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| Live at Birdland Jazz Club and Birdland Theater: March 2020 March 1 (Sunday) 5:30 PM – Birdland Jazz Club The Purchase Latin Jazz Orchestra Directed by David DeJesus Comprised of the top student musicians in SUNY Purchase's Conservatory of Music, this exciting large ensemble performs styles from all across Latin America, rendering the worlds of mambo, cha-cha, danzon, festejo, porro, and more with youthful verve. Director David DeJesus, a fixture on both jazz and Latin music scenes will guide the orchestra as they bring to life the many flavors of Latin Jazz on the Birdland stage. $30 tables; $20 bar; $15 student + $10 food/drink minimum March 1 (Sunday) 7:00 PM – Birdland Theater Broadway Princess Party Brush off your tiara and unleash your inner princess with Broadway's original Cinderella, Belle, and Jasmine in this hit concert! Two-time Tony-nominee Laura Osnes (Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella), Tony-nominee Susan Egan (Disney's Beauty and the Beast and voice of 'Meg' in Hercules), and Grammy-nominee Courtney Reed (Disney's Aladdin) host the festivities alongside their Fairy Godfairy (musical director extraordinaire), Benjamin Rauhala (Broadway's Fiddler on the Roof) and special guest prince Adam J. Levy (Waitress). Critics call it: "spectacular, " "enchanting, " "empowering, " – this is the princess party you WISH you'd had as a kid. Catch the carriage and embrace the adventure – bring your besties, your boyfriend, your girlfriend, your mom, your kids (ages 6 and older, please) or anyone who will be tempted to sing along! Dress in your best royal attire (or cosplay) and you may even win a prize! Come see what over 18 million fans are raving about on YouTube! $60 tables; $50 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 1 (Sunday) 9:45 PM – Birdland Theater Mafalda Minnozzi For over 20 years, critically-acclaimed vocalist Mafalda Minnozzi's deep affinity for Brazilian music has intertwined with her Italian roots. A recipient of the prestigious "Targa Tenco" nomination by the Italian press and named one of the 10 Best Jazz Vocalists in Italy's JAZZIT readers poll, Mafalda's star-studded career has included collaborations with Milton Nascimento, Toquinho, Leny Andrade, Guinga, and other giants. Now, in New York, Minnozzi and her top-flight band celebrate the past, present, and future of Bossa Nova. Her fiery style, charismatic stage presence, and versatile timbral palette lead the way. She will be previewing her forthcoming album Sensorial. $30 tables; $20 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 2 (Monday) 7:00 PM – Birdland Jazz Club Steve Ross "Easy To Love: Songs of Cole Porter" Special Guest Karen Murphy Known as "The Crown Prince of New York Cabaret, " Steve Ross brings nearly 50 years of experience playing renowned cabaret rooms like Backstage, Onstage, the Algonquin Hotel's Oak Room, and London's Ritz Hotel. Formerly the host of National Public Radio's New York Cabaret Nights as well as a live cabaret series for the BBC, Ross's popularity has taken him across multiple continents, and his deep knowledge of the Great American Songbook has taken him from Sondheim to Gershwin, Fats Waller to Rodgers and Hart. For his March engagement at Birdland, Ross will present the work of American music master Cole Porter, exploring the composer's collection—sometimes witty, sometimes risqué, but always elegant—to which generations of lovebirds have danced. Singer Karen Murphy will join as a special guest. $40 tables; $35 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 2 (Monday) 8:30 PM – Birdland Theater The Isaac ben Ayala Trio with Chris Berger and Alvester Garnett An experienced accompanist spanning diverse styles, Isaac ben Ayala cut his teeth with some of the biggest names in music, including Quincy Jones, Ray Charles, Louis Bellson, Frank Foster, David Murray, Roy Hargrove, Wynton Marsalis, and Preservation Hall Jazz Band. His pianism has supported the likes of The New York City Ballet, The Donald Byrd Dance Company, and The Boys' Choir of Harlem. Ayala has also performed throughout the world leading his own groups; he brings a masterful trio to Birdland, featuring Alvester Garnett on drums and Chris Berger on bass. $30 tables; $20 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 3 (Tuesday) 7:00 PM – Birdland