Dean Johnson News

If you're wondering whether or not 2013 was a fantastic year for the cabaret art form in New York, all you have to do is scan the amazing list of nominees for this year's BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Awards and you'll know it was one of the best ever. So now it's time for all you cabaret performers and fans to vote for the best singers, musicians, songs, and shows of the year. Voting will continue until Sunday night January 5 and the winners will be announced later that week. We hope that all the winners will be able to perform in the Award show on Sunday night February 23 at Joe's Pub.

All Nite Soul, the Jazz Ministry at Saint Peter's will honor pianist Barry Harris and vocalist Sheila Jordan. All Nite Soul begins on Sunday, October 13 at 5 PM with Jazz Vespersand pianist/organist Sarah McLawler and Les Jazz Femmes, and goes into full swing at 7 PM with a concert of over 80 musicians honoring Barry Harris (pianist) and Sheila Jordan (vocalist), National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters who began their musical careers in Detroit, Michigan.

Carol Fredette is everything you need in a jazz singer. She thinks, swings and phrases like a creative instrumentalist, yet her way with words captures the essence of a lyric," says critic Dan Morgenstern, one of her many fans. Her deep expressive voice, strong sense of swing and charismatic presence have wowed audiences, critics and fellow musicians the world over. Fredette's reputation has continued to grow as a fine educator, vocal coach and record producer.

Susie sings and swings with a lush tone and playful rhythm. Growing up in Buffalo, N.Y., Susie surrounded herself in music through piano and vocal lessons, choirs, glee clubs, school musicals, and performances with local professional singing groups. Her grandmother played stride piano and her sheet music from the 20's and 30's inspired Susie to look back into the Great American songbook. In her youth, Susie began to explore the world of jazz through the recordings of Ella Fitzgerald, and after witnessing the performances by jazz greats such as Earl 'Fatha' Hines, Kenny Burrell and Nancy Wilson, her interest was piqued and she started down the jazz discovery road.

Susie sings and swings with a lush tone and playful rhythm. Growing up in Buffalo, N.Y., Susie surrounded herself in music through piano and vocal lessons, choirs, glee clubs, school musicals, and performances with local professional singing groups. Her grandmother played stride piano and her sheet music from the 20's and 30's inspired Susie to look back into the Great American songbook. In her youth, Susie began to explore the world of jazz through the recordings of Ella Fitzgerald, and after witnessing the performances by jazz greats such as Earl "Fatha" Hines, Kenny Burrell and Nancy Wilson, her interest was piqued and she started down the jazz discovery road.

It's taken me two weeks to write this review of Ann Hampton Callaway's recent 8-shows-in-four-days run at Dizzy's Jazz Club at Lincoln Center, where she paid musical tribute to the late, great Sarah Vaughan, and I hope you buy the reason for such procrastination. Since late September last year, I've now seen four different Callaway cabaret shows at three different venues and reviewed two of them and, well, writing about how terrific Ann is on a cabaret/nightclub stage is getting a bit difficult as well as boring. I mean, I'm running out of words in my personal thesaurus to describe Callaway's consistent excellence, not to mention how she seems to provide a periodic master class in cabaret performance. But the more I thought about it, the more I felt I needed to prove I was up to this reviewing challenge, and a show as wonderful as From Sassy to Divine: A Celebration of Sarah Vaughan deserved more kudos on what Rachel Maddow calls, 'The Internet Machine.'

Ann Hampton Callaway returns to Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola to pay tribute to NEA Jazz Master and GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award winner Sarah Vaughan, the singer to whom Callaway is most often compared. Callaway takes the comparison as a compliment, having already demonstrated her comfort with several daring, assured, and well-received tributes to her influences and contemporaries; from covers of classic ballads that already have decades-old 'definitive' renditions, to the 'Streisand Songbook,' Callaway knows how to add her own voice to a wide range of popular repertoire. Check out photos from the concert below!

ANN HAMPTON CALLAWAY returns to Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola to pay tribute to NEA Jazz Master and GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award winner Sarah Vaughan, the singer to whom Callaway is most often compared. Callaway takes the comparison as a compliment, having already demonstrated her comfort with several daring, assured, and well-received tributes to her influences and contemporaries; from covers of classic ballads that already have decades-old "definitive" renditions, to the "Streisand Songbook," Callaway knows how to add her own voice to a wide range of popular repertoire.

The Little Orchestra Society (LOS) presents TUBBY THE TUBA narrated by Patti Smith, the iconic National Book Award-winner, rock musician and poet, today, March 16, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall.

The Little Orchestra Society (LOS) presents TUBBY THE TUBA narrated by Patti Smith, the iconic National Book Award-winner, rock musician and poet, on Saturday, March 16, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall.

The Metropolitan Room announces March performances.

Beowulf Alley Theatre, at 11 South 6th Avenue and Small Fry Productions of Phoenix, present Head: The Musical! An 'R'-rated pop/rock adaptation of the classic 1960's 'B' movie The Brain that Wouldn't Die, Head is crazy, campy, crass, full of frights, and thoroughly hilarious.

The Phoenix Theatre will hold its 16th annual microbrew festival, Brew-Ha-Ha, on Saturday, June 25, 2011, 3:00-7:00 pm.

Jazz Singer Carol Fredette announces two upcoming performances at the Sanctuary of Saint Peter's Lutheran Church on May 4 and Monmouth County Library on May 15.

Beowulf Alley Theatre, at 11 South 6th Avenue and Small Fry Productions of Phoenix, present Head: The Musical! An 'R'-rated pop/rock adaptation of the classic 1960's 'B' movie The Brain that Wouldn't Die, Head is crazy, campy, crass, full of frights, and thoroughly hilarious.

Beowulf Alley Theatre, at 11 South 6th Avenue and Small Fry Productions of Phoenix, present Head: The Musical! An 'R'-rated pop/rock adaptation of the classic 1960's 'B' movie The Brain that Wouldn't Die, Head is crazy, campy, crass, full of frights, and thoroughly hilarious.

Jazz Singer Carol Fredette announces two upcoming performances at the Sanctuary of Saint Peter's Lutheran Church on May 4 and Monmouth County Library on May 15.

Jazz Singer Carol Fredette announces two upcoming performances at the Sanctuary of Saint Peter's Lutheran Church on May 4 and Monmouth County Library on May 15.

Beowulf Alley Theatre, at 11 South 6th Avenue and Small Fry Productions of Phoenix, present Head: The Musical! An 'R'-rated pop/rock adaptation of the classic 1960's 'B' movie The Brain that Wouldn't Die, Head is crazy, campy, crass, full of frights, and thoroughly hilarious.

TIME TO BUY YOUR TICKETS! for the 25th Anniversary Celebration of The Jazz Nativity at BB King's