Patience Higgins News

One would hope that ANDRE DE SHIELDS: OLD DAWG; NEW TRICKS would find the theatrical life it deserves beyond this one concert. The story of JELLY and what has become of him is not just one for all, but one for the ages.

On his day off from appearing as Hermes in the Broadway production of Anais Mitchell's Hadestown at the Walter Kerr Theatre, two-time Tony nominee and Emmy winner Andre De Shields headed to the Victoria Theater at NJPAC in Newark to celebrate his company of fabulous singers and dancers under his direction in the Crossroads Theatre Company and NJPAC's co-production of Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies. Scroll down for photos from the party.

Make Music Winter, a free, outdoor music-making celebration held each Dec. 21 and featuring 15 participatory musical parades across New York City that bring communities together, today announced its updated schedule of events. The all-day musical celebration on the winter solstice brings out New Yorkers of all ages and musical ability to sing, play, march and dance their way across streets, parks, plazas and other public spaces across the five boroughs. Make Music Winter, which launched in NYC in 2011 and is expanding nationwide with 30 U.S. cities participating, is the cold-weather counterpart to Make Music Day, the annual global celebration of music occurring on June 21, the summer solstice.

Make Music Winter, a free, outdoor music-making celebration held each Dec. 21 and featuring 15 participatory musical parades across New York City that bring communities together, today announced its updated schedule of events. The all-day musical celebration on the winter solstice brings out New Yorkers of all ages and musical ability to sing, play, march and dance their way across streets, parks, plazas and other public spaces across the five boroughs. Make Music Winter, which launched in NYC in 2011 and is expanding nationwide with 30 U.S. cities participating, is the cold-weather counterpart to Make Music Day, the annual global celebration of music occurring on June 21, the summer solstice.

He's out there on stage, on a raised dance platform at The Hollywood Bowl, center, downstage, in a simple T-shirt and pants, into himself, making sounds like a woodpecker, a train; a horse trotting,... maybe there are fireworks going off? Maybe gunshots, or a rapid -fire AK-47, even. The sounds are all coming from the bottom of his feet! He is like lightning with tap shoes on. Like bursts of electrical currents that make all kinds of sounds. Snap, crackle, pop, step-step, shuffle, ball-change, flap, flap, then into a tirade of tap accents too fast to count out or give a name to. GREGORY PORTER: NAT KING COLE & ME If you like classy jazz and blues, lovingly remember Nat King Cole and his style, and hearing a beautiful live orchestra playing, Gregory Porter is your man. Vince Mendoza conducts the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra with finesse and aplomb, and Gregory sings one glorious tune after another, starting out with 'Mona Lisa.' It's a sit back, relax and just enjoy it all, rest of the evening. He has a deep, rich voice, sounding very much like the great Nat King Cole and the pipes to sustain those ending notes with ease.

The Bickford Theatre celebrates the 100th anniversary of the birth of jazz legend Thelonious Monk on Thursday, February 22, with a concert featuring his son, the acclaimed drummer, educator and composer T.S. Monk who will perform with his sextet introducing vocalist April May Webb.

The world premiere of THE NEW WORLD runs at Bucks County Playhouse through December 2, and the critics are weighing in!

Pianist Ben Rosenblum will perform music from his debut release Instead alongside a veteran rhythm section of jazz masters, including Curtis Lundy (Grammy-nominated bassist famous for his work with Betty Carter) and Billy Hart (legendary drummer with Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner and Herbie Hancock) at Mezzrow (163 West 10th Street) on Sunday, May 21.  

Pianist Ben Rosenblum will present unique solo piano programs each Tuesday in April at The Kitano, (66 Park Ave, no cover, $15 min food/drink charge), including: selected standards and originals (April 4), selections from unusual inspirations/sources (April 11); special guests (April 18); and selections from his debut album (April 25).  Ben's music has earned numerous awards, including the ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Award and several Downbeat Student Music Awards (best original composition and best original arrangement), and has been described as "mature beyond his years." (John Neudorf)

OneTrickDog* Records is pleased to announce the release of Instead, the debut album from New York pianist and composer, Ben Rosenblum.