Theater Staci Griesbach: My Patsy Cline Songbook Cross-pollinating jazz styling with country music lyrics and melody, Staci Griesbach's new album, My Patsy Cline Songbook, marks the first full-length Patsy Cline tribute presented in a jazz and contemporary style. With renditions of Cline's "Crazy" and "I Fall to Pieces, " as well as a version of Cline's first national hit, "Walkin' After Midnight"—an arrangement which Rolling Stone praised as "a gorgeous jazz interpretation" of the original—Griesbach stands comfortably in the middle of two American traditions: the Nashville Sound and the Great American Songbook. Paying equal respect to legends Hank Cochran, Willie Nelson, Cole Porter, and Ella Fitzgerald, the charming, charismatic vocalist is sure to tug at the heartstrings of her audience. All tickets $30 + $10 food/drink minimum March 3-7 (Tuesday – Sunday) 8:30 & 11 PM – Birdland Jazz Club John Pizzarelli and The Swing 7 Jazz guitarist and vocalist John Pizzarelli charms audiences with his warmth, sense of humor, and musical chops. Through his multifaceted career, the son of the legendary New Jersey native guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli has become one of the most recognizable faces and voices in contemporary jazz for his interpretations of classic standards, romantic ballads and the cool jazz flavor he brings to his performances and recordings. Hailed by the Toronto Star as "the genial genius of the guitar" and as "a rare entertainer of the old school" by the Seattle Times, Pizzarelli received the 2009 Ella Fitzgerald Award from the Montreal International Jazz Festival, placing him among an exclusive list of winners including Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett, and Harry Connick Jr. Testament to the artist's dedication and energy, he founded "Radio Deluxe with John Pizzarelli" in December 2005, a nationally syndicated radio program that he continues to co-host with his wife, Broadway star Jessica Molaskey. With The Swing 7, Pizarelli renders hard-swinging music with a seven-piece orchestra comprised of rhythm section and horns. $50 tables; $40 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 4 (Wednesday) 7:00 & 9:45 PM – Birdland Theater Ken Peplowski Ken Peplowski's body of work includes approximately 50 CDs as a soloist and nearly 400 as a sideman. Collaborations with music luminaries Charlie Byrd, Mel Torme, Rosemary Clooney, the Cincinnati Pops under Erich Kunzel, Hank Jones, Peggy Lee, Bill Charlap, Benny Goodman, Woody Allen and Madonna have secured his reputation as one of the world's top clarinetists, as have his headliner spots at the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall, the Blue Note, and Dizzy's Club—and his induction into the Jazz Cruise Hall Of Fame in 2013. Growing seemingly ever stronger, Peplowski continues to dazzle audiences. $30 tables; $20 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 5 (Thursday) 5:30 PM – Birdland Jazz Club Erena Terakubo and Nana Quintet Born in 1995 in Hokkaido, Japan, Nana Sakamoto began playing trombone early, steeping herself in big band music during her elementary and junior high school years. After developing under the guidance of Hirotsugu Sakemoto, one of Japan’s most respected trombonists, she moved to NY in 2018, quickly becoming in-demand for her ability and creativity on her instrument. She has performed and recorded with jazz masters Ray Drummond, Louis Hayes, John Lee, Steve Davis, Vincent Herring, Carl Allen, Cyrus Chestnut, David Kikoski—to name only a few—and has worked with the Birdland Big Band. Joining her for this engagement is special guest Erena Terakubo, whose work includes recordings with legendary musicians Ron Carter, Kenny Barron, Christian McBride, and Peter Bernstein. $30 tables; $25 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 5-7 (Thursday – Saturday) 7:00 & 9:45 PM – Birdland Theater Beegie Adair with Monica Ramey and Bassist Roger Spencer Jazz fans and critics agree: it’s the combination of sophistication and accessibility in pianist Beegie Adair’s brand of jazz that has made her recordings among the biggest sellers in the jazz world. Michael Feinstein has referred to her work as a “masterclass on how to interpret timeless songs with style, taste, and a swinging contemporary sensibility.” Her collaboration with Vocalist Monica Ramey is equally