Ella Fitzgerald News

Rebecca Angel will appear at THE RIVER SPIRIT MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL next Saturday, September 8th. The show will take place at Grove Stage from 3:45-4:15pm.

Vivian Lee is a musical raconteur. An evocative vocal instrument and impressive technique are certainly part of her package, but the jazz singers we prize are musical storytellers. On “Let's Talk About Love,” Vivian Lee spins eleven memorable tales. Ms. Lee and her musical collaborators, including pianists Brenden Lowe and Joe Gilman, bassist Buca Necak, and drummer Jeff Minnieweather, offer the type of cohesive, group interplay that only comes from playing together on a consistent basis. When that happens, it's as if the musicians are breathing in sync. Accordingly, the rhythm section provides the perfect magic carpet for Ms. Lee's musical peregrinations. She has been recognized as one of the premiere jazz artists in Sacramento and this recording shows why audiences so appreciate her talent. 

The Watermill Theatre will transfer two productions to London this autumn. Following the success of its run at The Watermill and its UK and international tour last year, The Watermill Ensemble will revive TWELFTH NIGHT at Wilton's Music Hall from 12 to 22 September. Renowned for its bold, progressive and collaborative approach to Shakespeare, The Watermill Ensemble, re-imagines TWELFTH NIGHT in the hedonistic 1920s, where prohibition is rife. Fused with innovative staging and actor-musicianship, the radical spirit of Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald collides with the contemporary influence of Postmodern Jukebox to create a dizzying and beautiful version of Shakespeare's perfect play.

Local North Texas folk-pop singer & songwriter KellyMarie has today released her debut EP, 'On A Whim' with much anticipation. Her EP record is composed of five original songs, and can be purchased digitally through storefronts like Amazon, iTunes, Google Play and other digital retailers immediately. The EP was released by Starling House Records.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series presented singer Natalie Douglas with another one of her "Tributes!" On Monday, August 20, she celebrated the music and magic of the one and only 'First Lady of Song,' Ella Fitzgerald. Musical director for the evening was Billy Stritch, with Endea Owens on bass and Lucianna Padmore on drums.

Ovens Auditorium will host Martina McBride for 'The Joy of Christmas 2018' on Sunday, November 25 at 8 p.m. Tickets go on sale on Friday, August 24 at 10 a.m. and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com, by phone at 800-745-3000, at all Ticketmaster outlets or at the Bojangles' Coliseum Box Office located at 2700 E. Independence Blvd. Tickets cost between $49.50 and $75 (plus applicable service charges) and are subject to change. A direct link to purchase tickets can be found here.

Curated by Performances a la Carte, Jazz 'n Paz is back with its' fall intimate jazz series of three concerts with some of Los Angeles' finest jazz musicians. Taking place on early Sunday evenings, this season's series opens September 16 with 2 + 1 featuring Jamie Perez, Lyman Medeiros and Nolan Shaheed; Lolly Allen & Friends on October 7; and on November 4, Latin/world jazz with Will Brahm & Homenaje, bringing different cultures and people together through their original music. Jazz 'n Paz takes place at 5:00 p.m. at Neighborhood UU Church in Pasadena. Series subscriptions are now on sale, offering a discount from individual concert tickets.

Birdland will kick-off their exciting month of programming with the following acts:

It's safe to say that Natalie Douglas is a little obsessed with Cher. Throughout TRIBUTES: CHER, the latest in her award-winning TRIBUTES series, Douglas made her way through the icon's life from her early career up to the present, both in song and in story. But the real focus of the July 16 show at Birdland wasn't necessarily in identifying with the woman, the myth, the legend that is Cher. (After all, how can anyone fully relate to someone for whom a phrase as simple as "Hi again" is a meme-able moment?)

General on sale begins Wednesday, May 30 at Noon for award-winning actor and piano virtuoso Hershey Felder in his wildly acclaimed one-man show, HERSHEY FELDER AS IRVING BERLIN at 59E59 Theaters (Val Day, Artistic Director; Brian Beirne, Managing Director).

Broadway fans will have the chance to see the stars of their favorite shows perform at 'Broadway at Green's,' running Monday evenings throughout September at Haswell Green's. The series kicks off on Monday, September 3, with ticket prices ranging from $25 - $35. Produced by Upstairs Landing Productions LLC, the series will give audiences the chance to experience solo performances in a more relaxed cabaret setting.

Country music icon Martina McBride is not letting the Nashville summer heat ruin her Christmas spirt, and begins her gift giving with the release of It's The Holiday Season.  The 9-song holiday set will be released on October 19, the first with her new record label partner, BMG.  McBride also continues her “The Joy of Christmas Tour” tradition, this time adding songs from the new album and bringing to life the big band and orchestral sounds by using local symphonies on each stop.  In addition, she will be adding more spice into that mix, by releasing a second all-season cookbook, Martina's Kitchen Mix: My Recipe Playlist For Real Life, available October 30th.

Birdland will kick-off their great week of programming with Count Basie Orchestra, Natalie Douglas Tributes: Ella Fitzgerald, The Renee Manning/Earl McIntyre Septet, Nina Storey at the Birdland Theater, and more!

Lookingglass Theatre Company announces casting for the world premiere of The Steadfast Tin Soldier: A Christmas Pantomime, from the story by Hans Christian Andersen, conceived and directed by Ensemble Member Mary Zimmerman. This family-friendly, holiday show runs November 7, 2018 - January 13, 2019 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. 

Sponsored by Thornapple Consulting LLC, 'Geoffrey Mark Sings ELLA' is a celebration of what would have been Ella Fitzgerald's 101 on April 25th, a new show and book about the Legendary Ella Fitzgerald, with full support of the Fitzgerald estate and foundation, has been produced and written by Emmy(R) Award winner, Grammy(R) Award nominee and best selling author, Geoffrey Mark.

Powerhouse Diva Erin Cornell will be in concert in Sydney, Melbourne and London in August and September.

Lynn University and Jan McArt, producer and director of theatre arts program development, today announced that the popular Mabel Mercer Foundation's Cabaret at Lincoln Center Comes to Live at Lynn series will return for a third season on five Wednesdays January through May. Leading cabaret artists will present intimate evenings of song, story and joie de vivre in the Keith C. and Elaine Johnson Wold Performing Arts Center.

One of Austin's best kept secrets is Austin Cabaret Theatre, which quietly brings in the best of the New York cabaret scene for one night only performances. This is all due to one man, Stuart Moulton. Stuart lives in New York City, but his love of Austin is unmistakable. We recently sat down with him to talk about their upcoming eighteenth season.

Identical twin brothers, Peter and Will Anderson, have kept a pure love of music and discovery from their childhood at the forefront, as they've built successful careers and found their place in the jazz community. Playing the clarinet and saxophone since grade school, this duo went on to study at The Juilliard School, and through the support of their mentors, were introduced to different sounds and styles and guided to performance opportunities all throughout New York City. Building impressive resumes, they have toured all throughout the United States, as well as internationally, and have worked on composing their own music for numerous albums. Inspiring audiences of all ages, these modern-day trailblazers are keeping the legacies of the greats alive by sharing the soulful history and sounds of jazz that have influenced generations.