Mark Gross News

As ESPN continues to document the Golden State Warriors' historic season, ESPN's NBA Countdown will show every 3-pointer that Stephen Curry has made this season during its Friday, April 1 episode at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN and WatchESPN.

The South Orange Performing Arts Center and John Lee & Jazz Legacy Productions proudly present Giants of Jazz 18, this year honoring jazz pianist George Cables, on Saturday, November 28 at 8 p.m. The night will include performances by jazz luminaries Gary Bartz, Don Braden, Tommy Campbell, Sharel Cassity, Larry Coryell, Sullivan Fortner, Roberta, Gambarini, Mark Gross, Russell Hall, Roy Hargrove, Billy Harper, Jimmy Heath, Freddie Hendrix, Vic Juris, Victor Lewis, Jeb Patton, Justin Robinson, Claudio Roditi, Wallace Roney, Ameen Saleem, Evan Sherman, Lenny White and Buster Williams. There may be late additions to the roster as more artists stop by to honor Mr. Cables. Tickets are $50-$60 and can be purchased online at SOPACnow.org, or by calling the box office at (973) 313-2787.

John Saunders, one of ESPN's longest-tenured and most accomplished commentators, has reached a new multi-year agreement with ESPN

Recently retired basketball standout Shane Battier - widely recognized for his college and professional career that includes multiple championships and awards - will join ESPN as a men's college basketball analyst.

Musicians from the Jazz at Lincoln Center All-Stars band, currently in the 7-time Tony-nominated Broadway musical After Midnight, visited Duke Ellington's grave at Woodlawn cemetery, where a crowd gathered to honor his legacy on the 40th year anniversary of his death. They played MOOD INDIGO, and Mercedes Ellington (Duke's granddaughter) placed a wreath at the gravesite. They finished with a triumphant Ellington classic, TAKE THE A TRAIN.

It was announced today during a live appearance from the stage of the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, that Multi-Platinum recording artist and actress Vanessa Williams is set to join the roster of 'Special Guest Star' vocalists in the critically acclaimed Broadway musical, After Midnight. Williams will play performances from Tuesday, April 1, 2014 through Sunday, May 11, 2014 at theBrooks Atkinson Theatre (256 W 47th Street). Directed and choreographed by Warren Carlyle, After Midnight began preview performances on Friday, October 18, 2013, and opened to rave reviews on Sunday, November 3, 2013.

Doris Burke, one of ESPN's most talented and versatile commentators, has signed a multi-year extension with the network and will continue to play a key role in its NBA and college basketball coverage.

Just yesterday, producers Scott Sanders and Wynton Marsalis announced the roster of musicians who will form the Jazz at Lincoln Center All-Stars and play nightly on Broadway in the new musical After Midnight. Hand-picked by Marsalis, Jazz at Lincoln Center's nine-time Grammy and Pulitzer Prize Award-winning Artistic Director, the band includes 17 of the finest soloists and ensemble players in the music world today. Directed and choreographed by Warren Carlyle, After Midnight begins preview performances at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 West 47th Street) on Friday, October 18, 2013 with an official opening night set for Sunday, November 3, 2013. The All-Stars and cast members Fantasia, Adriane Lenox, and Dule Hill gave a special musical preview of the upcoming show and you can check out photos from the special event below!

Earlier today, producers Scott Sanders and Wynton Marsalis announced the roster of musicians who will form the Jazz at Lincoln Center All-Stars and play nightly on Broadway in the new musical After Midnight. Hand-picked by Marsalis, Jazz at Lincoln Center's nine-time Grammy and Pulitzer Prize Award-winning Artistic Director, the band includes 17 of the finest soloists and ensemble players in the music world today. Directed and choreographed by Warren Carlyle, After Midnight begins preview performances at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 West 47th Street) on Friday, October 18, 2013 with an official opening night set for Sunday, November 3, 2013. The All-Stars and cast member Dule Hill gave a special musical preview of the upcoming show and you can check out a sneak peek below!

Producers Scott Sanders and Wynton Marsalis have announced the roster of musicians who will form the Jazz at Lincoln Center All-Stars and play nightly on Broadway in the new musical After Midnight. Hand-picked by Marsalis, Jazz at Lincoln Center's nine-time Grammy and Pulitzer Prize Award-winning Artistic Director, the band includes 17 of the finest soloists and ensemble players in the music world today. Directed and choreographed by Warren Carlyle, After Midnight begins preview performances at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 West 47th Street) on Friday, October 18, 2013 with an official opening night set for Sunday, November 3, 2013.

