Cliff Burwell

Alex Leonard is a classy performer. His relaxed, minimalist style and adherence to vocals as written take one back to an agreeable past. Jazz riffs weave around rather than obscure melody. Lyric meaning is gracefully maintained. Aided and abetted by expert veterans Jay Leonhart on bass and Al Gafa on guitar, Leonard saluted the great Nat King Cole at Pangea on January 18 with a bit of history, a couple of illuminating anecdotes, and signature songs.

'I hope you're not here to be entertained.' Norbert Leo Butz was all about managing expectations as he kicked off his week-long stint at Feinstein's/54 Below on August 5, though he had no reason to be worried. The two-time Tony Award winner (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Catch Me If You Can) has already done the hard part: The first incarnation of his show Girls, Girls, Girls was such a success, three years later he's back for more, coinciding with the release of an album of the same name via Broadway Records. Motley Crue reference aside, the title actually stems from the fact that Butz is constantly surrounded by women in his life, from his wife and three daughters, to his manager, to his 17 nieces.