sublime; JazzTimes compares it to the famous 1950s and 60s pairings of piano great George Shearing with top vocalists Nancy Wilson, Dakota Staton, and Nat King Cole. Expect a wonderful night of music! $35 tables; $25 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 8 (Sunday) 5:30 PM – Birdland Jazz Club Leanne Borghesi & Marta Sanders: “SHOW BROADS” In the new comedy duel—excuse us, duet—of Marta Sanders and Leanne Borghesi, the two brassy belters join forces in a nightclub act, promising a raucous night of jazz, latin music, Broadway and original tunes. Veteran Sanders brings her knockout stage presence up against the powerful and hysterical Borghesi in the bawdy “SHOWBROADS, ” filled with hot music, over-the-top laughs, and not an ingénue in sight. Directed by Nicolas Minas. $30 tables + $10 food/drink minimum March 8 (Sunday) 7:00 PM – Birdland Theater Miguel Zenon Berklee Quintet Berklee College of Music’s Masters on the Road performance series allows master alumni musicians to return to campus, teaching and then leading a touring ensemble. In its seventh year, the series called upon jazz saxophonist, composer and Guggenheim and MacArthur fellow, Miguel Zenon, to lead a hand-picked group of the school’s most talented young artists. Zenon, widely considered one of the most groundbreaking saxophonists of his generation for his unique voice as both a composer and conceptualist, has selected a repertoire for this project which encompasses the last ten years of his successful recording and touring career, spent perfecting a fine mix between Latin American folkloric music and jazz. $30 tables; $20 bar; $15 student + $10 food/drink minimum. March 8 (Sunday) 9:45 PM – Birdland Theater Rebecca Cherry Born in Vancouver to classical musician parents, Rebecca Cherry’s career has taken her across the world onto its most illustrious stages. Featured in concert and on TV with Jay Z, Beyonce, Kanye West, Adele, Florence and the Machine, Cyndi Lauper, and other major pop acts, as well as on Saturday Night Live, David Letterman, the BET Awards, MTV, and other major shows, her spectacular violin playing has won her spots with The London Philharmonic, New York Pops, and at Carnegie Hall. This diversely inspired and electrifying artist brings her wealth of stylistic experience to the Birdland Theatre. $30 tables; $20 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 9 (Monday) 7:00 PM – Birdland Jazz Club Constantine Maroulis Broadway at Birdland presents accomplished actor, producer, singer, and songwriter Constantine Maroulis. Well known for his Tony-nominated performance in Rock of Ages and his epic run as a finalist during the heyday of American Idol, Maroulis has maintained an active touring schedule worldwide, contributing breathtaking vocal performances and a genial—but raw—stage presence to acclaimed projects such as Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, RockTopia, and Adler’s Appetite featuring legendary Guns N Roses drummer Steven Adler. He is set to release a new original album, Until I’m Wanted, in early 2020. $40 VIP; $30 tables; $25 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 9 (Monday) 8:30 PM – Birdland Theater Andy Farber Quintet Born into an artistic family, mentored early by legends of jazz music, and later the student of prolific jazz composers and arrangers, Andy Farber has been on the radar and rarefied shortlist of such musical legends as Wynton Marsalis, Shirley Horn, B.B. King, Ray Charles, and others since his early 20s. Farber’s star-studded career has included years as saxophonist and arranger for vocal icon Jon Hendricks, frequent commissions from Marsalis’s Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, a two-year run with his own big band at Birdland, and a long-time position teaching jazz composition and arranging at The Juilliard School in New York City. He brings an elegant, tough-swinging quintet to Birdland for one night. $30 tables; $20 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 10-14 (Tuesday – Saturday) 8:30 & 11 PM – Birdland Jazz Club The John Pizzarelli Quartet Jazz guitarist and vocalist John Pizzarelli charms audiences with his warmth, sense of humor, and musical chops. Through his multifaceted career, the son of the legendary New Jersey native guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli has become one of the most recognizable faces and