George Benson News

Internationally acclaimed BBC Big Band will perform at Storyhouse this Spring to celebrate the music of the world's most iconic movie franchise, James Bond.

This coming January, world famous saxophone player, bandleader and producer Igor Butman will travel to the United States for a five-city tour of some of the country's most celebrated jazz institutions. 

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, acclaimed Grammy-winning bassist, composer and bandleader Ben Williams today shared his powerful rendition of the civil rights classic 'We Shall Overcome” via Billboard. With Frank Ocean-esque R&B production and a world class band, the track is a unifying call of the moment that grounds us in history, present, and a continuously hopeful future. It follows first soulful single “If You Hear Me” from his upcoming album I AM A MAN, out February 7, 2020 on Rainbow Blonde Records, a record label co-owned by singer, songwriter and kindred spirit José James. The title is a reference to picket signs held during Memphis' historic 1968 African American sanitation workers' strike and is Williams' most poignant, sociopolitical statement yet. 

Kevin Kwan, author of Crazy Rich Asians, will take the stage at Irvine Barclay Theatre on February 6 as part of the venue's new speaker series, Fresh Take. Kwan, along with Tony-winning Ain't Misbehavin', Grammy winner Arturo Sandoval and others, highlight the variety of spring performances at Irvine Barclay Theatre. See below for some notable shows through May, and here is a link to the entire season: https://mailchi.mp/thebarclay/announcing-irvine-barclay-theatres-2019-20-season).

Centenary Stage Company's 2020 January Thaw Music Festival amps up its second weekend with Grammy nominated Diego Figueiredo and clarinetist extraordinaire Ken Peplowski as they bring to life the music of the famous album, 'Jazz Samba.' Diego Figueiredo and Ken Peplowski: The Bossa Nova Wave is set to perform at the Lackland Performing Arts Center Saturday, January 18th @ 8:00 pm.

The 48th season of the popular Highlights In Jazz continues on March 19, 2020, when producer Jack Kleinsinger presents 'Ellington Everlasting.' The concert turns the spotlight on the maestro's timeless compositions and enduring legacy, through the dynamic vision of featured performers like trombonist Art Baron & The Duke's Men, drummer Bernard Purdie, bassist Bill Crow, saxophonists Bill Easley and Mark Hynes, pianist James Weidman and vocalist Ira Hawkins. In keeping with the beloved HIJ tradition, a surprise special guest will be on hand for the concert, to be held at BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center.

On Stage At Kingsborough, a leading performing arts presenter, is pleased to present its Spring 2020 season featuring world class artists from around the globe.On Stage At Kingsborough brings high caliber performing arts to Southern Brooklyn, with a diverse roster of artists spanning multiple genres including cabaret, dance, music, and family programming.

Made in NY Jazz, dedicated to bringing the best jazz musicians in the world to Brooklyn, has presented their January calendar.

Centenary Stage Company continues its annual January Thaw Music Festival with Diego Figueiredo and Ken Peplowski: The Bossa Nova Wave. The performance will take place at the Lackland Performing Arts Center on Saturday, January 18th @ 8:00 pm.

This coming January, world famous saxophone player, bandleader and producer Igor Butman will travel to the United States for a five-city tour of some of the country's most celebrated jazz institutions. The tour will mark the twentieth anniversary of Butman's acclaimed Moscow Jazz Orchestra, a 16-piece powerhouse ensemble described by DownBeat Magazine as 'an outfit of virtuosos.' Butman, a firm proponent of cross-border and cross genre-collaboration, has performed with a long roster of jazz greats including Dave Brubeck, Chick Corea, Lionel Hampton, Grover Washington Jr and Wynton Marsalis, among others. The jazz luminary continues his ambassadorship of modern Russian culture with his upcoming Winter tour of the United States. Butman, along with the Moscow Jazz Orchestra, will perform at the Blue Note, in New York City January 30th through February 2nd, at the Keystone Corner in Baltimore on February 5th, at the South Miami Dade Cultural Arts Center on February 7th in Cutler Bay, Florida, at The Promontory in Hyde Park, Chicago, on February 9th, at Center Makor in Boston on February 12th, and at the Blue Llama in Ann Arbor, Michigan on February 13th.

Centenary Stage Company's annual January Thaw Music Festival heats things up through the month of January with three exciting musical guests in the Lackland Performing Arts Center.

A holiday tradition returns as the McCallum Theatre welcomes the Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour 2019 at 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 18. The show is made possible through the generosity of Wayne and Rachelle Prim. Since the beginning of his career, Koz has been all about dodging expectations and traditions. His brand-new holiday album, Gifts of the Season, is his seventh holiday release, and features the very same guests with him on this year's Christmas tour.

During Lisa Viggiano's critically-praised 2018 Bruce Springsteen Tribute Shows (which helped earn her a 2019 Bistro Award for “Outstanding Vocalist”), she included a section of songs by iconic musicians and singers discovered over five decades by talent scout/record producer John Henry Hammond, who also championed Springsteen and recorded “The Boss's” first demo. Now, like a spinoff from a hit TV sitcom, Viggiano has created an entire cabaret show featuring songs and performers produced by Hammond during his long career at Columbia Records. In FROM LADY DAY TO THE BOSS: 50 YEARS OF TALENT DISCOVERED BY LEGENDARY COLUMBIA RECORD PRODUCER JOHN HENRY HAMMOND, Viggiano will deliver her unique renditions of classic tunes recorded by Bessie Smith, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday, Harry James, Count Basie, Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Leonard Cohen, George Benson, and Springsteen.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association announced today the first details of the 2020 Hollywood Bowl summer season, with the entire season to be announced in February 2020.

On Friday, November 22nd, 2019, Progressive Theater in Maplewood, NJ will host the 1st Annual Black & Blue Fundraising Gala at The Woodland: Great Hall from 6:00pm to 11:00pm.

Vocalist, producer and rapper Vincent Barrea has released his new single 'Chemical or Love' on 31 October via Maitre Music. The track was mixed and mastered by Grammy-nominated engineer Alex Evans (Skrillex, Rag N Bone Man, Basement Jax) and premiered via Clash Magazine. Barrea has seen considerable success with his last two outputs. 'Zoom Zoom' has racked up over 800K Youtube views, and prior to that 'Save My Life' and 'I'm Not Afraid' racked up well over 400K views.

FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Robert Bannon brings his new concert event, a?oeThe Great American Songbook:His Waya?? for his Feinsteins/54 Below Debut this November for a special Thanksgiving Eve performance. He will be accompanied by Musical Director John Urban on piano, Jimmy Merchant on Saxophone, Brian Gearty on Bass, PJ Corallo on drums, and Andrew Griffin on Viola, His special duet partners are Rebecca Bailey, Daniel Walstad, and Devin J. Hall.

Jazz all-stars salute one of their own a?" the late piano legend and influential music educator Harold Mabern a?" in Giants of Jazz 22 Honoring Harold Mabern, a concert celebration of his life and craft on Saturday, November 16 at 8 p.m.

Following his sold out show last summer at the Triad Theater in NYC, entertainer Robert Bannon brings his new concert event, 'The Great American Songbook:His Way' for his Feinsteins/54 Below Debut this November for a special Thanksgiving Eve performance. He will be accompanied by Musical Director John Urban on piano, Jimmy Marchant on Saxophone, Brian Gearty on Bass, PJ Corallo on drums, and Andrew Griffin on Viola, His special duet partners are Rebecca Bailey, Daniel Walstad, and Devin Hall.