Count Basie News

Two-time Grammy Award-winning vocalist and pianist Diane Schuur inspires rave reviews across the globe as the new first lady of jazz. Schuur will perform at The Cabaret at the Columbia Club on September 14, 2013 at 7:00pm.

Almost 400,000 people have attended concerts at Arts Centre Melbourne's new Hamer Hall since it re-opened last July 26, roundly cementing its reputation as the 'people's concert hall'. In this time, its stage has been shared by international stars such as k. d. lang and Kristin Chenoweth, and Australian luminaries like Barry Humphries and Meow Meow, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and some great community celebrations.

Today, this veteran of major jazz festivals from Montreux, Switzerland, to the Newport Jazz Festival in New York City, is also carving out his own niche as founder and leader of The Dave Stahl Big Band. The master musician's signature assembly of seasoned musicians will be performing at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, at the Sharadin Bigler Theatre, home of the Ephrata Performing Arts Center. Tickets to this special EPAC concert presentation, are $15, including a coffee and dessert reception at intermission. Reservations may be made at ephrataperformingartscenter.com or by calling (717) 733-7966 Ext. 1.

Ridgefield resident Steve Kazlauskas was inspired to become a singer by an exchange of letters with Ol' Blue Eyes himself. Steve has performed as a solo artist and with big bands at Mohegan Sun, The Count Basie Theater and other venues from Vancouver to Los Angeles, and West Palm Beach to New York and is now bringing his Echoes of Sinatra show to The Ridgefield Playhouse on Saturday, July 27, at 7:30 p.m. He will sing the classic Sinatra songs -- "Come Fly with Me", "Witchcraft", "I've Got You Under My Skin", "Strangers in the Night", "That's Life", "New York, New York", to name but a few -- accented by a glimpse into the iconic singer's world. This show is a must for any Sinatra fan and will be a feel-good evening of contemporary entertainment that is part of the Ridgefield Magazine Broadway and Cabaret Series. Bernard's (22 West Lane, Ridgefield) is offering a special prix-fixe menu before or after the show when tickets are presented; reservations suggested. This event is partially underwritten by Adam Broderick Salon & Spa and is sponsored by Ridgefield Magazine with media sponsor WMNR Fine Arts Radio.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its August 2013 schedule, featuring: Pablo Ziegler's 'Tango Conexion,' Billy Hart Quartet, Trio 3, Joey DeFrancesco with the City Rhythm Orchestra, Charlie Parker Birthday Celebration, Luiz Simas Quartet, Tamm E. Hunt, Steve Kazee, Pedro Giraudo Expansions Big Band, Julie Halston, Roni Ben-Hur 'Wes Montgomery Tribute,' Tex Allen Sextet, Martin Piecuch Trio 'Jazzical Fusion,' Tim Hagans Quartet, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, Jay Leonhart Duo, and MANY MORE!

Long Wharf Theatre, in conjunction with Supreme Talent International will present Smokey Joe's Cafe: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller, on the Mainstage as part of its summer season. The musical runs from today, July 10-28 on the Mainstage.

America's oldest continuing summer chamber music festival, Music Mountain continues their 84th season with a weekend of dancing and classical music. Swingtime Big Band returns for an evening of swing and big band on Saturday, July 27th (6:30PM) and the Dover String Quartet brings their youthful enthusiasm to Brahms and Mozart with clarinetist AlexanderFiterstein on Sunday, July 28th (3PM). This weekend's concerts are a fine example of the diversity of musicians that Music Mountain has showcased this summer; introducing audiences, young and old, to chamber, jazz, and country music. The summer tradition continues through September 8th.

The spirit of Frank Sinatra - the man and his music - will live on at The Ridgefield Playhouse on Saturday, July 27, at 7:30 p.m. when Steve Kazlauskas stars in Echoes of Sinatra. Featuring the Tony T. Sextet, this event will highlight the enduring Sinatra era, with all the songs that defined a generation.