voices in contemporary jazz. Hailed by the Toronto Star as “the genial genius of the guitar” and as “a rare entertainer of the old school” by the Seattle Times, Pizzarelli received the 2009 Ella Fitzgerald Award from the Montreal International Jazz Festival, placing him among an exclusive list of winners including Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett, and Harry Connick Jr. Testament to the artist’s dedication and energy, he founded Radio Deluxe with John Pizzarelli in December 2005, a nationally syndicated radio program that he continues to co-host with his wife, Broadway star Jessica Molaskey. Pizarelli pares down to a quartet for this week after an engagement with his 7-piece band at Birdland the preceding week. $50 tables; $40 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 11 (Wednesday) 7:00 PM – Birdland Theater The Webster University Senior Class Showcase Enjoy a dazzling night of music and musings as the current 2019 senior class at Missouri-based Webster Conservatory makes its New York City debut alongside Webster alumni. Webster’s distinguished theatre program has produced winners of Tony, Emmy, Golden Globe, NAACP Image, and Screen Actors Guild awards. Come join the entire Gorlok family in celebrating 52 years of Webster Conservatory as we walk down memory lane. From Bernstein to Bareilles, this is an evening you won’t want to miss. $30 tables; $20 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 11 (Wednesday) 9:45 PM – Birdland Theater Antonio Ciacca Quintet Born in Germany, raised in Italy and educated in the United States, pianist, composer, arts-presenter and educator Antonio Ciacca has established himself as an indomitable artist, consummate musician, and powerful advocate of the gospel and jazz tradition. Ciacca’s work as a bandleader includes twelve highly-acclaimed albums, and his work as a sideman includes stints with legends Art Farmer, James Moody, Lee Konitz, Johnny Griffin, Wynton Marsalis, Steve Lacy, and Steve Grossman. His delicately impassioned pianism is sure to delight. $30 tables; $20 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 12 (Thursday) 5:30 PM – Birdland Jazz Club The Michelle Lordi Quartet Vocalist Michelle Lordi’s vivid, elegant expression has received international accolades and heavy rotation on jazz radio stations in the US and abroad. Comfortable inhabiting multiple musical worlds, Lordi may be found performing with bebop greats, exploring experimental soundscapes in her original music, or delivering taut, spellbinding jazz interpretations of pop ballads. In recent releases, Lordi has developed a unique sound, graciously and humbly marrying folk, alt-country, and jazz sensibilities. Her recently released fourth album, Break Up with the Sound, has received worldwide critical acclaim. $30 tables; $25 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 12-14 (Thursday – Saturday) 7:00 & 9:45 PM – Birdland Theater Steve Wilson & The Analog Band featuring Ray Angry, Corcoran Holt, and Willie Jones III Steve Wilson has attained ubiquitous status in the studio and on the stage with the greatest names in jazz. A musician’s musician, he has released seven critically-acclaimed recordings under his own name and brought his distinctive sound to more than 100 albums led by such celebrated and wide-ranging artists as Chick Corea, George Duke, Michael Brecker, Dave Holland, Dianne Reeves, Bill Bruford, Maria Schneider, and Joe Henderson. Renowned by both audiences and peers, Wilson’s skills as a leader, sideman, and composer are undisputed. For this engagement at Birdland, he brings three leading voices in jazz to round out his quartet. $30 tables; $20 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 15 (Sunday) 5:30 PM – Birdland Jazz Club David Berger Jazz Orchestra David Berger is recognized internationally as a leading authority on the music of Duke Ellington and the Swing Era. Conductor and arranger for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra from its inception in 1988 through 1994, Berger has transcribed more than 750 full scores of classic recordings including more than 500 works by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. Berger has composed and arranged more than 1000 pieces over a career spanning 50 years. The David Berger Jazz Orchestra has performed all over the U.S. and Europe, as well as on TV and in