B.B. King News

Birdland Jazz Club and Birdland Theater have announced listing for March 9 through March 22: 

Artists appearing at Birdland Jazz Club include John Pizzarelli (The Swing 7 and Quartet), Steve Ross, Erena Terakubo and Nana Quintet, Leanne Borghesi & Marta Sanders, Constantine Maroulis, Michelle Lordi and David Berger Orchestra.

Two-time GRAMMY Award nominee Joe Bonamassa will once again partner with Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation and Sixthman for the seventh annual Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea VII, sailing March 8-12, 2021 on the beautiful Norwegian Pearl from Miami, Florida to Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Fans are encouraged to join the presale now as all previous Blues Alive At Sea sailings have sold out. -- bluesaliveatsea.com.​​​​​​​

Award-winning vocalist Alexis P. Suter brings her hearty mix of blues, gospel, and blues-rock, along with her smoking-hot band, to Club Helsinki Hudson on Saturday, March 14, at 9pm. Suter is especially known for her extraordinary bass/baritone voice; she includes Ruth Brown, Barry White, and B.B. King as her greatest influences.

February is Black History month celebrating the richness of African American culture. Michelle Johnson, known as the Las Vegas First Lady of Jazz, will present Sankofa: a Celebration Concert of African American Music and History at Myron's Cabaret Jazz at The Smith Center Feb. 23.

The B.B. King Blues Band are thrilled to announce their new partnership with The B.B. King Estate. This joint venture now finds the two forces working together to bring the world The B.B. King Experience, the band's new working name. In addition to the upcoming world tour (dates listed below), the single 'Rock Me Baby' featuring George Benson, Tito Jackson and Claudette King will be released this summer.

The Ben Rice Blues Band embark on their Spring 2020 Tour, with a local performance at Full Circle Brewing Company, 620 F Street, Thursday, February 20. Showtime is 8 p.m. and admission is free. 

Luck Reunion, presented by Southwest Air, the flagship festival of Luck Productions, is pleased to announce the 2020 installment of their fan-forward ticket buying initiative, Lucky Draw Live. On February 13th at 6 PM, fans looking to get lucky with tickets to the festival will be treated to a free and intimate performance from Glorietta and 2019 Southwest: Artist on the Rise to Luck winner, Katie Pruitt at Austin's legendary Antone's Nightclub. Over the past 40 years, Antone's has brought Austin a variety of blues and music from across the country including B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Ray Charles, and James Brown, and helped develop local talent like Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Bob Schneider, and Gary Clark Jr.a?"aligning directly with Luck's motto of a?oecelebrating the legacies still among us, while lifting up the new crop of individuals who share a respect for those who blazed the trails before them.a??

Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram, the head-turning 20-year-old blues guitarist and vocalist from Clarksdale, Mississippi, will perform live at the Brooklyn Bowl in Brooklyn on Thursday, February 27, 2020. Ingram is embarking on his second headlining tour, “Fish Grease 2: A Juke Joint Tour,” traveling across North America and Canada this winter. In addition to his headlining dates, he will also open shows for Buddy Guy and Vampire Weekend. His debut on Alligator Records, Kingfish, received a Grammy Award nomination, and was declared the #1 Best Blues Album Of 2019 by tastemaker UK music magazine MOJO. NPR Music included Kingfish in their list of Best Debut Albums of 2019. Ingram recently received five 2020 Blues Music Award nominations including nods for Album Of The Year, Best Emerging Artist Album and Contemporary Blues Male Artist Of The Year. The 41st Annual Blues Music Awards will be presented by the Blues Foundation in Memphis on May 7, 2020. With his eye-popping guitar playing and his reach-out-and-grab-you-by-the-collar vocals, Kingfish delivers each song with unmatched passion and precision. NPR Music calls him a “rising blues prodigy…a torchbearer.” Concert information is as follows:

Today, Sammy Miller and The Congregation release the latest single from their debut album Leaving Egypt, 'It Gets Better,' which bursts forth with a loping groove, and cleverly unfolds with moody passages that veer into the sunny side of the street. As Sammy states, “This is a song for the tough time, the tough day, the tough moment. It will get better.”

John Németh, a veteran of multiple Blues Music Award and Blues Blast Music accolades and Top 10 Billboard honors, and his high-powered band The Blue Dreamers, announced the first 17 concert dates of their 2020 Feelin' Freaky Tour today.

The 48th season of the popular Highlights In Jazz continues on March 19, 2020, when producer Jack Kleinsinger presents 'Ellington Everlasting.' The concert turns the spotlight on the maestro's timeless compositions and enduring legacy, through the dynamic vision of featured performers like trombonist Art Baron & The Duke's Men, drummer Bernard Purdie, bassist Bill Crow, saxophonists Bill Easley and Mark Hynes, pianist James Weidman and vocalist Ira Hawkins. In keeping with the beloved HIJ tradition, a surprise special guest will be on hand for the concert, to be held at BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center.

Birdland Jazz Club and Birdland Theater are kicking off the new year with a star-studded January schedule! At Birdland Jazz Club, catch the Legendary Count Basie Orchestra, under the direction of Scotty Barhart and special guest vocalist Carmen Bradford; Karrin Allyson as she pays tribute to Mose Allison; and the Hot Sardines, among others!

On Stage At Kingsborough, a leading performing arts presenter, is pleased to present its Spring 2020 season featuring world class artists from around the globe.On Stage At Kingsborough brings high caliber performing arts to Southern Brooklyn, with a diverse roster of artists spanning multiple genres including cabaret, dance, music, and family programming.

Deck the halls, trim the tree, and spin the dreidel. BroadwayWorld is continuing our tradition of celebrating the holiday season with a 12 Days of Christmas countdown. This year we've invited the incomparable Norm Lewis to share his favorite holiday performances. Check out Norm's full list of selections

Cannery Casino Hotel will bring an exciting entertainment lineup to The Club in January, including acclaimed rock band Zowie Bowie, the King James Brown tribute show, vocal group The 5th Dimension and tribute rock band Arch Allies. Guests can also enjoy free live entertainment at The Club's Free Show Fridays and Pin-Ups Bar all month long.

City Winery Chicago has released its schedule (1200 W. Randolph St) for the month. All City Winery Chicago events are open to all ages and start at 8:00 p.m., unless noted.  Tickets can be purchased by calling 312-733-WINE (9463) or by visiting www.citywinery.com/chicago.

This song always reminds me of my father. He Loved B.B. King and this was always on rotation with our many Christmas albums. I found this rare live performance of the legend doing his version that is so embedded in my heart.

City Winery Chicago, 1200 W. Randolph Street, announces Grammy Award-winning artist Mac Powell and his band The Family Reunion, iconic rock group The Ides of March and more. The following shows go on sale to the public on Friday, December 20 at noon. Tickets will be available at citywinery.com/chicago.

Today, Sammy Miller and The Congregation share the music video for their latest single 'Shine,' the first track to be released from their forthcoming debut album Leaving Egypt, out February 7. Tonight, the band opens for Blind Boys of Alabama at the Smith Opera House in Geneva, NY and again on Sunday at the Landmark on Main Street in Port Washington, NY.