Jon Weber News

Stephen Hanks, Producer of Cabaret Life Productions, and Union Temple of Brooklyn (17 Eastern Parkway) are proud to announce that Musical Director/Pianist Jon Weber will perform his critically acclaimed show, From Joplin to Jarrett: 100 Years of Piano Jazz, at Union Temple on June 19 at 8 pm. The one-man concert will be in the 3rd Floor Social Hall at 8 pm after the 6:30 pm Shabbat Service and dinner. Admission to the concert is FREE.

With her new show at the Metropolitan Room that opened last night—Groupies: The Muses Behind the Legends of Rock & Roll--the usually smart and meticulous Lauren Fox (as evidenced by her shows that celebrated the music of Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen and later the Pop/Rock that emerged from Laurel Canyon in the 1960s) has here chosen questionable territory--the celebration of women who serially slept their way through the music business or, as Fox more poetically says, “Made it their life's mission to meet the beautiful boys who made the music that moved them.” Hook-ups are exemplified by often unappealing numbers (too much monotone) and bridged with quotes by groupies whose role as “muses” or sources of creative inspiration seems a stretch.

Seven outstanding vocalists, songwriters, and musicians born in 1915 will be honored at Weill Recital Hall on Tuesday, June 9th, at 7:30 p.m., when The Mabel Mercer Foundation presents the annual concert, "It Was A Very Good Year." Cohosted by the Foundation's artistic director KT Sullivan and the distinguished critic Rex Reed, the one-night-only event celebrates the centennial birthdays of (alphabetically) Alice Faye, Billie Holiday, Bart Howard, Edith Piaf, Frank Sinatra, Billy Strayhorn, and Cy Walter.

Tribute shows to iconic entertainers celebrating a centennial birthday in 2015 seem to be all the rage this year. But nobody has been celebrated more in cabaret variety shows than Frank Sinatra—and rightly so. Wall Street Journal entertainment columnist Will Friedwald, also a producer and author who wrote the 1997 book Sinatra! The Song Is You—A Singer's Art, this past Saturday presented the biggest (and longest) tribute to “Ol' Blue Eyes” so far this year with Sinatra-Thon at The Cutting Room (co-curated with performer Cary Hoffman), a potpourri of events running from 10 am to an after-midnight jam, and which included varied live entertainment, rare film clips, and panel discussions.

The singer, songwriter and recording artist Carolyn Montgomery-Forant continued her recent comeback as performed her critically acclaimed 'Visible Phoenix' at the Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 West 42nd Street, a show which took off in October. The flame-throwing wit's first solo show since returning to the stage in January of last year, 'Visible Phoenix' marches on Fridays, March 13, and April 10. All shows are at 7pm. Check out photos from the show below!

Following the success of the previous two festivals, the 3rd Annual New York Hot Jazz Festival -- produced by the impresario Michael 'Misha' Katsobashvili, performer Bria Skonberg, and composer/producer Patrick Soluri (of Prohibition Productions and The Salon) -- returns to The Players this year and promises some of the biggest stars of the Hot Jazz and swing scenes in a summit of uptown and downtown talent spanning three generations.

The singer, songwriter and recording artist Carolyn Montgomery-Forant continues her recent comeback as she adds new shows to the critically acclaimed run of 'Visible Phoenix' at the Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 West 42nd Street, a show which took off in October. The flame-throwing wit's first solo show since returning to the stage in January of last year, 'Visible Phoenix' marches on Fridays, tonight, March 13, and April 10, May 8. All shows are at 7pm.

The singer, songwriter and recording artist Carolyn Montgomery-Forant continues her recent comeback as she adds new shows to the critically acclaimed run of "Visible Phoenix" at the Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 West 42nd Street, a show which took off in October. The flame-throwing wit's first solo show since returning to the stage in January of last year, "Visible Phoenix" marches on Fridays March 13, April 10, May 8. All shows are at 7pm.