movies. $30 + $10 food/drink minimum March 15 (Sunday) 7:00 PM – Birdland Theater Jean Brassard Acclaimed for his Bistro award-winning tribute to Yves Montand “The Kid From Paris, ” Québécois-New York singer-songwriter-actor Jean Brassard performs an intimate cœur-à-coeur with “I Have Lived: Jean Brassard Salutes Aznavour” celebrating the French artist of Armenian descent whose career spanned over seven decades. The show is musically directed by Kathleen Landis on piano and songs will be performed in both English and French. $40 tables; $30 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 15 (Sunday) 9:45 PM – Birdland Theater Jinjoo Yoo Trio with Kihong Jang and Jamale Davis Jazz Pianist/Composer/Arranger Jinjoo Yoo is a dynamic performer with a unique voice. Hailing from Seoul, South Korea, Jinjoo currently resides in New York and collaborates with different projects and leads her own group as well. As a leader or a sideman, she has toured/performed internationally, including performances in the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, Greece, Spain, Poland, Hungary, and South Korea. She will present her recent compositions and arrangements dedicated to her jazz heroes including Mary Lou Williams, Nat King Cole, Clarence Profit, Barry Harris, Jimmy Rowles, Bud Powell, and Thelonious Monk. $30 tables; $20 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 16 (Monday) 8:30 PM – Birdland Theater Marissa Licata New York and Boston based, Honduran American violinist, Marissa Licata, is a star powerhouse soloist. Her electrifying passion and vibrant presence have been featured on world-renowned stages across 4 continents. Her dazzling intensity both on stage and on camera have been mesmerizing audiences, fellow artists and fans everywhere. With a resume of global accomplishment, drawing on World music influences from Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East – Marissa’s unique Gypsy fusion highlights universally familiar melodies with contagious rhythmic energy – a relentlessness presented with tremendous passion, heart, joy, and a stylish flair all her own. $30 tables; $20 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 17-21 (Tuesday – Saturday) 8:30 PM & 11:00 PM – Birdland Jazz Club Yellowjackets After more than 30 years together, the quintessential electric jazz group Yellowjackets celebrate their most recent album and fourth release for Mack Avenue Records, Raising Our Voice. Adding vocals on seven tracks, Raising Our Voice, takes a subtle resistant stand against the status quo of the cultural and political undercurrent of our times. Led by founding member, keyboardist and primary composer Russell Ferrante, the Yellowjackets continue to practice their signature brand of high energy rhythm and improvisational group chemistry. Also featuring drummer (since 1986) William Kennedy, saxophonist (since 1991) Bob Mintzer and recent addition, bass virtuoso Dane Alderson. $40 tables; $30 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 18 (Wednesday) 7:00 PM & 9:45 PM – Birdland Theater Alejandro Avilés Alejandro Avilés is a first generation Cuban-American who comes from a long lineage of musicians. In fact, Mr. Avilés’ family has been considered by the Guiness Book of World Records for having the longest, continuous musical group in the world. The Orquesta Hermanos Avilés was started by his great-grandfather, Manuel Avilés, in1882 in Holguin, Cuba, and remarkably is still in existence today. Based in NYC, Alejandro Avilés works as an adjunct professor at both Hofstra University and Hunter College teaching saxophone and jazz improvisation while performing as a versatile musician in various genres and on Broadway. Avilés has performed on several award-winning recordings including Emilio Solla’s latest album Puertos, which went on to receive a 2019 GRAMMY nomination. $30 tables; $20 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 19 (Thursday) 5:30 PM – Birdland Jazz Club Vitaly Golovnev Trumpeter Vitaly Golovnev was born in Nalchik, Russia into a family of musicians. In November of 2003 Mr. Golovnev moved to New York City. Since his arrival he has found himself in high demand working with many of New York’s most prominent Big Band’s including the Mingus Big Band, David Berger and “Sultans Of Swing” Orchestra, Brooklyn Big Band, and Hal McKusick Nonet. Vitaly Golovnev has been active