Lorna Luft, Liza Minnelli, Peter Eldridge and More Set for Birdland, 10/21-27

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its line-up of talent for October 21-27, featuring: Lorna's Pink Party; Peter Eldridge with Jane Monheit; Kurt Elling; Barbara Carroll; Jim Caruso's Cast Party; The Birdland Jazz Party featuring Hilary Gardner, and more!

Birdland will kick-off their captivating week of programming with the following acts:

October 21 (Monday) at 7PM

Lorna's Pink Party

Starring Lorna Luft

With her Special Guest, Liza Minnelli

The Actors Fund, the nationwide human services organization that helps all professionals in performing arts and entertainment, is proud to present the 2013 edition of Nothing Like a Dame: Lorna's Pink Party, a benefit for the Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative and the Dr. Philomena McAndrew Fund of Tower Cancer Research Foundation. This highly anticipated event, starring entertainment legend Lorna Luft with her special guest Liza Minnelli will take place for two nights only on Monday, October 14th at 7 pm, and Monday, October 21st at 7 pm, at Birdland, 315 West 44th Street, New York City. The intimate evening of cabaret will be hosted by stage, film and television actress, best-selling author, recording artist and Emmy nominated producer Lorna Luft and will feature Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony-winning performer Liza Minnelli. It has been 20 years since the two sisters performed together; the last time was their memorable duet for the 1993 Tony Awards. The evening will include appearances by Nick Adams, Ann Hampton Callaway, Liz Callaway, Jim Caruso, Kelly King, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Phyllis Newman and Marcia Strassman.

Tickets start at $250 and can be purchased at www.actorsfund.org or by phone at 212.221.7300 ext. 133 or email: tickets@actorsfund.org.

October 21 (Monday) at 9:30PM

Jim Caruso's Cast Party

Jim Caruso's Cast Party is a wildly popular weekly soiree that brings a sprinkling of Broadway glitz and urbane wit to the legendary Birdland in New York City every Monday night. It's a cool cabaret night-out enlivened by a hilariously impromptu variety show. Showbiz superstars, backed by Steve Doyle on bass, Tedd Firth on piano and Daniel Glass on drums, hit the stage alongside up-and-comers, serving up jaw-dropping music and general razzle-dazzle.

$20 all seats, $10 minimum

October 22 - 23 (Tuesday - Wednesday) at 8:30PM & 11PM

Peter Eldridge

Special Guest Jane Monheit

For a special Birdland engagement, Peter Eldridge, "a superb musical alchemist," (Jazz Times) and long-time member of the acclaimed vocal group New York Voices, joins forces with critically acclaimed jazz vocalist Jane Monheit, whose honey-smooth vocals, silky phrasing and natural knack for storytelling have earned her two Grammy nominations and established her as one of her generation's most beloved and accomplished vocalists.

$35 Side Seating, $45 Center Seating, $10 minimum

October 23 (Wednesday) at 5:30pm

David Ostwald's Louis Armstrong Centennial Band

"Tubaist David Ostwald's fabulous early-swing band is about as good as it gets. Known for their energetic treatment of Louis Armstrong's repertoire, these cats like to entertain as much as they like to swing." (Time Out NY)

$25 all seats, $10 minimum

October 24 - 26 (Thursday - Saturday) at 8:30PM & 11PM

Kurt Elling

On his recent CD, Kurt Elling -- "The standout male vocalist of our time," (New York Times) -- celebrates the legendary honeycomb of offices and studios in the heart of midtown Manhattan which served as the creative home for more than 160 tenants associated with the pop-music industry including Leiber and Stoller ("Stand By Me"), Goffin and King ("Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?"), Mann and Weil ("You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling"), and Bacharach and David ("Walk On By"). Even for the ceaselessly inventive GRAMMY-winning singer-lyricist, "1619 Broadway - The Brill Building Project" is an unexpected step, but one guaranteed to further solidify his reputation for bold innovation and superb craftsmanship. Starting in Chicago, Elling recorded several of his early albums, earned the first of many GRAMMY nominations and catapulted onto the national stage before moving to Manhattan in 2008. In a sense "1619 Broadway - The Brill Building Project" is also his response to that career journey.

