Bill Evans News

What was shaping up to be a busy spring at The Ridgefield Playhouse came to a halt.  In an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19, The Ridgefield Playhouse rescheduled more than 60 live performances. 

The Beatles! Rihanna! Michael Jackson! Johnny Cash! Kanye West! The Rolling Stones! Aretha Franklin! Bob Dylan! Miles Davis! Nirvana! BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the greatest albums from the rock and rap era (1950-2020); see if your favorites made the grade!

Louis Prince's debut album Thirteen is out today, March 13th, on Last Gang Records. The creative project of musician Jake McMullen, Louis Prince's Thirteen draws equal inspiration from the lush, ornate world of jazz while recalling the intricate work of like-minded auteurs like Sandro Perri, Nicholas Krgovich, and Destroyer's Dan Bejar. “The '80s-inspired woozy synths and shimmering guitars,” found on the record writes Exclaim!, “are joined here by pianos, muted horns and a feel for space and texture that leads to some impressively lush arrangements.”

Avant Neo-Soul meets jazz musician KID BE KID has released her new single, 'Slide feat. Julia Kadel & Simon Denizart', on the 6th of March. The track premiered via BBC Radio 1Xtra's Jamz Supernova and is lifted off of her upcoming EP, Lovely Genders which will be released on 20 March via SPRINGSTOFF. While she composed and produced the EP herself, KID BE KID sought assistance from LAD AGABEKOV (Grand Corps Malade, Kollektiv Turmstrasse, Octave One) for the master engineering. She has made quite a name for herself on the jazz festival scene, appearing at Fusion Festival (Kate Tempest), Festival International de Jazz de Montreal (Norah Jones, Jacob Collier, Melody Gardot), Elbjazz (Jamie Cullum, Kamaal Williams, Jason Moran) as well as the European Hip Hop Studies Conference, where she appeared as both a speaker and a performer. A number of publications have begun to take note of KID BE KID with features appearing in COMPLEX, BADISCHE ZEITUNG and Qiez and airplay from Worldwide FM and KCRW.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) returns to the August Wilson African American Cultural Center March 20-29 for BNY Mellon presents a?oeHere + Now,a?? a mixed-repertory production featuring four choreographers creating dance that celebrates the here and now.

On Saturday March 7, the NJCU Center for the Arts presents the celebrated documentary 'Bill Evans: Time Remembered' which captures the genius of the legendary pianist through interviews, rare archival footage, and conversations with great musicians such as Jack DeJohnette and Tony Bennett. The program takes place at Ingalls Recital Hall on the Jersey City campus of NJCU and features a pre-screening concert with pianist Joel Zelnik, bassist Gary Mazzaroppi, and drummer David Cox.

World-renowned banjoist Béla Fleck and accomplished Malian kora master Toumani Diabaté debut a new song today (2/21), titled 'Kauonding Sissoko,” off their upcoming new duo album The Ripple Effect. Available March 27th from Craft Recordings, The Ripple Effect will be available as a 180-gram 2-LP gatefold vinyl and also as part of a 3-CD/1-DVD collection, titled Throw Down Your Heart: The Complete Africa Sessions, which documents Béla's remarkable journey across Africa to explore the banjo's roots.

The NJCU Center for the Arts presents Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass in concert on Saturday, February 22, at 8:00 p.m. with a special school time program on Thursday, February 20. An internationally acclaimed brass ensemble, the group is comprised of some of America's top musicians who will bring a rousing New Orleans Mardi Gras celebration to Jersey City.

Last Gang Records is excited to announce the March 13th release of Thirteen, the debut album from Louis Prince, the creative project of musician Jake McMullen. Thirteen draws equal inspiration from the lush, ornate world of jazz while recalling the intricate work of Like minded auteurs like Sandro Perri, Nicholas Krgovich, and Destroyer's Dan Bejar. The album weaves self explorative soul searching into its gorgeous sonic template, with Paste Magazine describing a blend between “the post-internet sensibilities of Bon Iver's recent work” and “an understated jazz” framework.