In a two-reviews-in-one column critiquing shows from last March, my esteemed editor, Stephen Hanks quoted the poet Robert Browning: “A man's reach should exceed his grasp. Or what's a heaven for?” Hanks pointed out that Browning's famous line is about setting goals, striving, and ambition, all of which are commendable desires. But, alas, in this particular review he felt the two singers in question “fell short.” One of those singers was Shana Farr and the show she has been performing throughout the past year, In The Still of the Night: Music of Noel Coward and Cole Porter. So here we are a year later, immersed in the revelry of the 2015 award season celebrating excellence in cabaret, and Farr's uniquely theatrical homage to Coward and Porter has recently won her the 2015 Bistro Award for “Outstanding Concept Show.” In spite of my editor's previous reservations about this show, he was open to hearing another perspective—whether positive or negative—so off to the Laurie Beechman Theatre I ventured on the last day of February to find out for myself whether Shana's show was truly award-worthy. Sorry, oh editor of mine, but you might have missed the boat on this one.

Miller Theatre at Columbia University School of the Arts presents the 2014-15 Jazz series finale: AARON DIEHL QUARTET featuring Aaron Diehl, piano, Peter Washington, bass, Pete Van Nostrand, drums, and Warren Wolf, vibes. Tonight, March 7, 2015, 8:00 p.m. at the Miller Theatre at Columbia University (2960 Broadway at 116th Street).

For more than 70 years, composer and lyricist Ervin Drake had a remarkably varied career but we will remember him for his music.With hits like 'Tico Tico', The Rickety Rickshaw Man', 'It Was A Very Good Year', 'Good Morning Heartache' and 'I Believe', Ervin Drake had man 'very good' years. Join us Today, March 6, 2015 at 7pm with an all- star cast including KT Sullivan, Stacy Sullivan, Klea Blackhurst, Tom Moore, Carole J. Bufford, Carol Woods, Jeff Harnar, Eric Yves Garcia, Tony Award winner DeeDee Bridgewater and many more. Featuring Jon Weber on piano and Ray Kilday on bass.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com or call (646) 476-3551.

This March, 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street. Below, find the schedule for upcoming events over the next month.

For more than 70 years, composer and lyricist Ervin Drake had a remarkably varied career but we will remember him for his music.With hits like 'Tico Tico', The Rickety Rickshaw Man', 'It Was A Very Good Year', 'Good Morning Heartache' and 'I Believe', Ervin Drake had man 'very good' years. Join us Friday, March 6, 2015 at 7pm with an all- star cast including KT Sullivan, Stacy Sullivan, Klea Blackhurst, Tom Moore, Carole J. Bufford, Carol Woods, Jeff Harnar, Eric Yves Garcia, Tony Award winner DeeDee Bridgewater and many more. Featuring Jon Weber on piano and Ray Kilday on bass.

In its continuing mission to bring culture to people who wouldn't necessarily have access, to illuminate, educate, and entertain, public television stations WNET (New York) and WLIW (Long Island) decided the time was ripe to reacquaint people with the art of cabaret. In February, viewers in the New York metro area were able to view new one-hour cabaret shows featuring singers KT Sullivan and Jennifer Sheehan.

Birdland Jazz Club just announced its March 2015 schedule, featuring Mike Stern and Bill Evans Band, Barbara Carroll, John Abercrombie Quartet, Sheila Jordan with the Steve Kuhn Trio, Kevin Mahogany, Anika Larsen featuring Jessie Mueller and Jarrod Spector, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more. Scroll down for details!

Miller Theatre at Columbia University School of the Arts presents the 2014-15 Jazz series finale: AARON DIEHL QUARTET featuring Aaron Diehl, piano, Peter Washington, bass, Pete Van Nostrand, drums, and Warren Wolf, vibes. Saturday, March 7, 2015, 8:00 p.m. at the Miller Theatre at Columbia University (2960 Broadway at 116th Street)

The Crazy Coqs has announced is February 2015 program at the Brasserie Zedel, Piccadilly, London W1, featuring: Purdy (February 3,4 & 5); Phil Ryan (February 6 & 7); Jeff Harnar & KT Sullivan (February 10-14); Anne Reid & Stefan Bednarczyk (February 17-21); and Liliane Montevecchi (February 24-28).

Marissa Mulder covers an Elton John classic!

Marissa Mulder wows a rapt cabaret crowd with a Sara Bareilles standout!