Duke Ellington News

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its February 2016 lineup, featuring Jane Monheit, Monterey Jazz Allstars, Nicolas King, The Birdland Big Band, Showbiz After Hours with Frank DiLella, John Pizzarelli Quartet, Birdland Jazz Party, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more. Scroll down for details!

Producing Artistic Director Carolyn Griffin is pleased to announce that the world premiere of a new musical SHAKE LOOSE: An Evening of Moods Blues & Icons, featuring the music and lyrics of Thomas W. Jones, William Hubbard and William Knowles will be on stage at MetroStage beginning Jan. 28, 2016. Thomas W. Jones II will direct and choreograph, William Knowles will music direct and conduct and William Hubbard will co- music direct. 

Gabrielle Stravelli -- the celebrated pop/jazz vocalist and songwriter called an "outstanding singer" by The Wall Street Journal and "hotter than the equator" by The Village Voice -- will fill in for jazz icon Annie Ross for her longstanding Tuesday night residency for two concerts on January 19 and January 26 at 9:30 PM.

Hines has created a charismatic confection that incorporates vintage photos, bittersweet memories, enthusiastic tap dancing and a mega-talented all-female band.

The Winter Park Playhouse kicks off the new year with a Central Florida Premiere - I LEFT MY HEART: A SALUTE TO THE MUSIC OF TONY BENNETT. The production runs January 22 - February 27, 2016.

Music icons Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr., will make their debut in the new musical, UP, UP & AWAY! a musical fable.

A Sephardic-themed production of Shakespeare's MERCHANT OF VENICE -- with an added score of Jewish ladino songs -- debuts this month at the Center for Jewish History (15 W. 16 St.) in New York City.  MERCHANT is the first of three professional productions with Sephardic themes to be presented by American Sephardi Federation; subsequent productions include NABUCCO in April and OTHELLO in June.

He's going to put a smile on your face and song in your heart. MAURICE HINES TAPPIN' THRU LIFE is a swinging, song and dance musical that celebrates the astonishing showmanship of one of the last great tap dancers of a by-gone era still working today and whose collaborators were a jaw-dropping, who's who of theatre, music, film and television. Co-starring the fierce tap dancing Manzari brothers and the all female vivacious Diva Jazz Orchestra, the show is directed by Jeff Calhoun (Newsies, Deaf West's Big River, Grease). Performances began December 23rd at New World Stages (340 W. 50th Street), and opened just last night, January 11th. Check out photos from the big night below!

MAURICE HINES TAPPIN' THRU LIFE is a swinging, song and dance musical that celebrates the astonishing showmanship of one of the last great tap dancers of a by-gone era still working today and whose collaborators were a jaw-dropping, who's who of theatre, music, film and television. Co-starring the fierce tap dancing Manzari brothers and the all female vivacious Diva Jazz Orchestra, the show is directed by Jeff Calhoun (Newsies, Deaf West's Big River, Grease). Performances began December 23rd at New World Stages (340 W. 50th Street), and opening night is tonight, January 11th.

Performances of MAURICE HINES TAPPIN' THRU LIFE began on December 23rd at New World Stages (340 W. 50th Street), and opening night is Monday, January 11th. Stage and screen actress Christine Ebersole recently stopped by the show and visited with the cast backstage. Check out photos below!

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its schedule for January 11-24, 2016, including Stacy Sullivan, Merman's Apprentice, Stacey Kent, ShowBiz After Hours with Frank DiLella, and more. Scroll down for details!

Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway has announced the launch of their monthly Jazz Club that will be in their Loft space located behind the Main Stage. It kicks off on Sunday, January 17th at 7:00 pm with the music of Duke Ellington performed by Reut Regev, Igal Foni and a full jazz ensemble. Local restaurants will provide a tasting menu and a cash bar is available.

The Musical Theater Project and Cleveland Jazz Orchestra will co-produce "Curtain Up at The Cotton Club" for two performances on Saturday, January 30 (8pm) and Sunday, January 31 (2pm) at the Hanna Theatre at Playhouse Square.

Each monthly event will feature a different theme and the performances will be followed by an acoustic jam session allowing for audience/artist collaboration. The other monthly themes include A Valentine's Jazz Special on Feb. 14; The Billie Holiday Songbook on March 5; Groove Explorations on April 17; Latin Vibes on May 8; and The Music of Thelonious Monk on June 5.

Texas Performing Arts presents DIVINE SPARK jazz masters of spiritual music, featuring Dave Douglas & Uri Caine, and The Don Byron New Gospel Quintet on Friday, January 22, 2016 at 8:00 PM at McCullough Theatre.

A Sephardic-themed production of Shakespeare's MERCHANT OF VENICE -- with an added score of Jewish ladino songs -- debuts this month at the Center for Jewish History (15 W. 16 St.) in New York City.  MERCHANT is the first of three professional productions with Sephardic themes to be presented by American Sephardi Federation; subsequent productions include NABUCCO in April and OTHELLO in June.

Court's production of Satchmo will be part of a community-wide Louis Armstrong Festival, happening in partnership with The Beverly Arts Center, The Logan Center at the University of Chicago, The Promontory, South Shore Jazz Coalition, The Louis Armstrong House Museum and the Louis Armstrong Archives at Queens College New York. This community-wide festival will help audiences deepen their understanding of Armstrong's life through musical performances, historical exhibits, symposium, talk-backs and film.

Centenary Stage Company hits the ground running in the New Year with an array of musical guests primed to heat up the Lackland Center for the January THAW Music Festival.  The festival launches on Saturday, January 16 at 2pm with The Duke Ellington Center Big Band under the direction of Mercedes Ellington and their exciting, hand-clapping, finger-snapping, dynamic musical journey from the Jazz clubs of Harlem and the Apollo Theater, to the downtown night clubs and Broadway stages, with 'Duke Ellington:  Composer Beyond Category' . 

Festival General Director Nigel Redden announces the program for the 40th annual Spoleto Festival USA, taking place May 27 through June 12, 2016 in Charleston, South Carolina.

BroadwayWorld has learned the sad news that Grammy Award-winner Natalie Cole has passed away. Having most recently appeared on Broadway in the musical revue AFTER MIDNIGHT in 2014, she died of congestive heart failure on December 31. She was 65.