'The Real (Desperate) Housewives of Columbia County Musical' by Carl Ritchie (book, lyrics, director) and Wayne Moore (music) is a Coward-esque evening from the Taconic Stage Company upstate, which it took by storm in the summer of 2011. Thinly guised as the confessions of four 40-something women on reality TV, this four-character musical spotlights the culture-clash between spoiled, egocentric 'weekender' women and their working class 'townie' counterparts in a rural upstate community. The show has no reason but to delight, which it does with savvy performances, high-heeled lyrics and the poison of its cocktail-party chit-chat dialogue. To share it with a wider audience, Taconic Stage Company will present the piece in its NYC debut tonight, March 7 through March 28 at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 West 42nd Street.
If you are ever in Harlem make sure you visit the Apollo Theater. During the 30's and 40's this was one of New York City's hottest night clubs, the place where the music of Billie, Ella, Dinah, Sarah, Duke, and Dizzy became legendary. In an effort to recapture that bygone glory, the theater is presenting Apollo Club Harlem, an enterprising and captivating attempt not only to revive the jazz spirit of 125th Street, but rekindle it as well for a new generation of jazz and pop music enthusiasts.
'The Real (Desperate) Housewives of Columbia County Musical' by Carl Ritchie (book, lyrics, director) and Wayne Moore (music) is a Coward-esque evening from the Taconic Stage Company upstate, which it took by storm in the summer of 2011. Thinly guised as the confessions of four 40-something women on reality TV, this four-character musical spotlights the culture-clash between spoiled, egocentric 'weekender' women and their working class 'townie' counterparts in a rural upstate community. The show has no reason but to delight, which it does with savvy performances, high-heeled lyrics and the poison of its cocktail-party chit-chat dialogue. To share it with a wider audience, Taconic Stage Company will present the piece in its NYC debut March 7 to 28 at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 West 42nd Street.
The Bedford Hills based, much buzzed about and highly acclaimed new intergenerational rock band, JAZMO, will make its New York Premiere at the world-renown Iridium (1650 Broadway at 51st Street, NYC) tonight, January 8th at 8:00pm and 10:00pm.
On January 16, 1938, the Benny Goodman Orchestra set a new precedent for jazz performances by performing at Carnegie Hall. Up until then, jazz was traditionally heard in clubs. Furthermore, the concert broke new ground for racial equality by being one of the first such presentations in a "highbrow" concert hall to feature a racially integrated band. From January 15th to January 20th, the Blue Note will bring the world of jazz orchestras back to the club with the music of Benny Goodman's immortal Carnegie Hall Concert.
Today, Dec. 29th, at the Park West, 322 W. Armitage, Chicago, just days after Frank Zappa's 72nd birthday, the Chicago Jazz Orchestra (CJO) presents an adventurous tribute to this great American musical genius. The show, which begins at 7:30 p.m., will feature the 15-piece CJO along with saxophonist Ernie Watts, who was in Zappa's band for the original recording of The Grand Wazoo. Electric violinist Mark Wood (Trans-Siberian Orchestra) and electric bassist Dave Morgan, who created the arrangements for this show, are also featured. Conducting the performance will be CJO artistic director Jeff Lindberg.
The Bedford Hills based, much buzzed about and highly acclaimed new intergenerational rock band, JAZMO, will make its New York Premiere at the world-renown Iridium (1650 Broadway at 51st Street, NYC) on Tuesday, January 8th at 8:00pm and 10:00pm.
On Saturday, Dec. 29th, at the Park West, 322 W. Armitage, Chicago, just days after Frank Zappa's 72nd birthday, the Chicago Jazz Orchestra (CJO) presents an adventurous tribute to this great American musical genius. The show, which begins at 7:30 p.m., will feature the 15-piece CJO along with saxophonist Ernie Watts, who was in Zappa's band for the original recording of The Grand Wazoo. Electric violinist Mark Wood (Trans-Siberian Orchestra) and electric bassist Dave Morgan, who created the arrangements for this show, are also featured. Conducting the performance will be CJO artistic director Jeff Lindberg.
