Anais Reno News

New-ness is always fun, and though she has already been around a few years and people know her, Anais Reno is as shiny as a new penny... and as seasoned as one of her jazz idols. Her debut album, Lovesome Thing, is getting some well deserved attention, and this chat with her goes a little deeper into where it all comes from.

When your hear over and over about how amazing a singer is, you might grow to fear the hype. This is one time high expectations are met... with a vengeance.

KT Sullivan vows to keep The Cabaret Convention alive and evolving with the first ever Virtual presentation and a diverse lineup of artists well-known and humble.

Featuring new performers with every show, the weekly, award-winning Piano Bar Live! (PBL!)streams this Tuesday, August 18th at 7:15 pm ET with host Scott Barbarino.

Tony Yazbeck leads the list of headliners appearing on Jim Caruso's Pajama Cast Party the week of June 8th!

Next week, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond.

Natalie Douglas has extended her Broadway at Birdland residency with more “Tributes,” a monthly performance celebrating iconic singers.  This past Monday, she sang songs originally performed by the extraordinary Ella Fitzgerald, with Billy Stritch at the piano, Mark McLean on drums and Jonathan Michel on bass. 

Cabaret lovers will have many memories from the Mabel Mercer Foundation's 2019 New York Cabaret Convention. Attendees to all four of the presentations at Rose Theater will no doubt have their favorite music moments from the performances of the more than 75 cabaret artists. However, perhaps the most enduring remembrance will be the remarkable organizational abilities and intelligence of the foundations artistic director, it's face (and hat) of the convention… KT Sullivan. Just imagine how difficult it must be to satisfy the requirements of 75 singers, make their moment in the spotlight as successful as it can be, and cope with the egos that are a necessary part of every performers DNA. All the while fulfilling the sophisticated and knowledgeable audience's expectations of a great show. There were many highs and “almost highs” during the 12 hours of music, and that's what makes it so exciting. Every artist brings their own unique talent to the stage.

It was a spectacular start to the four night 2019 Cabaret Convention at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Rose Theater Last night.

In a combined triumph for the Classic Popular Songbook, its purveyors and adherents, and the professionalism and perseverance of THE MABEL MERCER FOUNDATION, the unique organization presents its 30th Annual New York Cabaret Convention at The Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, beginning Monday, October 28th and running through Thursday, October 31st. The four individual concerts will be offered at 6:00 PM each evening, and more than seventy-five vocalists and musicians are scheduled to perform. Tickets are now on sale at the Jazz at Lincoln Center box office and www.jazz.org.

In a combined triumph for the Classic Popular Songbook, its purveyors and adherents, and the professionalism and perseverance of THE MABEL MERCER FOUNDATION, that unique organization presents its 30th Annual New York Cabaret Convention at The Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, beginning Monday, October 28th and running through Thursday, October 31st. The four individual concerts will be offered at 6:00 PM each evening, and more than seventy-five vocalists and musicians are scheduled to perform. Tickets are on sale at the Jazz at Lincoln Center box office and www.jazz.org starting today, Monday, September 9.

Michael Feinstein's show 'I Happen To Like New York' hit all the right notes by bringing songs from both the classic American songbook and the 'new' American songbook to the Manhattan nightclub scene.

In a combined triumph for the Classic Popular Songbook, its purveyors and adherents, and the professionalism and perseverance of The Mabel Mercer Foundation, that unique organization presents its THIRTIETH annual New York Cabaret Convention at The Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, beginning Monday, October 28th and running through Thursday, October 31th. The four individual concerts will be offered at 6 o'clock each evening, and more than seventy-five vocalists and musicians are scheduled to perform.

Trumpeter and crooner Benny Benack III returned to the Birdland stage on Monday, July 15, with his inimitable brand of energetic, swingin' songs and irrepressible charisma. Benny presented music from his upcoming sophomore album titled 'A Lot of Livin' to Do.” Commemorating the release of one of the album's singles, he performed a duet of Gigi Gryce's 'Social Call,” which he performed on the recording with Veronica Swift, and in the concert with Aleta Moses. Benny was joined by Takeshi Ohbayashi on piano, Joe Peri on drums, Philip Norris on bass, with special guest vocalists Aleta Moses and Anais Reno, and Alex Claffy guesting on bass.

Nicolas King, one of the most  exciting, talented and technically disciplined JazzPop voices around was swinging at The Green Room 42 last night.  

There are many organizations that have been established to preserve our musical heritage and at the forefront of those that specialize in The Great American Songbook, Michael Feinstein's foundation is one of the most important and influential.  Last night at a private event Michael entertained for a Park Avenue apartment full of generous New Yorkers who had gathered to help support The Great American Songbook Foundation founded by Michael in 2007.

Artists in Partnership (AIP), a non-profit cultural arts organization, will host its 17th Annual Cabaret Festival May 14-19 at the Long Beach Public Library, 111 West Park Avenue, Long Beach, NY. The festival will be a celebration of the cabaret genre honoring the Great American Songbook with performances by award-winning artists (MAC, Bistro, Broadway World, Nightlife awards, among others) and participants in the Adela and Larry Elow American Songbook High School Competition (who are noted by *). All performances are FREE to the public.

Birdland will kick-off their great week of programming with Curtis Stigers with The Birdland Big Band, Konrad Paszkudzki and Pasquale Grasso, Dr. Monty Alexander, and more!

Singer Christina Connors was named the winner the 6th Annual 'Tomatoes Got Talent' Contest at The Triad on Monday, April 15.  Celebrating the talents of extraordinary women over 40 who have made their marks and their livings outside of the entertainment world, but who consider the craft of singing and performing to be integral to their lives, the juried contest was hosted by Randie Levine-Miller, who co-produced with Cheryl Benton, the founder and publisher of Thethreetomatoes.com, the event's lead sponsor. Paul Chamlin music directed the sold out show, which featured a guest appearance by 15-year-old rising star jazz singer Anais Reno, as well as the 2018 winner Sheree Sano.