You recently saw the television camera focus on David Yazbek seated in the audience at the Tony Awards and last night if you were at Feinstein's54 Below you saw him seated on the piano bench with his killer band and special guest Etai Benson in a thrilling performance by the composer himself.
Ann Hampton Callaway has had many of the world's greatest pianists, arrangers, and music directors accompanying her throughout her celebrated career. Last night at her show 'Jazz Goes To The Movies' sitting on the piano bench at Feinstein's54 Below she had the one who started with her at the very beginning. It was the one who probably knows how to pianistically surround her extraordinary artistry the best and the one who is able to create the harmonies that intertwine most effectively with her prodigious talent. It was Ann Hampton Callaway playing for herself!
It can be quite intimidating to perform in the Friars Club. Pre show a performer might be relaxing in the Billy Crystal Room on the main floor or upstairs in the Barbra Streisand Room.
Pittsfield's Mayor Linda Tyer officially declared June 24th as Barrington Stage Day as Barrington Stage Company celebrated its 25th Anniversary Season with its most successful Summer Gala honoring Founding Artistic Director Julianne Boyd. The completely oversold event also raised 160K for The Julianne Boyd New Works Fund.
Barrington Stage Company presents Into the Woods with performances June 19 through July 13 on the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage.
Speaking French wasn't a requirement for a table at Yanna Avis' Cabaret show at the famed French Bistro La Goulue last night but it sure felt like everyone was fluent in the language. PADAM, PADAM, PADAM, an overflow audience could't resist the temptation to sing along with the alluring chanteuse at times who re-located the legendary New York City French establishment to Paris for the evening. Yanna made it a magical evening for all the patrons as they enjoyed the finest in French cuisine and the finest of French Cabaret.
Nicolas King, one of the most exciting, talented and technically disciplined JazzPop voices around was swinging at The Green Room 42 last night.
The temp may be a bit high during the summer months in Florida but the music at Jazz on a Summer Night With Jill & Rich was pretty cool (and Hot) at the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County last night.
There are many organizations that have been established to preserve our musical heritage and at the forefront of those that specialize in The Great American Songbook, Michael Feinstein's foundation is one of the most important and influential. Last night at a private event Michael entertained for a Park Avenue apartment full of generous New Yorkers who had gathered to help support The Great American Songbook Foundation founded by Michael in 2007.
It's quite common to see crowds gathered on 54th street waiting to attend a show at Feinstein's/54 Below. In the case of John Lloyd Young last night there were also crowds waiting to get a glimpse of John leaving Broadway's Supper Club after his electrifying performance on it's stage. There are few artists with the voice and bio of John Lloyd Young.
In its 114 year life the Dutch Treat Club has had a membership that included, Jimmy Cagney, George S. Kaufman, Walter Cronkite, Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein ll, and Presidents Hoover, Eisenhower, Truman, and Ford. The great Broadway producer George Abbot was a member for 52 years when he died at the age of 107. But enough about the past. This year this historic New York City institution which was founded by and for creative people decided to honor someone young, creative and contemporary, so they chose...Marilyn Maye…an artist for every generation.
Since it's inception in 1954 as a mother-daughter luncheon honoring Marlene Dietrich and her daughter Maria Riva the organization has raised more than $100 million and has established: a Wing for Prenatal Sutdies and Research in Birth Defects, a Clinical Research Institute for Child Development, and funded major research in immunodiagnosis and immunotherapy in cancer.
Friends, Fans, and Friars gathered in the Frank Sinatra Dining Room last night as host and theater historian Richard Skipper 'celebrated' Julie Budd. Julie shared songs and stories from a career that saw her appearing in every major venue, on every major Television Show, and with most of the legendary performers of our generation.
International Opera Superstar and Tony Award Winner Paulo Szot filled every inch of Feinstein's/54 Below with his glorious once in a lifetime baritone voice last night. Broadway's supper club was also filled to capacity with a passionate audience mesmerized by his cabaret performance which celebrated the music from Paulo's native Brazil. It was a brilliantly constructed show based upon the encounter of Frank Sinatra and Tom Jobim 50 years ago. Paulo went through the Antonio Carlos Jobim songbook with is thrilling voice and also an interesting narrative which analyzed the infectious Brazilian harmonics and rhythms. There were also some tunes from The Great American Songbook, and no romantic is ever the same after hearing Paulo Szot sing Rodgers & Hammerstein's This Nearly Was Mine from South Pacific.
Some of the most momentous moments in music have happened on the stages of Birdland. Currently New Yorkers are witnessing performances by two of the worlds finest musician/entertainers in a musical salute to Nat King Cole that will add magnificently to Birdland's history. Clint Holmes and Billy Stritch have teamed up this week to produce an extraordinary musical event in tribute to Nat. Clint Holmes is one of the most exciting entertainers and jazz vocalists this country has produced, and Billy Stritch's enormous talents as a pianist, arranger and vocalist are world renowned. Both of these giants equally share the stage during this show in Birdland's new Theater. The combination of the two jazz/pop superstars is breathtaking and the one negative is that you can only see it from May 8-11. The word is out…. the seats will be scarce for this exceptional 4 night 6 performance Birdland special event.
It was all about brilliant melody, harmony, rhythms, and profound lyrics last night as the songwriters Marcy Heisler and Zina Goodrich celebrated over a quarter-century of romantic comedy writing with a one-night all original show. As in all of their highly entertaining musical adventures, Marcy & Zina brought along some of their super talented and famous friends. Lots of great new songs in this show, but of course some of their classics were included, although I had to settle for a regular coffee and not one from the Latte Boy.
He may have made his big mark with his arrival on Broadway in 2012 as Jesus in the revival of Jesus Christ Superstar, but last night Paul Alexander Nolan's solo debut cabaret show at Feinstein's/54 Below will now make him a superstar in nightclubs and solo concerts. With a voice that thrills, and is capable of affectively singing all genres of music from Freddy Mercury, Billy Joel, McCartney/Lennon, Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein and even J. Fred Coots 1930's 'For All We Know ', and Eden Ahbez's Nature Boy, Paul Alexander Nolan had a sensational entrance into the world of Cabaret. He's a remarkable actor, musician (guitar) and singer who possesses a voice that can go anywhere over the musical spectrum in any octave and rhythm.
Alan Cumming said it quite accurately ….'I've known Frances (Ruffelle) for almost 30 years but she never ceases to surprise and amaze me with the ways she reinvents herself, finding new levels of expression and excellence, always with total commitment and her signature sensual passion. I cannot wait to see what she does next.'
I don't think a day goes by that I don't hear Dean Martin's voice in my head coupled with a flashback of an image of how cool he looked in his tux walking out on stage. Last night at Lorenzo's Cabaret in the Hilton Garden Inn his daughter Deana brought Dino's music and charisma back to life in Richard Nicotra's Las Vegas type supper club located on Staten Island in NYC.
'Ladies & Gentlemen, Julie Budd'…….That intro has been said by Frank Sinatra, Ed Sullivan, Johnny Carson, Carol Burnet, Danny Thomas, Marvin Hamlisch, Joan Rivers and Liberace among others. Last night it was Jim Caruso who introduced Julie to a room full of her fans in the Birdland Theater. As Jim pointed out to an excited audience, Julie was one of the first artists he thought of for Birdland's new space.