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!

Choreographer Kyle Abraham's dance company A.I.M brings a diverse program of contemporary movement to the Carpenter Performing Arts Center on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 8 p.m. Part of the Carpenter Center's Dance Series, the performance is A.I.M's first public L.A.-area appearance since 2018. The evening of dance includes three of Kyle Abraham's recent works-'Drive' (2017), 'Show Pony' (2018) and 'The Quiet Dance' (2011)-as well as Trisha Brown's 1976 work 'Solo Olos.'

A true musical citizen of the world, French born, NYC based vocalist Chloe Perrier has one goal every time she and her French Heart Jazz Band take the stage at clubs throughout Manhattan - to make people happy and transport them away from the chaos and stress of life in the modern world. Drawing from such influences as Josephine Baker, Ella Fitzgerald and Blossom Dearie, the singer uses her velvety voice, spellbinding style and charming accent to transform any room she plays into a realm harkening back to the golden age of jazz.

A true musical citizen of the world, French born, NYC based vocalist Chloe Perrier has one goal every time she and her French Heart Jazz Band take the stage at clubs throughout Manhattan - to make people happy and transport them away from the chaos and stress of life in the modern world. Drawing from such influences as Josephine Baker, Ella Fitzgerald and Blossom Dearie, the singer uses her velvety voice, spellbinding style and charming accent to transform any room she plays into a realm harkening back to the golden age of jazz.

Concord Theatricals has announced that it has secured exclusive worldwide licensing rights to Kait Kerrigan and Brian Lowdermilk's new musical The Mad Ones. The show is now available for licensing at: samfren.ch/PerformMadOnes

Acclaimed jazz pianist Michael Wolff has confirmed a February 7th, 2020 release date for his joyful new album, 'Bounce'. Exuberant, beautiful and able to convey a range of emotions, 'Bounce' reflects Wolff's upbeat state of mind following his 'miraculous' recovery from aggressive cancer. He comments, 'Isn't it great to be alive? I'm celebrating life every day.

Choreographer Beth Soll will present her Beth Soll & Company, an ensemble of dancers and musicians in Dances of Passion and Peace, A Concert of New Dance, Music, Poetry, and Translation, an evening of all premieres, set to new music by composers Thomas Addison, Nuria Divi, Wendy Griffiths, Josh Rosen, and Stan Strickland, and poetry, both sung and spoken, of Robert Frost, Lin Haire-Sargeant, Langston Hughes, Rumi, and Walt Whitman.  Poems will be recited in English, French, Catalan, German, French, and American Sign Language.  Performances November 22 & 23 at 8 PM at University Settlement, 184 Eldridge Street.

A true musical citizen of the world, French born, NYC based vocalist Chloe Perrier has one goal every time she and her French Heart Jazz Band take the stage at clubs throughout Manhattan - to make people happy and transport them away from the chaos and stress of life in the modern world. Drawing from such influences as Josephine Baker, Ella Fitzgerald and Blossom Dearie, the singer uses her velvety voice, spellbinding style and charming accent to transform any room she plays into a realm harkening back to the golden age of jazz.

The New School announced today that acclaimed percussionist, Ian Rosenbaum, has joined the faculty of Mannes School of Music.

For her 4th CD release, vocalist/violinist Calabria Foti wanted to do an album like her vocal heroes did back in the day; that is, with a big orchestra and legendary arrangers on the podium in an iconic Hollywood recording studio. Ms. Foti says, “This is the most expansive project I have ever done, and at the same time, it's the most intimate and personal. I recorded at Capitol Records with a full orchestra, singing some of the most endearing, sentimental songs ever written, all for my loved ones. This album is a full-production tear-jerker!”

Cyrille Aimee: A Sondheim Adventure, Brandon Goldberg Trio, Sheila Jordan Birthday Celebration and more announced for the week of November 18-November 24 at Birdland Jazz Club.