OneTrickDog* Records is pleased to announce the release of Instead, the debut album from New York pianist and composer, Ben Rosenblum.

The spirit of jazz legends Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald (with a little Tito Puente) was palpable in the Milton Berle room at New York's Friars Club on April 25 for the second-annual production of Triple Threats. Broadway veterans (including Duke's granddaughter, Mercedes Ellington, who also co-produced the show) joined some of America's most accomplished jazz musicians to celebrate the April birthdays of the music greats and to honor those performers who sing, dance, and act at the highest levels.

Last night Mercedes Ellington granddaughter of Duke Ellington and president and founder of The Duke Ellington Center For The Arts along with co-producer Judi Marks hosted a Triple Threat musical celebration at the legendary Friars Club.  It was a special evening that featured performances of the music of the three giants of Jazz and BroadwayWorld was there.

"I'm a black woman in America; breathing is political," stated Natalie Douglas, wryly, early in her March 21 concert at Birdland to celebrate the release of her excellent new recording Human Heart. I felt myself inwardly fist pump-yes! Douglas dared to acknowledge the contemporary political circus-which I, for one, am completely obsessed with-on the cabaret stage! Okay, I can relax-I will make it through this show without listening to a political podcast or reading a David Brooks New York Times opinion column after all. Phew! I have not entered a purely escapist fantasyland, but surrendered to the capable musical ensemble on stage. Douglas wore a long white gown (chosen out of the pile when her husband made an approvingly bawdy comment as she tried it on for him) and her band-all six of whom appear on the record-wore all black. The appearance was a study in contrast, but the group, was most assuredly a cohesive instrument.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series was delighted to welcome Natalie Douglas back to her musical home for the thirty-ninth time on Monday, March 21 with a concert celebrating her new CD, 'Human Heart.' BroadwayWorld has photos from the concert below!

NATALIE DOUGLAS - the acclaimed vocalist hailed as "a true, true star" by BBC London, "sensational" by Time Out New York and "stirring" by The New York Daily News - will release her new long-awaited third album Human Heart on Friday, March 18. She will celebrate the new recording with a special concert at Birdland Jazz Club on Monday, March 21 at 7:00 PM. Human Heart is produced by Brian J. Nash with photography by Bill Westmoreland.

Birdland Jazz Club is pleased to announce their line-up of talent for August 19 - August 25, 2013.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its August 2013 schedule, featuring: Pablo Ziegler's 'Tango Conexion,' Billy Hart Quartet, Trio 3, Joey DeFrancesco with the City Rhythm Orchestra, Charlie Parker Birthday Celebration, Luiz Simas Quartet, Tamm E. Hunt, Steve Kazee, Pedro Giraudo Expansions Big Band, Julie Halston, Roni Ben-Hur 'Wes Montgomery Tribute,' Tex Allen Sextet, Martin Piecuch Trio 'Jazzical Fusion,' Tim Hagans Quartet, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, Jay Leonhart Duo, and MANY MORE!

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its August 2013 schedule, featuring: Pablo Ziegler's 'Tango Conexion,' Billy Hart Quartet, Trio 3, Joey DeFrancesco with the City Rhythm Orchestra, Charlie Parker Birthday Celebration, Luiz Simas Quartet, Tamm E. Hunt, Steve Kazee, Pedro Giraudo Expansions Big Band, Julie Halston, Roni Ben-Hur 'Wes Montgomery Tribute,' Tex Allen Sextet, Martin Piecuch Trio 'Jazzical Fusion,' Tim Hagans Quartet, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, Jay Leonhart Duo, and MANY MORE!

Legendary HAIR Composer Galt MacDermot will be performing at Carnegie Hall's Weill Hall in 'An Evening of Music with Galt MacDermot' tonight from 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm. MacDermot will be appearing with the New Pulse Band and Broadway Singers.