BIRDLAND RECORDS has just announced the release of 'A Swinging Birdland Christmas' CD. The CD was recorded live in winter 2012 during a performance of this annual holiday show at historic Birdland Jazz Club in Midtown Manhattan. 'A Swinging Birdland Christmas,' stars Birdland regulars Klea Blackhurst, Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch with special guest jazz violinist Aaron Weinstein. In the tradition of beloved seasonal specials, Blackhurst, Caruso and Stritch perform swinging arrangements by Billy Stritch of Kay Thompson's classics 'It's The Holiday Season,' 'Sleigh Ride,' and 'I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm,' among other favorites. The record also features Billy Stritch on piano, John Hart on guitar, Paul Gill on bass, Carmen Intorre on drums. The album is executive produced by Birdland's Gianni Valenti.
2014 sees some new names and some returns to The Crazy Coqs. January starts with the London debut of the sizzling cabaret performer Carole J .Bufford and her show Body and Soul (January 7 - 11) followed by the popular Broadway star Brent Barrett and his show Night Songs (January 14 -18) and then actress and singer Linda Purl with her show Midnight Caravan: Celebrating the Great Ladies of the Glamorous Nightclub Era of the 40s & 50s (January 21 - 25).
Ray's Happy Birthday Bar, 1200 East Passyunk Avenue, celebrates 75 years of birthday wishes, cheap drinks, familiar faces and jokes of the day. Ray's, celebrated as one of America's top dive bars, will host its 75th Anniversary Party on Sunday, December 1, 2013, from 2:00pm to 4:00pm.
The iconic talent show, The Apollo Theater's Amateur Night had a great 'Top Dog' show on Wednesday, November 20th. The 'Super Top Dog' show will be on Wednesday, November 27th.
Ella Fitzgerald's vocal style was as incredible and diverse as the material that she sang. She started out a swing singer, moved to bebop, sang perfect scat, was an extraordinary jazz vocalist and had no fear of modern material as the 60s and 70s came along
When the legendary performer Lena Horne told Maurice Hines to 'Love them [the audience], make it real' you can tell he took that advice to heart when conceiving Tappin' Thru Life currently playing at Arena Stage. For Tappin' Thru Life seems determined not only to love the audience, but to entertain them, and it succeeds at doing just that! While Tappin' Thru Life does have some flaws, it's hard to find anyone who isn't won over by Hines showmanship, humor, timing and above all else, talent.
But the music on her new album, Azucar, Canela (which translates to 'sugar, cinnamon'), is like her sangria, always Spanish but open to possibilities. Vallejo began a U.S. tour October 13 at the Kennedy Center in Washington with the support of SPAIN arts & culture (www.spainculture.us). The tour ended with a New York City release party on October 27, 2013 at Drom.
Harlem-born visual artist Regina Marquita Tate's gallery talk for her current exhibit 'Dancing On Paper: With Marquita' took place on Saturday, November 16 at the New York Public Library's Harlem branch.
Actress/singer Spider Saloff will appear at Rockwell in Hollywood December 3 with her award-winning Cool Yule Christmas show. A big hit artist on the jazz/cabaret scene in Chicago, Saloff is considered one of the greatest song interpreters of Ella Fitzgerald. In our talk, she discusses her roots and her love of music.
Legendary Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress, singer, and recording artist Leslie Uggams takes part in the First Grade Theatre Study program at P.S. 212 (Midtown West School at 328 W 48th Street) today, Monday, November 18 at 1 p.m. The Study, part of the school's social studies curriculum, was started by Kindergarten/First Grade Teacher BRyan Andes as a way to introduce students to the bustling theater community in which they live.
New York City-based visual artist Regina Marquita Tate's gallery talk for her current exhibit 'Dancing On Paper: With Marquita' took place today, October 26th at the New York Public Library's Harlem branch.
This weekend, November 15, 16 and 17, Megan Hilty, the multi-talented star of NBC's Smash and Sean Saves the World, will take the Houston Symphony stage to pay special tribute to the tunes made famous by stars like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James and Dolly Parton. Along with vocalist Aaron Lazar, Hilty will perform cherished songs like 'The Lady is a Tramp,' 'The Best is Yet to Come' and '9 to 5.' The show wouldn't be complete without beloved classics 'Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend' and 'New York, New York,' as well as popular songs of Cole Porter, Harold Arlen and music from Ms. Hilty's upcoming album.
Singer, songwriter and guitarist extraordinaire Gary Clark Jr. will headline the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem tonight, November 14th. Clark's show at Terminal 5, set for Nov 16th, has completely sold out. Every other date on his recently-announced national tour, including the Sep 26th opening night at The Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles will follow suit.
Legendary Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress, singer, and recording artist Leslie Uggams will take part in the First Grade Theatre Study program at P.S. 212 (Midtown West School at 328 W 48th Street) on Monday, November 18 at 1 p.m. The Study, part of the school's social studies curriculum, was started by Kindergarten/First Grade Teacher Bryan Andes as a way to introduce students to the bustling theater community in which they live.
The Four King Cousins made a triumphant return to the concert stage, after a three decade absence, before a sold-out audience at LA's famed Catalina Jazz Club. Glamorously gowned for their entrance, the vocal quartet opened the evening with a high energy medley of Carole King's 'Music' and Neil Sedaka's 'That's When The Music Takes Me' which showcased their intricate four part harmonies. The group, whose new CD compilation More Today Than Yesterday is available now, performed a 90 minute set featuring songs from their new album, including 'I Couldn't Live Without Your Love,' plus standards from the Great American Songbook including a stunning and heartfelt rendition of 'You Made Me Love You,' and 'I'll Get By' an early hit by their Grammy nominated mothers, The King Sisters, which the group performed acapella to the delight of concertgoers.
On November 15, 16 and 17, Megan Hilty, the multi-talented star of NBC's Smash and Sean Saves the World, will take the Houston Symphony stage to pay special tribute to the tunes made famous by stars like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James and Dolly Parton. Along with vocalist Aaron Lazar, Hilty will perform cherished songs like "The Lady is a Tramp," "The Best is Yet to Come" and "9 to 5." The show wouldn't be complete without beloved classics "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" and "New York, New York," as well as popular songs of Cole Porter, Harold Arlen and music from Ms. Hilty's upcoming album.
The highly successful Arts & Ideas program at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco (JCCSF) continues into 2014 with an array of fascinating thinkers, writers and entertainers.
