The Metropolitan Room became one of those Art Deco Night Clubs in a1940 Black & White Movie last night. Harking back to the days when the girl singers had that luscious, sensual, understated, but spectacular voices and musicianship that made every person in the room fall in love with them. Although I have ears that sometimes show signs of wear and tear from a lifetime of hearing a lot of stuff, Celia's ability to annunciate and melodically roll out lyrics had me hearing vowels and consonants I usually miss in a crowded noisy cabaret. Come to think of it, the Metropolitan Room had the quietness of a recording studio as the very musically sophisticated audience was held in rapt attention by Celia's artistry. I would be enamored with any song she wrapped her voice around, but her unique song selection made the evening especially compelling. How fitting it was the Stacy Sullivan and Joanne Tatham were in the audience. Two singers that represent that same kind of sexy, restrained and understated musical excellence that Celia Berk possesses. It was also ironic that the title song of the show ( You Can't Rush Spring) was written by another of my favorite ladies - Ann Hampton Callaway.
Cabaret in New York has never suffered from a dearth of impressive jazz-oriented chanteuses. These include such past and present delights as Mary Foster Conklin, Laurie Krauz, Sally Mayes, Janis Siegel, Kat Gang, and the late Claiborne Cary. It is therefore most unfortunate that Birdland, an otherwise-impeccable jazz nightspot, had to suffer the recent show of Joanne Tatham (celebrating the recent release of her CD Out of My Dreams). While Tatham drew a very good house indeed, the lady has very little business referring to what she does as 'jazz.' In fact, it's not even cabaret. What Tatham delivers is really more a sad club act that couldn't even take it's place among the bluest of blues.
February brings an exceptional line-up of events and musical & theatrical experiences sure to get your heart racing with ROMEO & JULIET: LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD - which unites the story of Romeo & Juliet with the songs of Pat Benatar; The Hollywood Movie Parody Series continues with 'CRUEL INTENTIONS'; also Steve Kazee, Jeff Goldblum, Foxy Voxxie Cabaret, Shawn Ryan, and so much more!
On Monday, January 19, the Broadway at Birdland concert series was proud to present singer Joanne Tatham and arranger/musical director Tamir Hendelman on the historic stage. Scroll down for photos from the concert!
Birdland Jazz Club has announced its upcoming schedule for January 19 - January 25, including Beegie Adair featuring Monica Ramey, Dena DeRose, Jazz Party with Natalie Douglas and more!
For 60 continuous hours, from 7pm on Thursday January 1 to 7am on Sunday January 4, New York's Metropolitan Room is staging what it is billing as "The Longest Variety Show Ever." Featuring approximately 160 performers and 15 emcees, the entertainment will span music, burlesque, comedy, drag, theatre/opera, magic and puppetry.
Birdland Jazz Club has announced its January 2015 schedule, featuring The Birdland Big Band, Jane Monheit, Beegie Adair Trio, Barbara Carroll, Jay Leonhart Trio, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, Dena DeRose, Lindsay Mendez and Marco Paguia, and MORE!
Rita Wilson and Molly Ringwald deserve a lot of credit for being gutsy enough to go out of their comfort zones as performers and venture into the intimate, sometimes scary art from known as cabaret, where you're always live and can't rely on extra takes. It's also obvious that they've worked very hard at becoming the best vocalists they can possibly be. They have just as much right to live out their cabaret performing fantasies as, oh, about 75 percent of the 'singers' booking shows in cabaret room all over the New York. If Wilson and Ringwald weren't bold-faced names would their singing really be considered good enough to merit them gigs (and extended ones at that) at the Cafe Carlyle? And if they weren't celebrities, would they be receiving such breathlessly positive reviews from critics, some of who should know better?
Vicky's of Santa Fe, is the locale for a series of 6 Jazz/Cabaret Supper Clubs. These unique Dinner Concerts headline International Jazz and Cabaret stars from a broad range of the Jazz and Cabaret music worlds, all in an intimate and elegant setting. Starting at 6:30pm with no-host cocktails followed by a 3-course dinner and show.
The Broadway at Birdland concert series celebrated a musical trifecta on Monday night, with sublime jazz vocalist Jane Monheit, extraordinary arrangements by Mary Ann McSweeney, and a wealth of Irving Berlin material. The stellar backup band for the evening evening included McSweeney on bass, Jim Ridl on piano, and Alvester Garnett on drums. Several months ago, the Monheit-McSweeney duo teamed up with a swinging take on Cole Porter's iconic score for Anything Goes, to great acclaim.
Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs (MAC), dedicated to advancing the art and business of live entertainment, held their 28th Annual MAC Awards celebration last evening at BB King's Blues club in Times Square. Winners in twenty-five categories were announced. The show was hosted by the vivacious singer, band leader, multiple MAC Award winner and 2014 Nominee, Terese Genecco. The gala was produced by Julie Miller and directed by Lennie Watts, the current MAC President. Don Rebic served as Musical Director. Presenters included Will Friedwald of the Wall Street Journal and designer Bob Mackie.
This spring the L.A.-based Joanne Tatham gives New York another whirl as she returns to the Metropolitan Room with her critically acclaimed cabaret concert 'Soundtrack New York.' Tatham's fast-paced guided tour of songs from films shot on the streets of Manhattan plays four nights -- Tuesday May 13 at 7pm, Saturday May 17 at 4pm, Sunday May 18 at 9:30pm and Sunday June 1 at 7pm.
Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs (MAC), dedicated to advancing the art and business of live entertainment, has announced the nominees for the 2014 MAC Awards. Winners in twenty-five categories will be voted by the MAC membership by anonymous ballot and announced at the MAC Awards Gala on March 27th at BB King's Blue Club in Times Square at: 237 W. 42 St between 7th and 8th Avenues. Tickets start at $50.00. For additional information on MAC, to become a member, or to order tickets to the event, visit: http://macnyc.com.
Voting is now underway for Cabaret! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.
2013 Female Vocalist of the Year from the Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs, Stacy Sullivan has appeared in venues around the world, from The Brasserie Zedel in London to The Cafe Carlyle in New York. She has recorded five albums for the LML Music label, including her latest, "It's a Good Day," winner of the 2013 Lamott/Friedman Award and voted one of the Top Ten Recordings of 2012 by Talkin'Broadway. Stacy can also be heard regularly on Sirius Radio's "Siriously SINATRA," and NPR's "Piano Jazz Rising Stars."
Last December, after I posted my list of the Best Cabaret Performers of 2012, I followed up my original 'listmania' with a column that served as a way to include some 'honorable mentions,' basically a recognition of other memorable shows and performances of songs that were striking, unique, and/or original that year. The column received a positive response so I thought I'd wheel it out again this year. So as the hours tick away on 2013 and we anticipate the coming of a new year, here is an addendum to the 2013 New York Cabaret Performers of the Year--a totally random list of 30 Honorable Mentions of the 'Best' and 'Most' in Cabaret for 2013 . . . mainly because I can and it's fun. Enjoy and Happy New Year!
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Voting is now underway for Cabaret! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.
Voting is now underway for Cabaret! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.
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