Sunny Sessa News

With her new album The Debut and world tour, multi-platinum recording artist Jackie Evancho matches her extraordinary voice with one of the most exciting reemerging genres in popular music today - the New American Songbook - inspired by the great tradition of Broadway musicals.

Birdland Theater was thrilled to present singer/actor/host/legend John Davidson in concert on Monday, May 27.

There are many organizations that have been established to preserve our musical heritage and at the forefront of those that specialize in The Great American Songbook, Michael Feinstein's foundation is one of the most important and influential.  Last night at a private event Michael entertained for a Park Avenue apartment full of generous New Yorkers who had gathered to help support The Great American Songbook Foundation founded by Michael in 2007.

If you were making a movie about New York City and were tasked to re-create the perfect intimate night club experience that included a beautiful glamorous singer and famous New Yorkers at the tables look no further. That scene took place at the Beach Cafe with actress/singer Linda Purl performing her show up close and personal singing to you from the curve of Tedd Firth's Grand Piano on the East Side of Manhattan last night.

Some of the most momentous moments in music have happened on the stages of Birdland. Currently New Yorkers are witnessing performances by two of the worlds finest musician/entertainers in a musical salute to Nat King Cole that will add magnificently to Birdland's history. Clint Holmes and Billy Stritch have teamed up this week to produce an extraordinary musical event in tribute to Nat. Clint Holmes is one of the most exciting entertainers and jazz vocalists this country has produced, and Billy Stritch's enormous talents as a pianist, arranger and vocalist are world renowned. Both of these giants equally share the stage during this show in Birdland's new Theater. The combination of the two jazz/pop superstars is breathtaking and the one negative is that you can only see it from May 8-11. The word is out…. the seats will be scarce for this exceptional 4 night 6 performance Birdland special event.

Tony winner and Grammy nominee Lena Hall and platinum-selling artist Ingrid Michaelson joined The New York Pops, led by Music Director and Conductor Steven Reineke, for its 36th Birthday Gala, Hat Full of Stars: The Songs of Cyndi Lauper.

For those unenlightened, Jazz/Pop vocalist Nicolas King might seem like an overnight sensation. If you are new to the scene you've only recently discovered one of the most skillful and exciting male singers around. As they say in the trade, 'He's Hot'. Truth be told, Nicolas has been working and honing his amazing talent for 18 of his 27 years, and coincidently collecting many industry awards along the way. Last night at The Beach Cafe on New York's fashionable East Side, Nicolas thrilled an intimate group of sophisticated and musically astute New Yorkers who had gathered in a location that harks back to the golden age of New York City night life. Proprietor Dave Goodside has recreated the ambience of those fashionable Manhattan night spots that enticed you with good food, drink and entertainment. It may not be the 1950's El Morocco or La Martinique (and surely doesn't cost as much), but this special eventing at The Beach Cafe definitely left the Saturday late night audience feeling they were sharing that same nostalgic supper club experience listening to the romantic and Jazz infused vocals of Nicolas King.

Fresh from the 40th Anniversary Actors Fund benefit concert of 'They're Playing Our Song' at the Music Box Theatre in NYC, it's star Lucie Arnaz joined entertainer and Key West impresario Randy Roberts for 'We're Singing Our Songs' at the Tennessee Williams Cabaret Theatre.

There were thrilling moments at The Kravis Center Pops Orchestra concert last night conducted by Maestro Michael Feinstein. One was being able to hear one of the most extraordinary vocalists of our generation, Maureen McGovern perform with the orchestra. Another was the Maestro leaving the podium to sing 'I've Got You Under My Skin' with Ms McGovern. In the first half of the concert Will & Anthony Nunziata, two other great voices also thrilled the audience in the Dreyfoos Concert Hall with their mash up of Unchained Melody/Someone Like You.

There were many places around the world where the music of The Great American Songbook was being performed last night, but none more significant than the concert celebrating the 5th Anniversary of Dick Robinson's Legends Radio 100.3FM, the most successful privately owned radio station in the United States.

The weekend started with Marilyn Maye and The Kravis Center Pops Orchestra Big Band conducted by Tedd Firth in a memorable concert by one of the most beloved singers of our generation. Marilyn Maye, arguably one of the finest vocalists ever to sing in a night club, concert hall, TV Studio or on a Broadway stage gave The Kravis Center Audience an evening of her artistry that will stay in their musical memory forever.

The love and spirit of many cultures was the perfect theme to start off the New Year, and the famed Internationally acclaimed entertainers Lilian & Maycol provided the perfect harmony to begin 2019 at one of the most famous destinations in the world...Palm Beach.

The silent auction item at The New York Pops annual gala/concert held at Carnegie Hall and the Mandarin Hotel in April, offered a pianist to play at your private party complete with catering by Trattoria del Arte. The Pops Concert and Gala's proceeds help finance The Pops/Ed Programs. For the third year, the winning bidder got much more than she bargained for. Not only did the advertised pianist (Stephen Sorokoff) appear, but also a slew of New York's must celebrated keyboard artists and entertainers joined the festivities.

Do you want to have the best birthday party ever? First…. be talented and admired entertainers who have lots of talented friends. Then, have many adoring fans and a large loving family. Next, have Sunny Sessa and Craig Neier create and produce your celebration at the Friars Club. The Friars Club which is the ground zero gathering place for show business folks and one of a kind events (most recent the Billy Crystal Icon Award Gala) hosted Will & Anthony Nunziata's Birthday Bash last night and here is a look inside the celebration.

Deborah Grace Winer was certainly on the right track last night as she hosted her latest creative musical adventure 'New York: Big City Songbook' at the new Birdland Theater. Deborah is well known to New Yorkers for the imaginative and quality presentations she produced for the Lyrics & Lyricists Series at the 92Y, which she led for 9 seasons. It's difficult to construct a show for New Yorkers about New York, we've seen it all…haven't we? but this smart show with vocalists Klea Blackhurst, La Tanya Hall and Nicolas King (real New Yorkers because as Deborah pointed out they come from everywhere) offered a kaleidoscopic vision of life in the city.

Birdland Theater, the new venue spawned from the legendary Birdland on 44th street had a 'soft' opening this summer, followed by a bunch of celebrity openings in September. It had another entertainment first last night because Jamie deRoy brought her friends and her renowned Jamie deRoy & friends Variety show to this great new performance space. The evening had all the glamour and excitement of a Broadway opening night, the kind of evening Ms. deRoy can usually be found at.

There are some cabaret shows that you never want to end and you would stay in your seat for the 2nd (or if there was), third show. Clint Holmes, was introduced by Broadway at Birdland host Jim Caruso last night as one of the best vocalists in the world and Clint's performance on the stage of Birdland, before a star studded audience of music lovers demonstrated how true that intro was.

Gianni Valenti, the music world's gift to New York City, has created another venue for the performing arts. Jim Caruso made it official last night as he introduced Lucie Arnaz, who with her longtime friend and music director Ron Abel thrilled a celebrity filled opening night audience.

Attention Opera, Concert, Broadway, and most of all, Cabaret Lovers…..Paulo Szot is Saluting Broadway in his night club act at Feinstein's/54 Below and I wish you could have heard what we heard last night. Watching and listening to Paulo Szot is one of the most thrilling musical experiences one can have. His voice is inspirational and his physicality is powerfully compelling. To accompany this international super star, one of the finest creative musical directors was at the Steinway… Billy Stritch!

A lot of passengers were blowing their horns in praise after a fantastic Dinner Cabaret Cruise in the New York City harbor supporting the Cancer Schmancer Foundation founded by Fran Drescher.