Harry Allen News

GHOSTLIGHT DELUXE, an imprint of Ghostlight Records, has announced the release of For Centennial Reasons: 100 Year Salute to Nat King Cole - the new album from the JOHN PIZZARELLI TRIO - in physical, digital and streaming formats today, Friday, February 8. Following high-profile collaborations with Sir Paul McCartney and Michael McDonald, Pizzarelli returns to his roots to honor his hero, the legendary jazz/pop vocalist and pianist Nat King Cole, whose centennial is being celebrated around the world this year with various concerts, books and recordings. For Centennial Reasons completes an epic trio of Pizzarelli albums saluting Cole, starting with Dear Mr. Cole, which helped put Pizzarelli on the map as an influential jazz guitarist and singer in 1994, and continuing with P.S. Mr. Cole, which cemented his legacy five years later. To order the album, please visit ghostlightrecords.lnk.to/pizzarelli-natkingcole

'We are proud to announce that Arturo Sandoval has been added to the 19th annual Newport Beach Jazz Party lineup in 2019,' begins the event co-producer Paul Lowden.

Bay Area Cabaret welcomes back world-renowned guitarist and singer John Pizzarelli and singer Jessica Molaskey, a duo Time Magazine calls the "Astaire-Rodgers of the cabaret world." Bay Area Cabaret audiences will have the chance to see, or choose between, two varied programs:  The first, at 3:30 is a centennial tribute to Nat King Cole, a Venetian Room regular, whose work is celebrated on Mr. Pizzarelli's upcoming CD, Centenially Yours. The second show, American Stories, at 7:30, is a duo show by John and his talented wife Jessica that debuted at Cafe Carlyle and features an eclectic mix of music by George and Ira Gershwin, Johnny Mercer, Paul Simon, Stephen Sondheim, Stevie Nicks and the couple's signature mashups and medleys. Aligned both in their love of the American Songbook and their desire to expand and present it to new audiences, Bay Area Cabaret and John Pizzarelli and his wife Jessica enjoy a partnership that reaches back well over a decade.

GHOSTLIGHT DELUXE, an imprint of Ghostlight Records, has announced the release of For Centennial Reasons: 100 Year Salute to Nat King Cole - the new album from the JOHN PIZZARELLI TRIO - in physical, digital and streaming formats on Friday, February 8. Following high-profile collaborations with Sir Paul McCartney and Michael McDonald, Pizzarelli returns to his roots to honor his hero, the legendary jazz/pop vocalist and pianist Nat King Cole, whose centennial is being celebrated around the world this year with various concerts, books and recordings. For Centennial Reasons completes an epic trio of Pizzarelli albums saluting Cole, starting with Dear Mr. Cole, which helped put Pizzarelli on the map as an influential jazz guitarist and singer in 1994, and continuing with P.S. Mr. Cole, which cemented his legacy five years later. To pre-order the album, please visit the label HERE.

Swingin' singin' soprano saxophone player, Danny Bacher is making his Feinsteins/54 Below debut on Friday, December 21,2018 at 9:30 PM. The CD release concert celebrates the Festive Season and Bacher's new CD, STILL HAPPY. Appearing with him is his band: Broadway piano legend Allen Farnham ( The Lion King) and ace musicians, Dean Johnson (bass), Samuel Martinelli (drums), Harry Allen (tenor sax), and Charles Caranicas (trumpet).

Next week, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com/Feinsteins or call (646) 476-3551.

The Eighth Annual Bickford Benefit Concert featuring an all-star ensemble of outstanding jazz artists from the Tri-State area comes to the Bickford Theatre at the Morris Museum for one night only on Monday, November 12, 2018 at 7:30 PM. The ensemble includes trumpeter/vocalist Bria Skonberg, cornetist Warren Vache, trombonist Mariel Bildsten, clarinetist Dan Levinson, pianist Rossano Sportiello, guitarist/vocalist Molly Ryan, bassist Rob Adkins, and drummer Mark McLean.  All of the ticket sales from this concert will go to support programming at the Bickford Theatre.

Abigail Rockwell's first album as a singer/songwriter, AUTUMN NOIR, is set to be released 10/10.