leading and composing for his own group since they formed in 2005. His highly anticipated debut album, consisting of nine Golovnev originals, To Whom It May Concern (Tippin’), is scheduled to be released in January of 2009. Mr. Golovnev has been fortunate to perform as a sideman with many notable musicians including Wynton Marsalis, Richie Cole, Lew Tabackin, Randy Brecker, Billy Cobham, Paul Bollenback, and Donny McCaslin. Mr. Golovnev was awarded as a semifinalist in the prestigious 2007 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Trumpet Competition. $30 tables; $20 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 19-21 (Thursday – Saturday) 7:00 PM & 9:45 PM – Birdland Theater Larry Fuller Trio Larry Fuller is an internationally acclaimed pianist, band leader and clinician known to “swing like a beast!” Early in his career, Fuller’s undeniable talent earned him the position of musical director and pianist for vocalist Ernestine Anderson, pianist for drummer Jeff Hamilton’s Trio, and final pianist in legendary bassist Ray Brown’s Trio.Since 2013 – harnessing his extraordinary experience – Fuller has led the Larry Fuller Trio. He presents a musical program rarely experienced live today, consistently praised for his emotive, swinging style, monster technique, and program versatility. Fuller’s latest album, Overjoyed, was released last May. From bop, to stride, to swing, to blues, Fuller’s performance at Birdland Theater is not to be missed! $30 tables; $20 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 22 (Sunday) 5:30 PM – Birdland Jazz Club George Gee Orchestra After conducting a 1979 radio interview with legendary William ‘Count’ Basie, George Gee determined he would one day lead his own big band. Now, with nearly 40 years experience as a conductor and 20 years leading weekly shows in Times Square’s SWING46, Gee’s swing band dreams have blossomed wildly, and he leads what is perhaps New York’s most popular swing dance orchestra. He brings his group to Birdland for a characteristically lively set of music. $30 tables; $25 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 22 (Sunday) 9:45 PM – Birdland Theater Augie Haas In-demand trumpeter, composer and teacher Augie Haas returns to Birdland Theater, performing alongside vocalists Major Attaway and Chantal Mitvalsky, trumpeter Andrew Neesley and saxophonist Alexa Tarantino. Haas will perform selections from his five albums that he has released as a bandleader. His most recent release Have We Met? released in 2018, highlights the diversity of his musicianship, not only as a trumpet player, but as a crooner too. Augie has worked with artists including Harry Connick Jr., The Maria Schneider Orchestra, The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, The Gil Evans Project and the Birdland Big Band. $30 tables; $20 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 23 (Monday) 7:00 PM – Birdland Jazz Club Natalie Douglas Tributes: Rosemary Clooney As part of Broadway at Birdland, singer Natalie Douglas will continue with her “Tributes” series with an homage to the great Rosemary Clooney. With Music Directors Mark Hartman, Jon Weber and Brian Nash, and a band of all-star musicians, Natalie will celebrate the artistry, brilliance and singular achievements of the iconic vocalist and actress. Douglas is a two-time Bistro, Nightlife and eleven-time MAC Award Winner and has appeared at Carnegie Hall, Rose Theatre and the Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Town Hall and many other New York institutions. She has produced over 70 different concerts at Birdland, which is her musical home. $35 tables; $30 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 23 (Monday) 8:30 PM – Birdland Theater Ricky Alexander’s Strike Up The Band Album Release Featuring Harry Allen New York City’s own Ricky Alexander is a sought-after sideman who can be heard playing in the city’s top jazz clubs and music venues every night of the week. The tenor sax player celebrates the release of his latest album Strike Up the Band with a fine list of bandmates by his side including saxophonist Harry Allen, vocalist Martina DaSilva, guitarist James Chirillo, bassist Rob Adkins and drummer Andrew Millar. $30 tables; $20 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 24-28 (Tuesday – Saturday) 8:30 PM & 11:00 PM – Birdland Jazz Club The Curtis Stigers