$45 All Seats, $10 minimum

October 25 (Friday) at 5PM

The Birdland Big Band

Every Friday the "BBB" roars into action playing a thrilling and original mix of jazz, funk, Brazilian, Latin and world music for sold-out audiences. Featured weekly guest artists drop-in from television bands (David Letterman, Saturday Night Live) and pop music touring bands (Rob Thomas, Rod Stewart). Come see for yourself why Time Out New York called the BBB, "a completely unique experience... there isn't another band like this anywhere," and yelp.com proclaims, "if you hear one band in NYC make sure this is it... and prepare to be blown away!"

$30 all seats, $10 minimum

October 26 (Saturday) at 6pm

Barbara Carroll Duo with Jay Leonhart

Her "jazz pianism is the subtlest and most intricate New York has to offer." (New Yorker) Barbara Carroll's inventive piano playing and unique vocal sound transforms any composition into something hip and urbane. In a sixty-year career she has gone from being dubbed "the first girl ever to play bebop piano" by Leonard Feather in 1947, to today being dubbed a "singer who turns song lyrics into personal dramatic monologues." (Stephen Holden, New York Times)
$35 all seats, $10 minimum

October 27 (Sunday) at 6PM

The Birdland Jazz Party

Featuring the Birdland Quartet

Plus Guest Vocalist Hilary Gardner

Birdland's very own jazz quartet hits the stage every Sunday to wrap up the weekend with jazz classics! This quartet features John Hart (Guitar), Paul Gil (bass), Carmen Intorre (Drums) & Jon Davis (Piano) with special guest vocalist Hilary Gardner!

$25 all seats, $10 minimum

October 27 (Sunday) at 9PM & 11PM

Arturo O'Farrill Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra

Grammy Award winning pianist, composer and educator Arturo O'Farrill -- leader of the "first family of Afro-Cuban Jazz" (NY Times) -- was born in Mexico and grew up in New York City. Son of the late, great composer Chico O'Farrill, Arturo was Educated at Manhattan School of Music, Brooklyn College Conservatory and the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. He played piano in Carla Bley's Big Band from 1979 through 1983 and earned a reputation as a soloist in groups led by Dizzy Gillespie, Steve Turre, Freddy Cole, Lester Bowie, Wynton Marsalis and Harry Belafonte. After leading his late father's orchestra for many years, Arturo formed his own groups, from trio through orchestra, in order to explore his and other compositions in the panoply of Afro Latin music.

$30 all seats, $10 minimum

Purchase tickets at: www.BirdlandJazz.com. For more information and reservations call 212-581-3080. Ticket prices will vary by performer. At the tables, there is a $10 food/drink minimum per person in addition to the music charge. At the bar, the music charge will include one complimentary drink with no additional minimum.

ABOUT BIRDLAND JAZZ CLUB: Named for alto saxophonist and jazz pioneer Charlie "Bird" Parker who dubbed it "The Jazz Corner of the World," Birdland opened on December 15th 1949. For 60 years it has been home to jazz legends, from Parker, John Coltrane Duke Ellington and Count Basie to Oscar Peterson, Hank Jones, Diana Krall and everyone in between. The original 52nd street location was a cultural barometer and meeting place, inspiring the songs "Birdland" and "Lullabye of Birdland," and serving as a regular haunt for celebrities and cultural figures. The modern incarnation is a state of the art nightclub featuring award winning Southern and Cajun cuisine, first rate sound and lighting and a who's who of contemporary musical artists, 7 nights a week. Located at 315 West 44th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues), New York, NY 10036. Students (with current ID) & Broadway Theatre-Goers (with Broadway ticket stub from same day of performance): 50% off music charge at11PM shows only.

Birdland serves American Fare with a Cajun Flair nightly from 5PM until Midnight and until 1AM on Friday and Saturdays. Parking is available across the street at 332 West 44th Street. Concert Grand Piano By: www.BirdlandJazz.com

Follow BIRDLAND JAZZ CLUB on Twitter: @birdlandjazz, Facebook, Instagram, and on Pinterest.

Pictured: Lorna Luft. Photo Credit: Seth Walters.

To post a comment, you must register and login.