Gianni Valenti News

The keeper of the keyboards, Billy Stritch, heads into the busiest month of his year so far.. and it's only the first month of the year! Read his chat with Stephen Mosher to learn how it all started and how he's going to keep it going with a song in his heart.

Two Variety show on consecutive nights in Midtown Manhattan are still taking NYC by storm every week, and it's all due to the hosts who created them

The Broadway at Birdland concert series was proud to present “Celestial Being,” the 80th Birthday Celebration concert celebrating jazz legend Andy Bey.  The one-night-only event will took place on Monday, December 9.

A Swinging Birdland Christmas has become a New York City institution, a holiday tradition and a staple of the Birdland calendar. With three of the most popular talents of the cabaret community and, definitely, three of the hardest working people in the business, the annual Christmas concert gives fans a chance to spend a night with Klea Blackhurst, Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch, to sip on some eggnog or to skip the egg and go right to the nog, and to get into the holiday spirit without fighting the all-night crowds at Macy's. The trio of friends are each extremely popular in their own right, with Ms. Blackhurst spending the year going from show to show, Mr. Stritch playing in concerts and clubs around the world, and Mr. Caruso maintaining his place as Birdland's impresario and most fashionable host in town, so this event when the three of them join forces to spread cheer is something Birdland audiences look forward to for eleven months. 2019 saw a special happening to add to the season when the trio released the cd A SWINGING BIRDLAND CHRISTMAS. With the holiday music out on every platform, these chums jumped into rehearsals for their holiday show, which opens December 21st.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series was thrilled to once again present two-time Tony nominee, Laura Osnes in another “Repertoire Roulette,” which took place on November 4. 

One of the top jazz pianists of the past half-century and an eclectic improviser who has long had his own sound and open-minded style, Kellaway has been featured on hundreds of recordings and written a countless amount of music since the 1960s. As is obvious from his most recent recording, a?oeThe Many Open Minds of Roger Kellawaya?? (IPO Recordings) he has lost none of his creativity, virtuosity, enthusiasm or willingness to stretch himself.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series was proud to present the return of singer/actress Anita Gillette in “Chapter Three' on October 7 and 14. 

There are few places where you can see and hear (up close) a big band comprised of full horn sections, a 7ft Grand Piano, and world class musicians all crammed onto one stage. It happens at Birdland every Friday as the Birdland Big Band blows the roof off the the building on 44th street playing some of the best jazz, funk, Brazilian and Latin music on the planet at the “Jazz Corner of The World”

Seven-time Broadway veteran, Max von Essen, celebrates the release of his first solo cd in a concert at Birdland

Monday nights belong to Jim Caruso's Cast Party at the legendary Birdland and now in less than a year the place to be on Tuesday night is Birdland's new downstairs theatre and The Line Up with Susie Mosher.

The man who has a supreme dexterity with words, who possess an ability to weave them together and create harmonious and engrossing ideas came to see the man ( and woman) who do the same with music notes last night at Birdland. Stephen Holden the esteemed music and theatre critic of the New York Times, now retired came to hear John Pizzarelli and his special but not surprising guest (wife) Jessica Molaskey.

Trumpeter and crooner Benny Benack III returned to the Birdland stage on Monday, July 15, with his inimitable brand of energetic, swingin' songs and irrepressible charisma. Benny presented music from his upcoming sophomore album titled 'A Lot of Livin' to Do.” Commemorating the release of one of the album's singles, he performed a duet of Gigi Gryce's 'Social Call,” which he performed on the recording with Veronica Swift, and in the concert with Aleta Moses. Benny was joined by Takeshi Ohbayashi on piano, Joe Peri on drums, Philip Norris on bass, with special guest vocalists Aleta Moses and Anais Reno, and Alex Claffy guesting on bass.

Mr. Finn's Cabaret at Barrington Stage Company has become one of the countries leading presenters of the art form of cabaret. The road going from Birdland and Feinstein's/54 Below to Pittsfield Ma. now also comes from Las Vegas. Clint Holmes, one of the main attractions on the strip and in nightclubs around the country came to Barrington Stage Company last night and made the Berkshires and Mr. Finn's officially become part of the nightclub circuit.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series was thrilled to present Christina Crawford's 'Mommie Dearest: The Musical' in concert on Monday, June 10.  The cast featured Tina Scariano as Christina and Dorothy Bishop as Joan, with an all-star cast.  Drew Wutke accompaned on piano, with Daniel Shevlin on cello.

Birdland Theater was thrilled to present singer/actor/host/legend John Davidson in concert on Monday, May 27.

Birdland was proud to present Broadway singer/dancer Ariana DeBose in concert on Monday, February 11. 

On Monday, January 27, Birdland hosted caricature artist Justin "Squigs" Robertson as special guest artist-in-residence at Jim Caruso's Cast Party.

On Saturday night, the ninth consecutive year of "A Swinging Birdland Christmas," starring Birdland regulars Klea Blackhurst, Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch, opened at Birdland. This will be a limited engagement of 4 performances, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, December 22, 23, 24 and 25. All shows are at 5:30pm.

Celebrate the holiday season with Broadway Records first Christmas album, Michael Longoria: Merry Christmas Darling, available now at www.BroadwayRecords.com, Amazon.com, in stores and across digital platforms.