The Chicago Jazz Orchestra (CJO) has been chosen to perform at the 35th Annual Kennedy Center Honors Gala this Sun., December 2, in Washington, D.C. This performance marks the 24th straight year that the CJO has been awarded this singular performance honor.
'Sandy Jordan's World of Jazz and Cabaret' is a kind of companion film to 'The Zen of Bennett,' a documentary about Tony Bennett by Unjoo Moon. Sandy Jordan -- a star of New York night clubs and cabaret for over three decades -- has focused her incredible experience and energy on a star-studded hour-long documentary film called 'Sandy Jordan's World of Jazz and Cabaret.' The world premiere is today, November 18 at 8 PM at Tribeca Cinemas. It is directed by David Capurso.
'Sandy Jordan's World of Jazz and Cabaret' is a kind of companion film to 'The Zen of Bennett,' a documentary about Tony Bennett by Unjoo Moon. Sandy Jordan -- a star of New York night clubs and cabaret for over three decades -- has focused her incredible experience and energy on a star-studded hour-long documentary film called 'Sandy Jordan's World of Jazz and Cabaret.' The world premiere is November 18 at 8 PM at Tribeca Cinemas. It is directed by David Capurso.
The Clearwater Foundation honors David Amram with the Power of Song Award tonight, November 9 at 6:30 PM at the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Symphony Space, located at 95th and Broadway, New York City.
A FEW HONEST WORDS explores how Kentucky's landscape, culture, and traditions have influenced notable contemporary musicians. Featuring intimate interviews with household names (Naomi Judd, Joan Osborne, and Dwight Yoakam), emerging artists, and local musicians, author Jason Howard's rich and detailed profiles reveal the importance of the state and the Appalachian region to the creation and performance of music in America.
The 1st Annual Bob Stewart Tuba Competition, created by The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts, will be held today, October 20, 2012 from 12 Noon to 5 PM as part of The 37th Annual 52nd Street Duke Ellington Jazz Festival. The competition has been created to provide enhanced exposure to the many dynamic tuba players who perform in improvisational music ensembles in and around the New York area. The five groups chosen for the competition perform in a wide range of genres from traditional and contemporary Jazz to Blues, hip-hop, funk rock and world music.
Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the new performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, and beyond. Starring Emmy and Tony winner Andrea Martin with Seth Rudetsky, acclaimed singer/pianist Tony Desare, Tony nominees Dee Hoty, Christiane Noll and Christine Andreas, as well as award-winning vocalist Tom Judson and the fabulous dragapella beauty shop quartet The Kinsey Sicks.
The 1st Annual Bob Stewart Tuba Competition, created by The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts, will be held on Saturday, October 20, 2012 from 12 Noon to 5 PM as part of The 37th Annual 52nd Street Duke Ellington Jazz Festival. The competition has been created to provide enhanced exposure to the many dynamic tuba players who perform in improvisational music ensembles in and around the New York area. The five groups chosen for the competition perform in a wide range of genres from traditional and contemporary Jazz to Blues, hip-hop, funk rock and world music.
Salt Lake Community College opens its Fall Choir Concert series with a showcase featuring the SLCC Choirs on September 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the Grand Theatre, located at 1575 South State St. in Salt Lake City. The Concert Series continues in November as the Salt City Jazz performs The Great American Songbook and continues with Chamber Singers in Concert. The Carols of Christmas will offer the year's final Concert Series performance in December.
The Clearwater Foundation honors David Amram with the Power of Song Award on Friday, November 9 at 6:30 PM at the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Symphony Space, located at 95th and Broadway, New York City.
Chicago Opera Theater's (COT) Opera For All education outreach program began its 13th year in Chicago Public Schools this August. The program is returning to Dewitt Clinton Elementary, Lionel Hampton Fine & Performing Arts School, and Reilly Elementary. This year, the program is able to bring opera to more students than ever before, adding Chase Elementary, Cameron Elementary, St. Vincent Center, and the Marillac Center to the roster of participating schools. With such an expansion, Opera For All now educates more than 600 students from second to sixth grade.
