Janis Siegel News

Two years ago I heard the relatively new “Marquee Five” perform a show at the Laurie Beechman Theatre called “8-Track Throwback,” which was a five part harmony homage to the music of the 1960s and '70s. They hadn't gotten even halfway through their set when I realized that in Marquee Five I'd heard my Manhattan Transfer for the new millennium. Marquee Five's style is less jazzy and more pop than the Transfer, and their sound is infused with the tones of a co-ed barbershop quintet, Broadway belting, and holiday season caroling. Marquee Five's new show last Saturday night at 54 Below did nothing to push me off their bandwagon. In Broadway By the Letter: Act One (a set of songs representing the first half of the alphabet), this fabulous five-some once again delivered delicious harmonies on a variety of song styles, standout individual performances, and intricate yet accessible vocal arrangements.

Summer Guitar Fest will be presented tonight, July 28, 2013 at 7:00 pm.

Summer Guitar Fest will be presented on Sunday, July 28, 2013 at 7:00 pm.

This week at Joe's Pub at the Public (July 1-7) will feature Canada's Birthday Bash, performances by Dona La Nena, Brian Landrus, Mark Murphy and Friends, The Hot Sardines, Sufiana, Alex Ferreira, Kate Ferber, Emily Asher, and John Kelly. Details below!

An incredible record for a wonderful cause! Don't miss Bob singing some of his most iconic songs on this beautifully produced record. Bob Dorough Duets features eleven Dorough compositions with Bob singing each one with a different and remarkable artist.

Hear Bob Dorough as never before - and all for the benefit of jazz lovers old and young.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54thStreet, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond.

This April and May, 54 BELOW, the performance venue in the grand tradition of New York City nightlife, presents an exciting lineup of Broadway's brightest talent. Located just below legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, 54 Below continues to present its special series: 'Backstage' with Susie Mosher will be joined by '54 Piano Bar,' a new vocal competition - 'The Callback,' and more.

The 54 Below WBGO Jazz Series will feature weekly Tuesday evening shows by jazz artists curated by the famed veteran Jazz programmer, Todd Barkan. Just around the corner from Swing Street, these seasoned jazz performers come to Broadway's Nightclub to play and sing the night away in grand style. The series is sponsored by the WBGO, the country's premier jazz radio station, promising a truly classic only-in-New York experience.

The 54 Below WBGO Jazz Series will feature weekly Tuesday evening shows by jazz artists. Just around the corner from Swing Street, these seasoned jazz performers come to Broadway's Nightclub to play and sing the night away in grand style. Whether you're a long time jazz buff or new to the genre, this series, sponsored by the country's premier jazz radio station, promises a truly classic only-in-New York experience.

The cabaret gods must be smiling on this reviewer because this past Saturday evening my wife and I celebrated her birthday with an intimate dinner in between a couple of totally engaging shows from two lovely ladies of cabaret; the beautiful Jillian Laurain paying homage to classic Broadway show tunes at the Metropolitan Room, and the beguiling Stacy Sullivan in her MAC and BroadwayWorld.com Award-nominated tribute to Peggy Lee, 'It's a Good Day,' at the Cafe Carlyle. For me and the Birthday Girl, it was definitely a good night.

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts (361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas, NV) has announced its February 2013 lineup. Details below.

THE JOHN MILLER QUARTET PLUS 2 will debut at The Cutting Room on Friday, February 1 for two shows after an unprecedented 21 week-run at the New York nightclub 54 Below. There will be performances at 10:00 PM and 11:30 PM. John Miller - the music and theater industry veteran best known as a bassist and music coordinator - brings together an all-star group of Broadway musicians who get together after the curtain falls to play their deep-groove favorites. In addition to Miller on bass, the show will feature Larry Saltzman on Guitar (Simon and Garfunkel, Carole King, Bette Midler, Chris Botti), John Korba on Piano (Hall & Oates, Phoebe Snow, Carly Simon, John Waite), Clint DeGanon on Drums (Stuff, Kid Rock, Elvis Costello, Saturday Night Live Band), David Mann on Tenor Sax (Tower of Power, James Taylor, Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder), and Joe Passaro on Percussion (Aretha Franklin, Manhattan Transfer, Nina Simone, Donald Fagen). The Cutting Room is located at 44 East 32nd Street between Madison and Park Avenues.

The Manhattan Transfer brought their incredible vocal harmonies to The McCallum Theatre last Saturday night to a Standing Room Only Crowd. I know that for a fact - because I was standing! The sold-out to capacity crowd was riveted by a ninety-plus minute "vocal buffet" of as many of the quartets biggest hits and greatest harmonies as they could pack into a one evening event. They are celebrating their fortieth anniversary this season and it was more than apparent why they remain America's masters at vocalese and vocal jazz and every tight harmony in between. The four singers have perfected an almost unnatural blend that can generally only be imitated by the instruments they mimic in style and sound.

The McCallum Theatre will play host to The Manhattan Transfer for one SRO performance on Saturday, January 18 at 8:00 pm as part of their stellar Fitz's Jazz Café series. For more than 30 years, Manhattan Transfer has remained one of the most popular jazz vocal groups of all time. The quartet (Tim Hauser, Alan Paul, Janis Siegel and Cheryl Bentyne) is known for their amazing harmonies, acapella and vocalese stylings. Manhattan Transfer has earned multiple Grammy Awards, worldwide sales in the millions, and legions of dedicated fans. In addition, in 1999, the Manhattan Transfer was among the first class of inductees into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts (361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas, NV) has announced its February 2013 lineup. Details below.

By the last August, I had fallen so far behind on writing reviews of cabaret shows from the spring and early summer (I guess it's a positive when there are more performers and shows in New York than days in the week) that I decided to play catch up by combining a bunch of critiques into one big column. I hadn't planned on doing that again, but this fall there were so many shows that once again I couldn't keep up. but at least I've beaten my self-imposed deadline New Year's Eve deadline of posting these reviews of 12 shows, all staged between September-December by lovely, attractive women (okay, so one is a gender-bender) of varying talents and levels on the cabaret depth chart, from established stars to MAC and Bistro Award-winners to comeback 'kids' to interesting beginners and occasional performers who are in the game to follow their bliss. Whether their performances were rave-worthy, earning of qualified praise, or not quite up to snuff, they all deserve kudos for taking the plunge.

Wow, talk about a thumbs up! BroadwayWorld.com Cabaret Reviewer/Columnist Stephen Hanks received such a positive reaction to his '2012 Best of New York Cabaret' piece posted yesterday that we thought it would be fun for him to add to his original 13 "honorable mentions" list. So, here for your holiday week reading pleasure is Part 2 of his "Best" and "Most" Honorable Mentions in Cabaret for 2012 with 21 new listings (because an even 20 would be trite). Enjoy!

Celebrate the season with this twelve-time Grammy-winning jazz vocal group, performing an evening of familiar and well-loved holiday classics. The Manhattan Transfer delivers favorites from their two Christmas CDs, 'An Acappella Christmas' and 'The Christmas Album,' which remain among the best-selling holiday CDs of all time.

Acclaimed vocal group The Manhattan Transfer will perform a program featuring songs from their four-decade career of popular jazz hits at Concord NH's Capitol Center for the Arts on Thursday, January 24 at 7:30pm.