Peggy Lee News

On Sunday, January 16, 1938 the world of Jazz and Swing changed forever. On Sunday, September 22, 2013 The Capital Jazz Orchestra and New York City clarinet virtuoso Ken Peplowski will salute the 75rd anniversary of this momentous concert…recreating that very show, to the minute! Benny Goodman's 1938 show at Carnegie Hall in New York has been billed as the world's most famous jazz concert, a ground-breaking event that brought jazz into the mainstream. The concert featured such swing icons as Lionel Hampton, Harry James, Gene Krupa, Count Basie, Lester Young and Johnny Hodges and included such timeless jazz classics as "Don't Be That Way," "Avalon," and the iconic swing performance of "Sing, Sing, Sing."

Pete Seeger, a master of vocals, banjo, and guitar and well known for influencing the development of folk music and for his continued commitment to social justice, peace and environmental issues, is the recipient of the first Phoebe Jacobs Award of Distinction which will be presented by Beth Israel Medical Center's Louis Armstrong Center for Music & Medicine at its 8th Annual What A Wonderful World event on Monday, September 23rd.

South Whidbey welcomes its newest festival, the inaugural PianoFest Northwest. The festival opens at WICA this week, July 19-21, 2013 Modeled after our world famous DjangoFest Northwest, and catering to music lovers who appreciate piano music that ranges from classical to contemporary, this event headlines three music talents, each unique to their genre.

Back on April 1, when he posted his third compilation of delayed cabaret reviews from shows staged during the winter, BroadwayWorld.com's lead New York cabaret reviewer promised Number 4 would come with arrival of summer. Okay, so he missed his self-imposed deadline by a couple of weeks. but here's yet another catch-up column with critiques of a half dozen spring shows performed by Bryan Batt, Dawn Derow, Lynly Forrest, Dennis McNeil, Anastasia Barzee, and Nina Hennessey.

Bay Area Cabaret, devoted to presenting audiences with top performers who expand the definition of cabaret, enters its 10th season this fall with a gala series at the Fairmont San Francisco's historic Venetian Room. To celebrate this significant milestone, Bay Area Cabaret presents a star-studded lineup of performers making their Bay Area Cabaret debuts, as well as the return of a few favorites from the past decade. Opening the season Saturday, September 21, 2013 with a bang is Broadway's Megan Hilty, known to millions as the powerhouse 'Bombshell' on NBC's television program Smash. The season continues October 20, 2013 with Tony nominee Norm Lewis (The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess) and November 10, 2013 with 'America's romantic piano sensation,' multi-platinum selling recording artist Jim Brickman, joined by special guest Broadway heartthrob David Burnham.

Start spreading the news! Big Band Legends, a dazzling production that honors the great crooners and songbirds from Bing Crosby to Michael Buble, is entertaining theatregoers of all ages at the King's Wharf Theatre in Penetanguishene through July 13th. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast in action!

The City of Cleveland Heights and Cain Park present the Broadway hit Smokey Joe's Cafe - The Songs of Leiber and Stoller tonight, June 14-June 30 (preview June 13). Directed by Scott Plate, the musical will open in Cain Park's Alma Theater.

A Connecticut-based live show, celebrating the music of New Haven natives, Karen and Richard Carpenter, will play for two nights in Collinsville, Conn. - just one week before the band debuts at a Las Vegas casino. The tribute to the legendary Carpenters stars vocalist Michelle Berting Brett, and is accompanied by a seven-piece band of successful Nashville musicians, some of whom performed with Richard Carpenter himself.

A Connecticut-based live show, celebrating the music of New Haven natives, Karen and Richard Carpenter, will play for two nights in Collinsville, Conn. - just one week before the band debuts at a Las Vegas casino. The tribute to the legendary Carpenters stars vocalist Michelle Berting Brett, and is accompanied by a seven-piece band of successful Nashville musicians, some of whom performed with Richard Carpenter himself.

As a big fan of cabaret shows that incorporate horn sections (as does Terese Genecco's monthly 'Little Big Band' efforts at Iridium or Carole J. Bufford's 2012 show, speakeasy., which featured Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks), I was more than a little jazzed to hear that compelling Streisand sound-alike Marieann Meringolo would be doing a package of her 'greatest cabaret hits' from past shows, but supported by a 7-piece band (including three horns--Richie Vitale on trumpet, Jonathan Kantor on tenor sax, and Danny Hall on trombone) for a gig spanning three weekend nights (May 31-June 2) that she and her director Eric Michael Gillett called 'Orchestrated.' In this case, 'orchestrated' unfortunately came across more like 'engineered' or 'manufactured.'

The City of Cleveland Heights and Cain Park present the Broadway hit Smokey Joe's Cafe - The Songs of Leiber and Stoller June 14-June 30 (preview June 13). Directed by Scott Plate, the musical will open in Cain Park's Alma Theater.

A Connecticut-based live show, celebrating the music of New Haven natives, Karen and Richard Carpenter, will play for two nights in Collinsville, Conn. - just one week before the band debuts at a Las Vegas casino. The tribute to the legendary Carpenters stars vocalist Michelle Berting Brett, and is accompanied by a seven-piece band of successful Nashville musicians, some of whom performed with Richard Carpenter himself.

Joe's Pub at The Public will make its debut in Brooklyn as a co-presenter at the second annual Great GoogaMooga Festival in Prospect Park. The three-day outdoor food, drink and music festival is produced by Superfly Presents and will take place today, May 17 through Sunday, May 19, 2013. The Joe's Pub Stage will host eight performances on Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19.

Joe's Pub at The Public will make its debut in Brooklyn as a co-presenter at the second annual Great GoogaMooga Festival in Prospect Park. The three-day outdoor food, drink and music festival is produced by Superfly Presents and will take place Friday, May 17 through Sunday, May 19, 2013. The Joe's Pub Stage will host eight performances on Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19.

"We've Only Just Begun: Carpenters Remembered," a tribute to popular 70s music group The Carpenters, is coming to the Suncoast Showroom June 22 and 23.

Backstage Bistro and MAC Award winner Stacy Sullivan will headline a brand new late night music series opening this Spring at the famed Cafe Carlyle. Sullivan just performed music from her new album, 'It's a Good Day/A Tribute to Miss Peggy Lee' and you can check out photos from the concert below!

The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel, welcomes award-winning trumpeter/vocalist/composer, Bria Skonberg, for its new 'Second Act, A Late Night Series of Fun and Entertainment' at the Cafe Carlyle on April 11-12, 25-26, and May 23-24. Ms. Skonberg's show, Brass and Belles, is a tribute to the historic horn and female vocal pairings of greats like Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, Anita O'Day and Roy Eldridge, and more. She is joined by Dalton Ridenhour at the piano, Darrian Douglas on drums, and Sean Cronin on upright bass and vocals. Check out photos from her concert below!

On Sunday, April 14, Randie Levine-Miller presented and hosted Broadway Showstopper Divas --'A Swell Party' at the Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street) as an Actors Fund Benefit. The evening's theme was 'The Vets and the Yets!'-- starring the best of the best -- Broadway star and Tony nominated Anita Gillette, and Broadway actress/singer and cabaret comedienne Jackie Hoffman. Scroll down for photos from the concert!

Tonight, April 14, 2013 at 7:00 PM, Randie Levine-Miller will present Broadway Showstopper Divas --'A Swell Party' at the Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street) as an Actors Fund Benefit.*

On Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 7:00 PM, Randie Levine-Miller will present Broadway Showstopper Divas --'A Swell Party' at the Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street) as an Actors Fund Benefit.*