Count Basie News

Jack Jones celebrates his fiftieth anniversary in show business in a special one night only concert at The McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert on Saturday, November 23, at 8:00pm. Jones won two Grammys for 'Best Pop Male Vocal Performance' with his singles 'Lollipops and Roses' and 'Wives and Lovers.' He was also nominated for 'The Impossible Dream,' and his recording of 'Wives and Lovers' was nominated for 'Record of the Year'. His hit records include 'The Race Is On,' 'Lady,' 'Call Me Irresponsible,' and 'What I Did for Love.' He is a leading interpreter of musical theater, with acclaimed performances in Guys and Dolls, South Pacific, She Loves Me, Pajama Game, and as Don Quixote in the national tour of Man of La Mancha. Jones's credits also include film and television roles, an internationally syndicated TV variety show, and performances at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the White House and he has performed and recorded theme songs for film and TV, including 'Love with a Proper Stranger" and 'The Love Boat.'

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its eclectic line-up of vivacious talent for November 4-10, including the Django Reinhardt NY Festival, Frank Wildhorn and Friends, Birdland Jazz Party with Cyrille Aimee, Barbara Carroll, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more.

Experience the magic of an old time radio show, as Texas jazz musicians Alex Coke, Suzi Stern and Rich Harney bring Dylan Thomas' beloved holiday tale to life in Austin this December. Amidst the sounds of songs, toys, and improvised music, A Child's Christmas in Wales sparkles with surprises, inspired by the enchanting shortstory. The performance (and award winning CD) feature 4 new songs by pianist Harney and vocalist Stern with multi instrumentalist Coke employing a dazzling array of toys that ring, pop, whistle and sing, illuminating the original text in celebration of the season. An Austin holiday favorite since 2006, please join us for this year's family friendly matinee and only public performance. In true holiday spirit, A Child's Christmas In Wales gives the gift of wonder and mirth to music fans, families, and children of all ages.

vBluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs and piano rock icon Bruce Hornsby form an undeniable duo as they draw from the deep roots of mountain music to rework Hornsby originals as bluegrass songs as well as perform traditional favorites at Mayo Performing Arts Center on Thursday, November 21, 2013 at 8 pm.

Yoshi's San Francisco announces its updated calendar for club and restaurant through November 25. Details below!

For a special Birdland engagement, Peter Eldridge, 'a superb musical alchemist,' (Jazz Times) and long-time member of the acclaimed vocal group New York Voices, joined forces with critically acclaimed jazz vocalist Jane Monheit, whose honey-smooth vocals, silky phrasing and natural knack for storytelling have earned her two Grammy nominations and established her as one of her generation's most beloved and accomplished vocalists. Check out photos from theiir concert below!

Tickets are now on sale for the fourth annual 'A Swinging Birdland Christmas' celebration at Birdland Jazz Club. To celebrate the holidays, Birdland regulars Klea Blackhurst, Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch will perform swinging arrangements of beloved seasonal specials like 'Christmas Waltz,' Kay Thompson's 'Holiday Season,' 'Sleigh Ride,' and 'I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm' among other favorites. The singers will be joined by Steve Doyle on bass and Carmen Intorre on drums.

Yoshi's San Francisco announces updated calendar for club and restaurant through November 17, plus new shows through January 2014. Details below!

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its line-up of talent for October 21-27, featuring: Lorna's Pink Party; Peter Eldridge with Jane Monheit; Kurt Elling; Barbara Carroll; Jim Caruso's Cast Party; The Birdland Jazz Party featuring Hilary Gardner, and more!

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra opens the 2013.14 Pops season with Ella, Louis, and All That Jazz tonight, October 11-13, 2013 at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. Guest conductor Jeff Tyzik leads the orchestra, featuring Byron Stripling, trumpet; Marva Hicks, vocalist; and Robert Breithaupt, drums. In tribute to Ella, Satchmo, and Fats Waller, the concerts include favorites such as S'Wonderful, It Don't Mean a Thing, What a Wonderful World, and selections from Gershwin's Porgy & Bess.