Singer-Saxophonist, Danny Bacher is a fresh new face on the jazz landscape. His clean, crisp delivery is reminiscent of the true greats in entertainment. An engaging stage presence, a smooth-as-silk voice, and the gift of a storyteller all come together to complete his new recording, Still Happy

Husband-and-wife duo John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey make their annual fall pilgrimage to Cafe Carlyle with an all-new show, American Stories, November 6-17. The New York Times recently described John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey as "the supreme nightclub act of our time." A world-renowned guitarist and singer, John Pizzarelli has been entertaining audiences for over 20 years and has established himself as one of the prime contemporary interpreters of the Great American Songbook. Jessica Molaskey is a veteran of a dozen Broadway shows including the revival of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Sunday in the Park with George, which was nominated for nine Tony Awards. TIME has raved, "Sophisticated, jazzy and engaging, the Astaire-Rodgers of the cabaret world are at the top of their game."

The following acts are performing at City Winery Chicago (1200 W. Randolph St) throughout the month. All City Winery Chicago events are open to all ages and start at 8:00 p.m., unless noted.  Tickets can be purchased by calling 312-733-WINE (9463) or by visiting www.citywinery.com/chicago.

The world premiere recording of original symphonic music by Grammy® Award-winning composer Nan Schwartz has been released on the Divine Art label (DDA 25165, March 16, 2018). Kevin Purcell conducts the 83-piece Bratislava Studio Symphony Orchestra (Slovakia) and Synchron Stage Orchestra (Vienna). The recording features four works by Ms. Schwartz: Aspirations, Perspectives, Romanza and Angels Among Us, with solo contributions from the Who's-who of New York's finest jazz musicians.

The Bickford Theatre at the Morris Museum presents Danny Bacher and his All-Star Band in concert on Thursday, July 12, as part of the popular Summer JazzFest. The show, "Accentuate the Positive," draws on tunes from his soon-to-be-released "Still Happy" CD as well as his exciting salute to Louis Armstrong, Louis Jordan and Louis Prima from his best-selling debut CD. Danny will also premiere several new arrangements including a tribute to the great Johnny Mercer. The All-Stars will feature Harry Allen on tenor sax, Charlie Caranicas on trumpet, Allen Farnham on piano, Bill Moring on bass, and Alvester Garnett on drums. The food truck picnic begins at 5:30 and the concert at 7:30.

Birdland Jazz Club will present New York, Old Friend-The Songs of Ken Laub, a celebration of the sights, scenes and relationships in New York City, for one night only as part of the "Broadway at Birdland" concert series, on Monday, June 25, 2018 @7pm.

Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts is proud to present Grammy® winning producer, composer, keyboardist and vocalist Sergio Mendes on Sunday, July 1 at 8 p.m. and Grammy® nominated jazz pianist, vocalist and songwriter Judy Carmichael in 'Swing Time!' on Saturday, July 14 at 8 p.m. These performances are part of the Jazz Inspired series that Judy Carmichael has curated in partnership with Patchogue Theatre.

City Winery Chicago, 1200 W. Randolph Street, announces versatile jazz master Chick Corea and more. The following shows go on sale to the public on Thursday, May 31 at noon. All tickets will be available at citywinery.com/chicago.

Music and food always seem perfect together so for Bickford Summer JazzFest the theatre will combine great jazz with some of the region's best food trucks on-site before each concert. Different food trucks will be featured so that both ticket holders and the general public can picnic on the beautiful Morris Museum grounds or tailgate in the spacious parking area from 5:30 to 7:30 on festival nights.

It's not an oxymoron. The Italian Jazz Brunch at Tartina is the coolest thing happening in the Upper West Side (1034 Amsterdam Avenue, corner 111th Street)! Starting on Sunday, April 22, from 12 to 3 pm, guests at Tartina will have an opportunity to indulge in scrumptious culinary offerings while enjoying the smooth sound of jazz guitarist Pasquale Grasso.

Jazz fans know they can count on the Highlights In Jazz concert series to showcase the gifted players who shaped jazz history and continue to contribute to its long and rich legacy. This third concert of the 46th season is no exception: The music is sure to dazzle - and swing - when you have such renowned musicians on hand as pianist Dick Hyman, trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, bassist Jay Leonhart, saxophonist/clarinetist Ken Peplowski, and drummer/vibraphonist Chuck Redd.

Jazz clarinetist Ken Peplowski will pay tribute to jazz legend Benny Goodman at the Bickford Theatre on Thursday, May 3.  He and his Sextet, featuring Chuck Redd on vibes, Rossano Sportiello on piano, Sean Smith on bass, Matt Witek on drums, and Hilary Gardner on vocals, remember the great clarinetist in celebration of the 80th anniversary of the famous Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert of 1938.