Quintet Award-winning singer, saxophonist, and songwriter Curtis Stigers will perform repertoire from his diverse career that spans nearly three decades and 13 albums including the forthcoming Gentleman, on Concord Jazz. His string of hit singles, millions of albums sold, and a 28-year recording career aside, Stigers’ commitment to artistic growth, and to bringing new tunes to the Great American Songbook, has become unparalleled in modern music. Along the way, this musician has redefined the constitution of contemporary jazz singing. Stigers found success as a songwriter while co-writing for artists such as Carole King and Barry Mann. As a vocalist, he has performed with the likes of Al Green, Jackson Browne, and Shawn Colvin. Come celebrate a lifetime of musical excellence as Stigers graces the stage of New York’s iconic Birdland Jazz Club. $40 tables; $30 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 25 (Wednesday) 7:00 PM & 9:45 PM – Birdland Theater Jazz Vocal Mania Series with Janis Siegel and Lauren Kinhan Janis Siegel of the GRAMMY® award winning vocal jazz group The Manhattan Transfer and Lauren Kinhan of the internationally renowned vocal ensemble the New York Voices present an evening of vocal-centric selections with a little help from their friends as part of the Jazz Vocal Mania Series. $30 tables; $20 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 26 (Thursday) 5:30 PM – Birdland Jazz Club Ronny Whyte Quartet Ronny Whyte is a jazz pianist, songwriter and song interpreter extraordinaire. The ASCAP Award-winning songwriter’s lyrics for “Forget the Woman” was recorded by Tony Bennett and his music for The Party Upstairs won the MAC Award for Best Song of 2006. Ronny is the producer and host of the Midday Jazz Midtown series at Saint Peter’s in Manhattan. The artist has graced the stage at New York’s JVC Jazz Festival, Carnegie/Weill Hall, Town Hall, Washington’s Corcoran Gallery and the Mellon Jazz Festival. At Birdland, Whyte and his quartet will present an unforgettable evening. $30 + $10 food/drink minimum March 26 (Thursday) 7:00 PM – Birdland Theater Nick Finzer’s Cast of Characters Album Release Award winning composer, arranger, producer, educator and trombonist Nick Finzer is one of the most dynamic musicians of the millennial generation. Famed trombonist and mentor Wycliffe Gordon called Finzer “a new voice [in] the pantheon of upcoming trombone greats in the making.” Finzer’s resume boasts an impressive roster of jazz greats; recently, he appeared on the 2019 GRAMMY Nominated recording Triple Helix with Anat Cohen Tentet. Nick Finzer’s new album Cast of Characters will be released on his universally loved label Outside in Music and will be celebrated on March 26th. An accomplished cast of characters including tenor-saxophonist Lucas Pino, guitarist Alex Wintz, pianist Glenn Zaleski, bassist Dave Baron and drummer Jimmy Macbride, join him. $30 tables; $20 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 27-28 (Friday-Saturday) 7:00 PM – Birdland Theater Carol Sloane Iconic jazz singer Carol Sloane boasts a fruitful career beginning in 1961 touring with the famed Larry Elgart Orchestra when she was given the opportunity to perform at the Newport Jazz Festival. That same year, she recorded her first album for Columbia Records. Ever since, she has been a premiere act at the top jazz clubs in America. “There’s no place for Sloane to hide on this intimate set, and that works out just fine for this veteran singer. She glides over imperishable Ellington ballads, treating each with a blend of delicacy and solidity that only a skilled vocalist can conjure. It’s minimalist magic, ” said The New Yorker. $40 tables; $30 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 27-28 (Friday-Saturday) 9:45 PM – Birdland Theater Queenie van de Zant “Blue: The Songs of Joni Mitchell” Australian cabaret and musical theater star Queenie van de Zandt will perform Joni Mitchell’s groundbreaking recording Blue in her latest show at Birdland Theater. With rave reviews and sell-out performances at the cabaret festivals in Queensland and Melbourne, the Hayes Theatre in Sydney and two nominations for the Broadway Australia Sydney Awards, Queenie makes her Birdland and New York debut paying homage to the legendary artistry of Joni Mitchell. $40 tables; $30 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 