City based musical director, pianist and arranger.  As musical director and accompanist he has worked with Joshua Bell, Barbara Cook, Michael Feinstein, Bernadette Peters, Linda Purl, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Maureen McGovern, Elaine Paige, Leslie Uggams, Margaret Whiting, Lee Ann Womack.  Among the jazz musicians he has performed or recorded with are John Pizzarelli, Houston Person, Frank Wess, Mark Whitfield, Red Holloway, Benny Golson and Joe Morello. Recent highlights include being the musical director for the reunion of the original Broadway cast of "Into The Woods" at the Segerstrom Center For The Arts in Costa Mesa, CA as well as serving as musical director for Michael Feinstein's “Jazz and Popular Song” concert series at Jazz at Lincoln Center. New York appearances include Birdland, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Blue Note and 54 Below. Numerous national appearances include a performance at the White House. As an arranger and orchestrator, Tedd's work has been performed by all major American symphony orchestras as well as Liza Minnelli.  In 2013, Tedd was commissioned by the New York Pops to create new orchestrations for “A Charlie Brown Christmas” which has had numerous performances across the country in subsequent years. Television appearances include "The Today Show," "Live From Lincoln Center" and "All My Children.”

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