Count Basie News

Discover the exciting 24/25 season of PENN LIVE ARTS, featuring world, U.S., and Philadelphia premieres. Learn how to purchase tickets.

The New Jersey Symphony will present two epic films in concert with the score played live by the orchestra this summer, as well as concerts in the parks, a concert featuring emerging composers and a free preview concert of the upcoming 2024–25 season.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will complete its 65th anniversary coast-to-coastUnited States tour to 21 cities at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) MOTHER’S DAY WEEKEND with performances Friday, May 10 at 8pm, Saturday, May 11th at 8pm and Sunday, May 12 at 3pm.

On May 14, 1998, Chris Pinnella was in his living room -- a 13-year-old boy -- when the death of Frank Sinatra, 82, was plastered all over the news. This was the same living room in the same beachfront home in Manasquan, New Jersey where Pinnella would watch his great-grandpa play the Chairman of the Board’s most heart-capturing hits on mandolin guitar in 1989 when he was only 4 years old: “Fly Me To the Moon,” “The Summer Wind.” 

Marking the 80th Anniversary of Glenn Miller’s Army Air Force Band, Hindsight Records is excited to release the new historical album, The Glenn Miller Orchestra: 80th Anniversary Of The Army Air Force Band which contains fifteen hits newly recorded with strings.

Weekend plans?  We have a suggestion that our readers will thoroughly enjoy.  Max Roach 100, a centennial celebration of the gifted artist, is being performed at The Joyce Theater through Sunday, 4/7.

Join the Minnesota Orchestra's 2024 Summer Festival to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Orchestra Hall.

Actress/comedian/television personality Sunda Croonquist(ABC-TV's 'The View,' “Comics Unleashed”) joins NJ Comedy Hall of Famer Mike Marino for the New Jersey swing of his 'Welcome To The Family' comedy tour as the host for two nights of laughter - first on Wednesday, April 3rd at The Vogel at The Count Basie Center For The Performing Arts in Red Bank, NJ and again Saturday, April 6 at the Brook Arts Center in Bound Brook, NJ.

Birdland Jazz Club and Birdland Theater are open this April with a full slate of nightly performances! See who is performing and learn how to purchase tickets.

Legendary entertainer and musician Pat Boone has announced that Pat Boone's Gold Label is releasing to all streaming and download services individual performances sourced from episodes of 'The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom' digitized and preserved by the UCLA Film & Television Archive, including Boone's hits like 'Love Letters in the Sand' and 'April Love'.

54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, presents 54 Sings Broadway: The Golden Age on April 3rd at 9:30pm.

Get all the details about the upcoming jazz programming at Birdland Jazz Club and Birdland Theater running April 1st - April 14th.

The New Jersey Symphony will present Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in Concert with composer John Williams' venerated score performed live to the film. Conductor Nicholas Hersh will lead New Jersey Symphony in all four performances.

 Take a journey back to 1966 with vocal powerhouse Chris Pinnella as he performs the iconic “Sinatra at the Sands” album in its entirety, backed by a 14-piece big band. The performance will take place at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 13 at the Axelrod Performing Arts Center.

Comedian Mike Birbiglia has extended his tour dates, delighting fans with more opportunities to catch his hilarious performances live.

The brand new touring production of Shrek the Musical has officially hit the road, and is set to continue through August 2024. An all new trailer was released on the show's TikTok account. Check out the video here!

Four-time Grammy Award-winning singer, composer and actor Lyle Lovett will embark on an extensive tour this summer with his Large Band, including a newly confirmed stop in Madison at Overture Center on Tuesday, July 2.

Available for the first time in the nearly 60 years since they were introduced, the four 1960s vocal albums from Lainie Kazan are now streaming on all digital platforms.

Join Lyle Lovett and his Large Band on their extensive summer tour. Experience the unforgettable performances of this Grammy-winning singer-songwriter live. Stops include Colorado's Red Rocks Amphitheatre, St. Louis' The Factory, Kansas City's Uptown Theater, Minneapolis' State Theatre, Detroit's Masonic Cathedral Theatre, and more.

Renowned musician Don Was forms a new band, Don Was and The Pan-Detroit Ensemble. Get the latest updates on their music and upcoming performances. Made up of stellar jazz musicians from his hometown, the band features longtime collaborators including Blue Note Records artist Dave McMurray on sax and Eminem's collaborator keyboardist Luis Resto.