Les Davis News

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) is delighted to announce its spring schedule of major events. The largest single source of performing arts events in the state of Ohio, CCM presents nearly 150 major public performances from Jan. 12 through May 18, ranging from faculty and guest artist concerts to fully supported opera, musical theatre, drama and dance productions.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced their line-up of impressive talent for the month of January 2014. Featuring: The Birdland Big Band, Lauren Kinhan, Diane Schuur, Regina Carter, Nicholas Payton & Action Affirmative, Joey DeFrancesco, Cyrille Aimee, Matt Baker, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, Birdland Jazz Party, and more!

In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the world-renowned Newport Jazz Festival (August 1-3, 2014), clarinetist/saxophonist Anat Cohen, vocalist/pianist Karrin Allyson, bassists Larry Grenadier and Ben Allison, pianist Peter Martin, guitarist Mark Whitfield, trumpeter Randy Brecker, and drummer Clarence Penn embark on the 17-city 'Newport Jazz Festival: Now 60' Tour, February 8 - March 30, 2014, with more dates during June, July and August in North America and Europe.

Below are the official remarks by President Obama at the 2013 KENNEDY CENTER HONORS reception, held Sunday, December 8th from the East Room of The White House

Eight-time GRAMMY nominee Dave Koz always celebrates the holidays in a big way, entertaining thousands of his closest friends in a jaunt that takes him from coast to coast. In what has become an annual holiday PlayhouseSquare visit, Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour 2013 performs December 6 at 7:30 pm in the Palace Theatre.

NYU Steinhardt Music and Performing Arts Professions, New York Foundation for the Arts, Yamaha Pianos, RS Berkeley Horns, presents the 42nd Street Jazz Festival, from December 16-23, 2013 at Theater Row, 410 W. 42nd Street, NYC.

Continuing the tradition of preserving and celebrating great recordings, The Recording Academy® has announced the newest additions to its legendary GRAMMY Hall Of Fame®.

Birdland Jazz Club has announce its upcoming schedule for December 9-15, featuring Donna McKechnie, Shoshana Bush, Frank Wildhorn, Jazz Stories: Eddie Gomez, Kenny Barron, Al Foster, Wallace Roney, and more!

But the music on her new album, Azucar, Canela (which translates to 'sugar, cinnamon'), is like her sangria, always Spanish but open to possibilities. Vallejo began a U.S. tour October 13 at the Kennedy Center in Washington with the support of SPAIN arts & culture (www.spainculture.us). The tour ended with a New York City release party on October 27, 2013 at Drom.

As the holidays draw near, The Granada Theatre is gearing up for a festive season with three back-to-back performances in December, through their Granada Theatre Concert Series and Upstairs at the "G." Get ready to rock around the Christmas tree with Mannheim Steamroller Christmas, Phillip Claypool, and Dave Koz & Friends.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced their zesty line-up of impressive talent for the month of December 2013. Featuring: Michael Feinstein, Stacey Kent, Jazz Stories with Eddie Gomez, Kenny Barron, Al Foster, Wallace Roney, Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Cabaret, Cheyenne Jackson, Donna McKechnie, Frank Wildhorn & Friends with Jeremy Jordan, Laura Osnes, Jane Monheit and more, A Swinging Birdland Christmas, Native Soul, Victoria Shaw, Natalie Toro, Shoshana Bush, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more!

Yoshi's San Francisco announces updated calendar for club and restaurant through December 15, plus new shows through February 2014.

Jake Shimabukuro will perform at The Paramount on April 26, 2014 at 8:00PM. Price: $25.00 - $45.00, not including fees. Seating: Reserved. On Sale: Now!

20 years after its first production, Canadian visionary Robert Lepage revisits his breakout show, Needles and Opium, creating a new production that will receive its English-language premiere with Canadian Stage from November 22 to December 1 at the Bluma Appel Theatre (27 Front St. E). Starring Marc Labreche reprising his leading role, with Wellesley Robertson III joining him on stage bringing a second character to life, the production features new scenography with original images combined through highly visual staging that is as much magic as it is theatre. 'Needles and Opium was one of the first productions to set Robert Lepage on the world scene with his unparalleled capacity to use the most ingenious of theatrical technologies to deepen the emotional voyage played out on stage,' said Matthew Jocelyn, artistic and general director, Canadian Stage. 'Taking advantage of more sophisticated projection and technological savoir-faire, Lepage has chosen this piece above all others as the work he wants to revisit for today's audiences. After the success of 2010's The Andersen Project, we couldn't be more excited to bring Lepage and Ex Machina back to Canadian Stage.'

Now celebrating its 16th anniversary, this year's Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour will feature renowned singer Oleta Adams, who first came to prominence when Tears for Fears asked her to appear on their The Seeds of Love album and who has released eight acclaimed CDs of her own; Jonathan Butler, who was the first black artist played on white stations in his native South Africa and has since earned accolades in the R&B, contemporary jazz, and gospel fields; and Japanese-born pianist/composer/producer Keiko Matsui, who has shared the stage with everyone from Stevie Wonder to Miles Davis.

Today, November 3rd at 3:00 p.m. at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, the Chicago Jazz Orchestra, conducted by Jeff Lindberg, will present trumpeter Jon Faddis in the Chicago premiere of the Miles Davis/Gil Evans landmark recording, Miles Ahead.

What is Jazz? Steeped in the American heritage, this original art form has seized artists' imaginations through the years. Locally, jazz legends have passed through Philadelphia's storied history of jazz clubs and smoky bars to perform this great American art form since its birth. Today, the genre continues as a reincarnation of a legendary past and a creative canvas for young and established artists to take it into daring, uncharted territories.

Albert Schultz, Founding Artistic Director of Soulpepper Theatre Company, today announced details of the sixth annual Global Cabaret Festival. From today, October 24 to Sunday, October 27, the Young Centre for the Performing Arts once again becomes home to over 150 of Canada's leading performance artists staging over 15 original one-hour songbooks and cabarets.

Co-Artistic Directors David Finckel and Wu Han - Musical America's 2012 'Musicians of the Year' - present the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center on December 18, 2013, part of the Harris Theater Presents series and one of the highlights of the Theater's November/December performance calendar. Additional performances include the premiere of Generations, the first of a five-year project from Deeply Rooted Dance Theater on November 1, 2013, the premiere of Pipassa - The Seventh Love from Natya Dance Theatre, the return of Alejandro Cerrudo and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's evening-length One Thousand Pieces, and the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance celebrating the 15th anniversary of its annual Cuatro Festival. A complete list of performances and events for November and December can be found below.

Eight-time GRAMMY nominee Dave Koz is now back in the States, where he's sitting in with the band on 'The Arsenio Hall Show' tonight, October 15.