SportsCenter anchor Linda Cohn and reporter/host Shannon Spake have each extended their contracts to remain with ESPN, it was announced today.

Gato Barbieri has had to cancel tonight's and tomorrow's performances at the Blue Note. In his place will be the Michel Camilo Trio featuring Cliff Almond (drums) and Lincoln Goines (bass). The performances will take place today & Tuesday, December 3 & 4, 8 pm & 10:30 pm at The Blue Note located at 131 West 3rd Street, New York, NY 10012. Tickets are priced at $45 table seats, $30 at the bar.

Gato Barbieri has had to cancel his upcoming Monday and Tuesday performances at the Blue Note. In his place will be the Michel Camilo Trio featuring Cliff Almond (drums) and Lincoln Goines (bass). The performances will take place on Monday & Tuesday, December 3 & 4, 8 pm & 10:30 pm at The Blue Note located at 131 West 3rd Street, New York, NY 10012. Tickets are priced at $45 table seats, $30 at the bar.

There may have been 40 cabaret performers strutting their stuff this past week at the 23rd New York Cabaret Convention at the Rose Theater at Lincoln Center, but the true star of the three-night extravaganza (October 17-19) was the late Donald Smith, the cabaret impresario and guru to the genre's luminaries, who died this past March at 79. Sponsored by the Mabel Mercer Foundation, which Smith founded in 1985, this year's Convention featured numerous homages to Smith from the performers, many of whom had their career's supported and advanced with the help of the colorful and beloved cabaret producer and promoter. Early in Wednesday's Gala Opening Night show, the 'first lady of the American keyboard' Barbara Carroll called her friend Donald Smith 'the quintessential New Yorker,' and when Mark Nadler closed night one with George and Ira Gershwin's 'Our Love Is Here to Stay,' he said, 'Everybody who cares about the myths of these songs are in this room tonight.' Well, it was clear that anyone who cared about Donald Smith was at the Rose Theater for at least one of the three shows.

KIA NBA COUNTDOWN - ESPN and ABC's NBA pre-game show - will present a new look this season when Grantland editor-in-chief Bill Simmons and ESPN analyst Jalen Rose join NBA Hall of Famer Earvin 'Magic' Johnson and Michael Wilbon.

Besides ending May with the beginning of Smoke Jazz & Supper Club's month-long Miles Davis Birthday tribute, we start May headliners with Buster Williams 'Spanish Sun-Flamenco Rising' blending flamenco with jazz. Another new series at Smoke is our Wednesday new artist series, each week a different artist. Gregory Porter continues his Thursday residency at Smoke, and KJ Dennert starts the weekend off smoothly at our Saturday brunch shows. See details below.

Bassist and composer Buster Williams leads his Something More ensemble in a presentation of flamenco and jazz entitled Spanish Sun - Flamenco Rising, with Mark Gross on saxophone, Eric Reed on piano, Ignacio Berroa on drums, and special guest Adam del Monte on flamenco guitar, at the Iridium Jazz Club on August 6-8, 2010.

Iridium Jazz Club (1650 Broadway at 51st St.) hosts bassist and composer Buster Williams and hishis Something More ensemble from August 6th to 8th. Sets begin at 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. and feature a $25 cover charge. The presentation of flamenco and jazz is entitled 'Spanish Sun - Flamenco Rising', with Mark Gross on saxophone, Eric Reed on piano, Ignacio Berroa on drums, and special guest Adam del Monte on flamenco guitar.

Iridium Jazz Club (1650 Broadway at 51st St.) hosts bassist and composer Buster Williams and hishis Something More ensemble from August 6th to 8th. Sets begin at 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. and feature a $25 cover charge. The presentation of flamenco and jazz is entitled 'Spanish Sun - Flamenco Rising', with Mark Gross on saxophone, Eric Reed on piano, Ignacio Berroa on drums, and special guest Adam del Monte on flamenco guitar.

Iridium Jazz Club (1650 Broadway at 51st St.) hosts bassist and composer Buster Williams and hishis Something More ensemble from August 6th to 8th. Sets begin at 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. and feature a $25 cover charge. The presentation of flamenco and jazz is entitled 'Spanish Sun - Flamenco Rising', with Mark Gross on saxophone, Eric Reed on piano, Ignacio Berroa on drums, and special guest Adam del Monte on flamenco guitar.