Each year, the sights and sounds of the season ring throughout Walt Disney Concert Hall at the annual holiday concerts. Beginning December 10, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association presents eclectic and festive programming, including the very first Christmas concerts with Music Director Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil, Grammy-winning artists The Blind Boys of Alabama, Judy Collins, Chanticleer and The Count Basie Orchestra, Oscar winner Julie Andrews, and two very special performances on New Year's Eve featuring Sergio Mendes and Sheila E.

After sell-out shows and rave reviews at The Southbank Centre and Tricycle Theatre, CAFE SOCIETY SWING - the true story about the legendary New York nightclub which promoted racial equality and progressive causes, will play a limited season at The Leicester Square Theatre on 21 and 22 December 2013.

Just yesterday, producers Scott Sanders and Wynton Marsalis announced the roster of musicians who will form the Jazz at Lincoln Center All-Stars and play nightly on Broadway in the new musical After Midnight. Hand-picked by Marsalis, Jazz at Lincoln Center's nine-time Grammy and Pulitzer Prize Award-winning Artistic Director, the band includes 17 of the finest soloists and ensemble players in the music world today. Directed and choreographed by Warren Carlyle, After Midnight begins preview performances at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 West 47th Street) on Friday, October 18, 2013 with an official opening night set for Sunday, November 3, 2013. The All-Stars and cast members Fantasia, Adriane Lenox, and Dule Hill gave a special musical preview of the upcoming show and you can check out photos from the special event below!

Earlier today, producers Scott Sanders and Wynton Marsalis announced the roster of musicians who will form the Jazz at Lincoln Center All-Stars and play nightly on Broadway in the new musical After Midnight. Hand-picked by Marsalis, Jazz at Lincoln Center's nine-time Grammy and Pulitzer Prize Award-winning Artistic Director, the band includes 17 of the finest soloists and ensemble players in the music world today. Directed and choreographed by Warren Carlyle, After Midnight begins preview performances at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 West 47th Street) on Friday, October 18, 2013 with an official opening night set for Sunday, November 3, 2013. The All-Stars and cast member Dule Hill gave a special musical preview of the upcoming show and you can check out a sneak peek below!

Producers Scott Sanders and Wynton Marsalis have announced the roster of musicians who will form the Jazz at Lincoln Center All-Stars and play nightly on Broadway in the new musical After Midnight. Hand-picked by Marsalis, Jazz at Lincoln Center's nine-time Grammy and Pulitzer Prize Award-winning Artistic Director, the band includes 17 of the finest soloists and ensemble players in the music world today. Directed and choreographed by Warren Carlyle, After Midnight begins preview performances at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 West 47th Street) on Friday, October 18, 2013 with an official opening night set for Sunday, November 3, 2013.

Celebrity Series of Boston will present Abyssinian: A Gospel Celebration featuring Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis,on Sunday, October 27, 2013, at 7pm at Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston. Media partner is 89.7 WGBH.

The premiere 'Mentor Monday' segment takes place during the first hour of Cast Party at Birdland tonight, September 30. Composer Jacob Tischler, a recent Carnegie Mellon University graduate will be paired with the current star of Newsies, Corey Cott.

Jim Caruso's Cast Party, Birdland's 'extreme' open mic, has announced a new segment called MENTOR MONDAYS, which will take place on the last Monday of every month. MENTOR MONDAYS will pair up-and-coming singers and composers with established artists to create a featured performance for the historic Birdland stage. MENTOR MONDAYS will give emerging young performers the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to collaborate with some of New York's most talented musical theater songsmiths, including Adam Guettel, Lisa Lambert, Frank Wildhorn, Amanda Green, John Bucchino and Georgia Stitt, as well as singers Jane Monheit and Billy Porter.

With the success of The Piano Guys' first two major label releases, The Piano Guys and The Piano Guys 2, Portrait/Sony Masterworks will release the Utah-based classical-pop group's new holiday album, A Family Christmason October 22. Just in time for the holiday season, A Family Christmas will also be available as a deluxe set that includes a bonus DVD of their hit holiday music videos, plus a classic Yule Log video featuring all of the songs on the album.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. 54 Below also launched its series of late night events. Joining Tuesday nights' popular 'Backstage' with Susie Mosher is 15:54, and more: