Duke Ellington News

Legendary jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker (1920-1955) was “a genius who lived fast and died young, revolutionizing an art form in a few short years” (NPR). The Grammy Award-winning bebop legend is the subject of Charlie Parker's YARDBIRD, the first world premiere in almost four decades for Opera Philadelphia, recognized by Opera News as “one of the leading instigators of new work in the country.” The new chamber opera was created for American tenor Lawrence Brownlee, a nominee for the 2015 International Opera Male Singer of the Year Award, by composer Daniel Schnyder, whose “thrilling classical-tinged jazz blend…constantly pushes the envelope” (Jazz Times), to a libretto by award-winning poet and playwright Bridgette Wimberly. Directed by Ron Daniels under the leadership of Music Director Corrado Rovaris, Charlie Parker's YARDBIRD premieres in Opera Philadelphia's Aurora Series for Chamber Opera, crowning the company's 40th Anniversary Season with a five-performance run in the Kimmel Center's intimate Perelman Theater (June 5–14). Tickets are available from Ticket Philadelphia at 215.893.1018 or operaphila.org.

Singer-songwriter, neo-ragtime vocalist Dessy Di Lauro is playing The Blue Note Jazz Fest tonight, June 5 at Midnight.

Legendary jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker (1920-1955) was "a genius who lived fast and died young, revolutionizing an art form in a few short years" (NPR). The Grammy Award-winning bebop legend is the subject of Charlie Parker's YARDBIRD, the first world premiere in almost four decades for Opera Philadelphia, recognized by Opera News as "one of the leading instigators of new work in the country." The new chamber opera was created for American tenor Lawrence Brownlee, a nominee for the 2015 International Opera Male Singer of the Year Award, by composer Daniel Schnyder, whose "thrilling classical-tinged jazz blend…constantly pushes the envelope" (Jazz Times), to a libretto by award-winning poet and playwright Bridgette Wimberly. Directed by Ron Daniels under the leadership of Music Director Corrado Rovaris, Charlie Parker's YARDBIRD premieres in Opera Philadelphia's Aurora Series for Chamber Opera, crowning the company's 40th Anniversary Season with a five-performance run in the Kimmel Center's intimate Perelman Theater (June 5-14). Tickets are available from Ticket Philadelphia at 215.893.1018 or operaphila.org.

On Friday, June 12 from 7 to 10 p.m., The Jost Project will perform at Chris' Jazz Cafe and salute a legend in Philadelphia - Composer Evan Solot. As Solot ends his final semester at the University of the Arts, where he taught for nearly 50 years, The Jost Project will perform their highly respected jazz renditions of classic rock and invite special guests to the stage who were all influenced by the great Evan Solot.

Last week, Betty Buckley returned to Joe's Pub to debut her newest cabaret concert DARK BLUE-EYED BLUES. Thrilled to have been recognized as a chanteuse in recent reviews, Buckley programmed the evening to be the "musings of a chanteuse," packing the set with standards and contemporary hits. The Broadway legend performed with tangible vivacity and charm, making this intimate evening a joy to experience.

Virginia's Signature Theatre opens its' air-conditioned doors once again for the annual Sizzlin' Summer Nights Series. Two and a half weeks of live music and performances by Signature favorites, DC area stars, and some of New York's most exciting Broadway performers. The cabaret series runs July 8 through July 25, with a different performance each night.

Eric & Barbara returned last night to Metropolitan Room for six nights this month with a swinging summer cocktail of lazy days, blue skies, & exotic lands in SHOULDER SEASON and BroadwayWorld was there.

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Elaine Dame in Something to Live For: The Strayhorn/Ellington Collaboration on Thursday, July 16th at 9:30 PM. Jazz vocalist Elaine Dame celebrates the collaboration of two of America's most innovative and exciting jazz icons: Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington. On this, the centennial of Strayhorn's birth, Ms. Dame will commemorate and memorialize the magic of their 29 year partnership.

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, in celebration of their new collaborative jazz album Cheek To Cheek, will join forces for two incredible evenings --tonight, May 30 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles and Friday, June 19 at Radio City Music Hall, New York.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its schedule for June 8-14, featuring Kurt Elling, Rolando Morales-Matos Sextet, Barbara Carroll, and more!

Arete Productions, the performance arm of Santa Barbara School of Performing Arts (SB SOPA), will present the Broadway hit musical 13,a grown-up story about growing up, at the Marjorie Luke Theater this weekend, May 30 and 31, with a preview and showcase on May 29, featuring local artists, SOPA star alumni and the Inner Light Community Gospel Choir. Proceeds from the showcase will benefit Santa Barbara School of Performing Arts scholarship students.

One of America's most versatile and prolific living composers, Andre Previn, joins Pacific Symphony as the honored guest and focus of the 15th American Composers Festival (ACF). Previn, who has been called one of America's least easily categorized musicians, began his remarkable career as a Hollywood "wunderkind" and a best-selling jazz pianist. Now 86, Previn has received four Academy Awards for his work in film, 10 Grammy Awards for his recordings (plus one more for his Lifetime Achievement), and he is also an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. He's held a series of major conducting posts, including the L.A. Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestra, but now exclusively composes. The concert is led by Music Director Carl St.Clair, whose great admiration for the legend shaped this year's ACF to reveal the scope of Previn's prowess as a composer. 

A theatre-tastic take on a rock classic!

Michael Feinstein and the Pasadena POPS open their one of a kind, popular outdoor summer concert series with vocalists Marilyn Maye and Michael Andrew in BIG BAND SWING on Saturday June 20th in a show sure to get all ages dancing in the aisles at the Los Angeles Arboretum.

The Colony Hotel, which is widely recognized as the Palm Beach Home of the Great American Songbook, is promising guests and fans “Intimate Evenings” on Saturdays from 7 to 10:30 pm. 

Arete Productions, the performance arm of Santa Barbara School of Performing Arts (SB SOPA), will present the Broadway hit musical 13,a grown-up story about growing up, at the Marjorie Luke Theater on May 30 and 31, with a preview and showcase on May 29, featuring local artists, SOPA star alumni and the Inner Light Community Gospel Choir. Proceeds from the showcase will benefit Santa Barbara School of Performing Arts scholarship students.

CAT SINGS ELLA!, a musical theatre experience of pure pleasure that promises to stir 'Body and Soul', will play a season at the Rosebank Theatre in Cape Town this May and June, prior to a run at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown in July.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its schedule for June 1 - June 7, featuring Maria Schneider Orchestra, Lindsay Mendez, Barbara Carroll, and more!

While performing her triumphant musical tour of the United States, European Cabaret artist Adrienne Haan followed up her recent critically acclaimed engagements at The Actors Temple and The Cutting Room in New York by dazzling audiences with her performances at the prestigious Embassy Series in Washington DC and sold out show at the Neue Galerie's Cafe Sabarsky in New York City.