Marion Cowings News

Why Did I Choose You follows up on the success of Eml Takada's previous recording I'm All Smiles. She sings ten classic songs with understated feeling and sensitivity while joined by a swinging quartet comprised of pianist Michael Kanan, guitarist Satoshi Inoue, bassist Neal Miner, and drummer Dwayne “Cook” Broadnax.

ELLINGTON ON BROADWAY, featuring songs from the hit musicals PLAY ON and SOPHISTICATED LADIES, will kick off a monthly performance series honoring Jazz Great Duke Ellington at Birdland Jazz Club, 315 West 44th Street, NYC.

ELLINGTON ON BROADWAY, featuring songs from the hit musicals PLAY ON and SOPHISTICATED LADIES, will kick off a monthly performance series honoring Jazz Great Duke Ellington at Birdland Jazz Club, 315 West 44th Street, NYC.

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is proud to present The Swingaroos: Hollywood Serenade, a brand-new music revue celebrating big band leaders like Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman, as well as the stars-like Fred Astaire and Lena Horne-who performed alongside them on the silver screen. Featuring "At Last," "The Joint is Really Jumpin' Down at Carnegie Hall," and "Hooray for Hollywood," this jazzy show transports audiences back to the '30s and '40s, when swing dancing was all the rage. With musical arrangements by Assaf Gleizner, The Swingaroos: Hollywood Serenade begins July 23 in FST's Court Cabaret. Tickets can be purchased at floridastudiotheatre.org or at (941) 366-9000.

THE MAESTRO'S 120TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AT THE DUKE ELLINGTON MONUMENT, on Sunday, April 28, 2019, 1PM to 3PM, is a free all-Ellington theatrical music presentation at The Duke Ellington Monument, that stands majestically at the Frawley's Circle in Central Park (corner of 110th Street and 5th Avenue), the Gateway to Harlem. Mercedes Ellington,  producer, performer/choreographer, Ellington's granddaughter is the Founder & Artistic Director of DECFA.

THE MAESTRO'S 120TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AT THE DUKE ELLINGTON MONUMENT, on Sunday, April 28, 2019, 1PM to 3PM, is a free all-Ellington theatrical music presentation at The Duke Ellington Monument, that stands majestically at the Frawley's Circle in Central Park (corner of 110th Street and 5th Avenue), the Gateway to Harlem. Mercedes Ellington,  producer, performer/choreographer, Ellington's granddaughter is the Founder & Artistic Director of DECFA.

Over the past few weeks, Jim Caruso's Cast Party at Birdland has been the place for an enormous variety of musical talent, with Caruso hosting, Billy Stritch accompanying on the eighty-eights, and the Cast Party Symphony Orchestra (Steve Doyle on bass and Daniel Glass on drums).

The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts (DECFA) will celebrate the 119th birthday of Duke Ellington with a FREE All-Ellington Musical Tribute on Sunday, April 29, 2018, 1PM to 3PM. which will be staged beneath the Duke Ellington statue that stands majestically at the corner of 110th Street and 5th Avenue - the Gateway to Harlem, it was announced by noted dancer/choreographer Mercedes Ellington, Duke Ellington's granddaughter, who is President, Founder & Artistic Director of DECFA.

Jim Caruso's Cast Party, 'Birdland's star-studded, 'extreme' open mic/variety show' continues to dazzle packed houses at Birdland (315 West 44 Street, NYC) every Monday night starting at 9:30pm.

The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts (DECFA) will celebrate the 118th birthday of Duke Ellington with a Free all-Ellington musical performance on Saturday, April 29, 2017 from 1 to 3 PM which will be staged at the Duke Ellington statue that stands majestically at the corner of 110th Street and Fifth Avenue - the Gateway to Harlem, it was announced by noted dancer/choreographer Mercedes Ellington, Duke Ellington's granddaughter, who is Founder/President of DECFA.

