Duke Ellington News

LOS ANGELES, CA (September 15, 2015) Ebony Repertory Theatre (ERT -  Founder/Producer Wren T. Brown) announced today that Garth Fagan Dance will bring to Los Angeles Fagan's tribute to the late Geoffrey Holder, "Dance for/With Geoffrey." Performances at the 400-seat Nate Holden Performing Arts Center (4718 W. Washington Blvd.) in Los Angeles will run October 16-18, 2015. www.ebonyrep.org

Hot House (New York's premier jazz guide since 1982) and the Metropolitan Room (voted New York's #1 Jazz Venue) are joining forces to honor producer/director Jack Kleinsinger and recognize NYC'S favorite jazz artists. Together, Hot House and the Metropolitan Room are asking jazz fans to nominate and vote for their favorite NYC's artists. The categories cover a wide array of styles: male vocalist, female vocalist, best ensemble, best new artist, and many more.

On Friday, October 9, noted orchestrator and conductor Fred Barton will bring the music of Broadway and the American Songbook to the Schimmel Center at Pace University, in American Showstoppers: An Evening of Johnny Mercer. In his seventh concert at Pace, Fred Barton now brings the power of Mercer's music and lyrics front and center, with a 14-piece orchestra and a cast of 16 Broadway singers and dancers, with direction and choreography by Scott Thompson. The cast is headlined by Damon Kirsch, Tony nominee Lee Roy Reams, two time Tony nominee Vivian Reed, Nick Spangler, Tony Nominee Lauren Worsham, and Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba. The cast also features Jesse Luttrell, Sean McGibbon and Molly Pope.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its lineup for September 21-27, 2015, including Coltrane Revisited, Christina Bianco, Ann Hampton Callaway with Christine Ebersole & Curtis Stigers, and more!

As a special tribute to the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and a heartfelt acknowledgement to “The Greatest Generation,” The Capital Jazz Orchestra will perform the music of the legendary Glenn Miller on Sunday, October 4, at 4pm. The Capital Jazz Orchestra, under the direction of Clayton “Skip” Poole, will be joined by special guests Dave Scott, Liz Saunders, and the More Than Four vocal quartet for an evening that is sure to transport audiences back to the swing era with Miller classics including 'In the Mood', 'Pennsylvania 6-5000', 'Chattanooga Choo Choo', '(I've Got a Gal In) Kalamazoo', and more!

Acclaimed trumpeter Wynton Marsalis will perform a 'Tribute to Clark Terry' with the New Jersey City University Alumni Jazz Big Band conducted by NJCU Professor Richard Lowenthal. 

Delaware Theatre Company, under the artistic leadership of Bud Martin, excitedly welcomes dance legend Maurice Hines to Wilmington with his new musical MAURICE HINES IS TAPPIN' THRU LIFE. Audiences will be wowed by this infectious performer, who brings his life and treasured moments to the stage through heartwarming montages and performances.  Directed by two-time Tony Award-winning director Jeff Calhoun and featuring a new generation of tap dancing extraordinaires, The Manzari Brothers, and music by the all-female big band Diva Jazz Orchestra, TAPPIN' THRU LIFE will dance its way onto Delaware Theatre Company's stage for a three week run from September 16-October 4, 2015. 

On Monday, September 7, the Broadway at Birdland concert series was proud to present singer Darius de Haas in "Something To Live For," a concert celebrating Billy Strayhorn. Scroll down for photos!

Opening Tuesday night with a four show run at the Metropolitan Room, Nancy Harms masterfully sang the luxurious, the lonely, and the seductive songs of the great jazz master, Duke Ellington. With classic cameo good looks and dressed in a black cocktail dress embellished with dangling rhinestone earrings, necklace, and bracelet, the statuesque Harms takes immediate charge of the night counting off her opening tune “I'm Beginning to See the Light” (Ellington/Hodges/George/James), her voice soft and sensual to the ear before subtly reaching a crescendo to the sound of a purring sultry feline. Jeremy Siskind on piano further elevates the mood as nimble fingers literally dance across the keyboard. Danton Boller on bass responds as if engaged in conversation, while drummer Williard Dyson maintains a steady driving force for all to follow. The room literally transforms to royal blue as singer and musicians take off to the spontaneous cheers of an appreciative audience. Ellington aficionados will greatly appreciate this gifted singer and her amazing trio of musicians. 

Broadway's 40 theatres aren't the only places to catch performances from your favorite stars! Well after Broadway orchestras begin their overtures, ensemble members take their dance breaks, and performers belt out their eleven o'clock numbers, the party continues at various cabaret venues throughout New York City. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you some cabaret highlights for this week as picked by our theatre editors, including: Darius de Haas: 'Something to Live For: Celebrating Strayhorn & More;' Linda Lavin: Starting Over; Carter Calvert at 54 Below; Nicholas Guest: Finding Nick; and Madeline Kahn Tribute.

The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University announces the programming for THE BILLY STRAYHORN FESTIVAL, September 4 - November 21, celebrating the 100th birthday of the late Billy Strayhorn. The Festival begins with the Chicago Jazz Festival, today, Sept. 4 in Millennium Park, continues at various jazz clubs and locations throughout Chicago and culminates on the Auditorium Theatre's landmark stage Saturday, Nov. 21 with Lush Life: The Music of Billy Strayhorn. 

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its lineup for September 14-20, 2015, featuring The Royal Bopsters Project, Christina Bianco, Birdland Big Band, and more!

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its schedule for the first week of September 2015, featuring Cyrus Chestnut Trio, Birdland Jazz Party, Barbara Carroll, and more. Scroll down for details!

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its September 2015 schedule, featuring Cyrus Chestnut Trio, Arturo O'Farrill, The Birdland Big Band, Darius de Haas, Coltrane Revisited, The Royal Bopsters Project, Jim Caruso's Cast Party and more!

Recently returned from a seven city European concert tour, New York guitarist David Burgess will perform some of Brazil's finest solo guitar music on Saturday, September 26 at 8pm in the Lackland Center.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its lineup for September 7-13, 2015, including Arturo O'Farrill, Darius de Haas, Birdland Jazz Party, and more. Scroll down for details!

The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University announces the programming for THE BILLY STRAYHORN FESTIVAL, September 4 - November 21, celebrating the 100th birthday of the late Billy Strayhorn. The Festival begins with the Chicago Jazz Festival, Friday, Sept. 4 in Millennium Park, continues at various jazz clubs and locations throughout Chicago and culminates on the Auditorium Theatre's landmark stage Saturday, Nov. 21 with Lush Life: The Music of Billy Strayhorn. 

Savoy Jazz will reissue their Grammy nominated collection of jazz pioneer Charlie Parker's seminal recordings from the 1940's, 'CHARLIE PARKER: THE COMPLETE SAVOY AND DIAL STUDIO RECORDINGS 19441948' on 180 gram vinyl in a 10 LP set.

Columbia Records is proud to announce the release ofThe Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, a new album from American musical legend Tony Bennett and acclaimed jazz pianist Bill Charlap, arriving Friday, September 25, 2015.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its schedule for the first week of September 2015, featuring Cyrus Chestnut Trio, Birdland Jazz Party, Barbara Carroll, and more. Scroll down for details!