Bringing artists from all over the world, and from most every genre, the Harris Center for the Arts at Folsom Lake College - formerly known as Three Stages at Folsom Lake College - will offer literally hundreds of performances in 2013-14. Beginning in late July, 2013 and extending into spring 2014, the new season includes world-class performers like Kenny Loggins, Seinfeld's Jason Alexander, and Savion Glover; Broadway productions such as Peter and the Starcatcher, The Addams Family and Bring It On: The Musical (all of which are appearing in the capital region for the first time ever); and an unprecedented season of dance in Folsom which kicks off with Alonzo King LINES Ballet and also features Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Bellydance Superstars, Ballroom with a Twist, and return visits of the popular Moscow Festival Ballet's Swan Lake and Diavolo Dance Theatre; and many more, all on the stages at the Harris Center.

The spirit of Frank Sinatra - the man and his music - will live on at The Ridgefield Playhouse on Saturday, July 27, at 7:30 p.m. when Steve Kazlauskas stars in Echoes of Sinatra. Featuring the Tony T. Sextet, this event will highlight the enduring Sinatra era, with all the songs that defined a generation.

BRIDGING THE GAP: A traveling group exhibition featuring 50 artworks representing 40 artists from Queens, New York. This multi-venue show, curated by LIC Artists, Inc (Long Island City Artists) and Amy Winter, Director Godwin-Ternbach Museum, in collaboration with Flushing Town Hall, reaches out to the varied communities near LaGuardia Community College, Flushing Town Hall, and Queensborough Community College, to highlight and showcase the broad diversity and creativity of Queens' artists.

Lincoln Center's Midsummer Night Swing - This summer marks the 25th Anniversary season of Midsummer Night Swing. Midsummer Night Swing takes place Tuesdays through Saturdays, today, June 25-July 13, on the elevated dance floor in Damrosch Park on West 62nd Street, between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues.

BRIDGING THE GAP: A traveling group exhibition featuring 50 artworks representing 40 artists from Queens, New York. This multi-venue show, curated by LIC Artists, Inc (Long Island City Artists) and Amy Winter, Director Godwin-Ternbach Museum, in collaboration with Flushing Town Hall, reaches out to the varied communities near LaGuardia Community College, Flushing Town Hall, and Queensborough Community College, to highlight and showcase the broad diversity and creativity of Queens' artists.

Legendary jazz singer Marion Cowings, whose smooth baritone voice and considerable range has been delighting audiences all over the world for decades, will be performing the next two Today nights at clubs in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

Legendary jazz singer Marion Cowings, whose smooth baritone voice and considerable range has been delighting audiences all over the world for decades, will be performing the next two Friday nights at clubs in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

The Deer Valley Music Festival, summer home of Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, is celebrating ten years of music in the mountains with a festival lineup that highlights the diversity of the orchestra and its audience. The 2013 Festival features seventeen performances from June 29 to August 10 at venues in Park City, Utah, including ten performances at Deer Valley Resort's Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheatre which was recently highlighted by CNN as one of eight 'amazing' outdoor concert venues. The first three Festival events will take place on June 29, July 5 and July 6.

The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel, has announced that The Rossano Sportiello Trio will debut at the Cafe Carlyle during their two week engagement running tonight, June 11 and June 22. The Trio will be performing their program, The Smiling Piano: A Tribute To The Artistry Of Jazz Piano Icon George Shearing.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its schedule for today, June 10-16, 2013, featuring Ravi Coltrane Quartet, Scott Alan, The Pop Show Presents...Adele! A Fundraiser Celebrating the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance's Education Program Featuring: Arturo O'Farrill Quintet, The Fat Afro Latin Jazz Cats & ALJA's NYC All-Star Youth Orchestra, Barbara Carroll, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, The Birdland Big Band, David Ostwald's Louis Armstrong Centennial Band, and MANY MORE!

Bennett & Brubeck - The White House Sessions - Live 1962, the newly discovered recording of two American jazz masters performing an historic one-time-only concert set, has, according to Soundscan, entered the nation's Jazz charts (Traditional Jazz, Current Jazz and Core Overall Jazz) at #2 (and the Billboard 200 at #74), an unprecedented achievement for the first release of music recorded more than a half century ago.

For the first time ever - and to celebrate the centennial of his birth - 100 artworks are being released as limited edition fine art prints.