Dino's Backstage and The Celebrity Room is feeling lucky this March! Marvelous entertainers and singers will grace the stage all month long, creating an unforgettable experience. This month's performers include Mark Nadler 'Cole Porter After Dark', Gabrielle Stravelli, Kathy 'Babe' Robinson, Bob Egan (for his Bob Egan Showcase) and, Michael Richard Kelly. Additionally, the dynamic duo, Eddie Bruce and Paula Johns, are set to perform March 29, 30 and 31.  Dino's Backstage and The Celebrity Room - the unique dining and entertainment experience reminiscent of the sophisticated supper clubs of the 40s and 50s - is located at 287 Keswick Avenue in Glenside, PA. See www.dinosbackstage.com or call 215-884-2000 for more information, including specific music charges and minimums in The Celebrity Room.

Good Morning America news anchor and music fan Ron Claiborne will host a gala evening honoring vocalese original Jon Hendricks once dubbed the 'James Joyce of Jazz' by Time magazine, and producer Cobi Narita who founded and led both the Universal Jazz Coalition and New York Women's Jazz Festival for several decades.

The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts (DECFA), headed by renowned dancer/choreographer Mercedes Ellington, the Duke's granddaughter, will celebrate Ellington's 116th birthday this year today, April 25, with a musical tribute to five other legendary jazz performers from 1 to 3 PM in front of the towering Duke Ellington Statue in the Plaza at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and 110th Street.

The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts (DECFA), headed by renowned dancer/choreographer Mercedes Ellington, the Duke's granddaughter, will celebrate Ellington's 116th birthday this year on Saturday, April 25, with a musical tribute to five other legendary jazz performers from 1 to 3 PM in front of the towering Duke Ellington Statue in the Plaza at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and 110th Street.

The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts will commemorate the Duke's 115th birthday with an outdoor ceremony and concert on Sunday, April 27th at 1 PM in front of Duke Ellington's statue at 5th Avenue and 110th street. Additionally Duke Ellington's 115th Birthday Bash, a musical birthday Party and show will be celebrated on Duke's actual birthday two days later (Tuesday, April 29, from 7 to 9 PM) at Ballroom off Fifth on 37th St between 5th and 6th Avenues.

Although the legendary Duke Ellington passed away on May 24, 1974, nearly 40 years ago, his fame and stature continue to grow and blossom. Just this past year alone, After Midnight, a big band musical featuring all-Ellington music in a tribute to Harlem's famous Cotton Club, opened on Broadway and is one of the favorites for winning a TONY Award this year; an SRO audience cheered the hundreds of students who participated in Arranging Ellington, concert of Ellington's sacred music, at Carnegie Hall this past March 23; and the Duke Ellington Center Big Band is finalizing plans for concert tours of France and the US during the upcoming year.

Legendary jazz singer Marion Cowings, whose smooth baritone voice and considerable range has been delighting audiences all over the world for decades, will be performing the next two Today nights at clubs in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

Legendary jazz singer Marion Cowings, whose smooth baritone voice and considerable range has been delighting audiences all over the world for decades, will be performing the next two Friday nights at clubs in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

Legendary opera star, Elaine Malbin, will be among a panel of experts judging the 13th Annual Mario Lanza and Elaine Malbin Vocal Competitions which will be held on the main stage at Broadway and 86th Street from 2:00 to 5:00 PM. Other judges will include Bill Ronayne, President of the Mario Lanza Society; Lewis Ehlers, noted opera agent and an associate with Robert Lombardo and Associates; and Cristina Necula, an opera singer and author of My Life in Opera. A total of 29 singers -- nine tenors and 20 sopranos - have registered as of this date and will compete for prizes. The competitions are the largest outdoor competitions in the country.

Legendary opera star, Elaine Malbin, will be among a panel of experts judging the 13th Annual Mario Lanza and Elaine Malbin Vocal Competitions which will be held on the main stage at Broadway and 86th Street from 2:00 to 5:00 PM. Other judges will include Bill Ronayne, President of the Mario Lanza Society; Lewis Ehlers, noted opera agent and an associate with Robert Lombardo and Associates; and Cristina Necula, an opera singer and author of My Life in Opera. A total of 29 singers -- nine tenors and 20 sopranos - have registered as of this date and will compete for prizes. The competitions are the largest outdoor competitions in the country.