Ben Kono News

The musical genius that is composer / lyricist Jason Robert Brown took center stage for his one night only performance of An Evening with Jason Robert Brown, part of the Lyrics & Lyricists event at The 92nd Street Y, New York on May 9, 2024. This reviewer was overwhelmed by the awe-inspiring compilation of melodies.

The 92nd Street Y, New York will present triple Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown in a one-night-only Lyrics & Lyricists event on Thursday, May 9 at 7:30 pm. Learn how to purchase tickets.

Explore Mike Holober's unique blend of lifelong passions in his upcoming release, 'THIS ROCK WE’RE ON: IMAGINARY LETTERS', available June 14 via Palmetto.

A jazz album for the holidays that packs a serious artistic and emotional wallop.

Join Joe McCarthy and his New York Afro Bop Alliance Big Band on their Pan American Nutcracker Suite Holiday Tour. Experience a unique Latin Jazz adaptation of Tchaikovsky's iconic ballet suite. Find tour dates and locations for a swinging holiday performance near you.

​​​​​​​ Cerise Jacobs and her activist opera company, White Snake Projects (WSP), present the world premiere of Fractured Mosaics, an operatic response to anti-Asian racism (March 30; April 1 & 3). Comprising four scenes – bound together by musical interludes – of Asian Americans establishing themselves in the United States, Fractured Mosaics features music by Nilo Alcala, Randall Eng, Benjamin Kono, and Liliya Ugay, and texts by their writing partners – Deepali Gupta, Monique Truong, Cerise Lim Jacobs, and Sokunthary Svay.

There was plenty of excitement in New York City last night.  You were thrilled if you were watching the U.S. Tennis Open or, if you were in the audience at 54 Below as Jason Robert Brown served up a set of electrifying music.   Check out photos here!

Next week, 54 Below will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond. A recipient of the 2022 Tony Awards® Honor for Excellence in the Theatre, 54 Below celebrates Broadway musicals and writers of the past and present, promoting an ongoing engagement with their work.

54 Below will welcome back Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown after a sold-out August performance. The creator of 13, The Bridges of Madison County, and more returns on September 11 at 7pm.

Debbie Wileman transcended the arts of impression, imitation or recreation and elevated it all to an illusion so complete and full that it brought tears and cheers and all of them well deserved.

Even though they are not related, there must be a common music DNA molecule that exists in George Gershwin, Leonard Bernstein, and Billy Joel, that was also passed on to Jason Robert Brown. His performance last night at Feinstein’s/54 Below encompassed some of the creative talents of all of those musical giants. Jason Robert Brown, the composer, the arranger,  the lyricist, the pianist, and the singer, was on the stage of Feinstein’s/54 Below with nine (yes, nine) great musicians, plus vocalists Anastasia Talley and Cheeyang Ng. 

GHOSTLIGHT RECORDS has announced that Unknown Soldier: Original Cast Recording – one of the final scores from the beloved late Obie Award-winning songwriter Michael Friedman – is available in digital and streaming formats today, Friday, September 24, which would have been Friedman’s 46th birthday.

GHOSTLIGHT RECORDS has announced that Unknown Soldier: Original Cast Recording – one of the final scores from the beloved late Obie Award-winning songwriter Michael Friedman – will be released in digital and streaming formats on Friday, September 24, the date that would have been Friedman’s 46th birthday.

Motéma Music is proud to announce the release of Daring Mind, the sophomore album by the Jihye Lee Orchestra, which streets on March 26, 2021. 

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

Birdland will kick-off their exciting month of programming with the following acts:

New Amsterdam Records is excited to celebrate the release of All Can Work, the third album from drummer/composer John Hollenbeck and his 20-piece Large Ensemble.

Music Mountain, America's Longest Running Chamber Music Festival, continues its 88th Season with two Music Mountain debuts! The Aeolus String Quartet, with guest artist Geoffrey Burleson, piano, performs Haydn, Mendelssohn, and Franck on Sunday, August 6 (3pm) and The Ben Kono Group plays sophisticated, contemporary jazz today, August 5 (6:30pm). Concerts are scheduled thru September 17.

Music Mountain, America's Longest Running Chamber Music Festival, continues its 88th Season with two Music Mountain debuts! The Aeolus String Quartet, with guest artist Geoffrey Burleson, piano, performs Haydn, Mendelssohn, and Franck on Sunday, August 6 (3pm) and The Ben Kono Group plays sophisticated, contemporary jazz on Saturday, August 5 (6:30pm). Concerts are scheduled thru September 17.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its lineup for July 17-July 23, featuring Karrin Allyson, Miggy Augmented Jazz Orchestra, Nestor Torres, and more. Scroll down for details!