29 (Sunday) 5:30 PM – Birdland Jazz Club The Swingaroos Hailed by BroadwayWorld as “one of the most entertaining shows you will see, ” this 1940’s-style ensemble will wow you with their spirited renditions of music from the great American songbook. The act features the sizzling, award-winning vocals of Kim Hawkey and Broadway-worthy arrangements by Assaf Gleizner. “This group is awesome in every way, ” says Talkin’ Broadway! $30 + $10 food/drink minimum March 29 (Sunday) 7:00 PM – Birdland Theater New York: Big City Song Book New York: Big City Song Book, created by Deborah Grace Winer, Directed by Mark Waldrop and featuring Klea Blackhurst, Laurie Wells and Nicolas King, delves into the wealth of musical material written over time that has New York CIty as a subject. The show offers a kaleidoscopic vision of life in the city, from the inspiring and romantic to the aggravating and the quirky. New York is a fabulous character and this great cast of acclaimed New York City performers take us on this entertaining and exhilarating musical ride in search of what it really means to be a New Yorker. $75 VIP; $40 tables; $30 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 30 (Monday) 7:00 PM – Birdland Jazz Club Kenn Boisinger Returns Kenn Boisinger will return to the Birdland stage on March 30th for a performance of his new show entitled The New Voice of Jazz. The brainchild of musical comedian Michael West (who is well-known for his long runs in Forbidden Broadway, NEWSical and When Pigs Fly), delivers his tongue-in-cheek renditions of jazz classics and offers up classics of his own including “Third Raio, ” “Daddy Drinks Because You Cry, ” “Someone’s Always Dead at Manhattan Plaza, ” and “Is She a Call Girl, Or Just a Girl I’d Like to Call?” Join us at Birdland for a night of uproaring hilarity that you won’t soon forget! $40 VIP; $30 tables; $25 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 30 (Monday) 8:30 PM – Birdland Theater Diego Figueiredo Diego Figueiredo is an extraordinary star among the world’s greatest jazz guitarists. His superb technique, timing and imagination have made him one of the hottest musicians on the scene. He has released 26 albums and 3 DVD’s that showcase his unique blend of Brazilian music and modern jazz. His latest album, Come Closer, was released in 2019. $30 tables; $20 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 31-April 4 (Tuesday – Saturday) 8:30 PM & 11:00 PM – Birdland Jazz Club Eliane Elias Eliane Elias’ singular sound is one of the most unique and immediately recognizable in jazz. With over 2.2 million albums sold to date, Elias blends her Brazilian roots and alluring voice with her instrumental jazz, classical and contemporary skills as a vocalist and pianist. Her most recent recording, Love Stories, was released on Concord Jazz on August 30, 2019 to critical acclaim. The New York Times has described Elias’ live concert as “a celebration of the vitality of a culture overflowing with life and natural beauty” and Jazziz Magazine has called her, “a citizen of the world” and “an artist beyond category.” $40 tables; $30 bar + $10 food/drink minimum Monthly Engagements: March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 (Mondays) 9:30 – Birdland Jazz Club Jim Caruso’s Cast Party Jim Caruso’s Cast Party is a wildly popular weekly soirée that brings a sprinkling of Broadway glitz and urbane wit to the legendary Birdland in New York City every Monday night. Since 1993, it’s been a cool cabaret night-out enlivened by a hilariously impromptu variety show. Showbiz superstars, backed by Billy Stritch on piano, Steve Doyle on bass and Daniel Glass on drums, hit the stage alongside up-and-comers, serving up jaw-dropping music and general razzle-dazzle. $30 + $10 food/drink minimum March 1, 24, 31 (Tuesdays) 9:30 – Birdland Theater Everybody Rise: A Resistance Cabaret Due to popular demand, Birdland Theater is proud to announce more performances of Everybody Rise! A Resistance Cabaret. This evening of classic show tunes, all lethally revised for the age of Trump, stars an impressive array of musical theater dynamos, including Taylor Crousore, Daisy Hobbs, Michael Kostroff, Christine Pedi, Dylan Thompson and Nick Wyman under the musical direction of Matthew Martin Ward. They’ll be joined at each performance by two Special Guest Stars, to be announced soon. Everybody Rise! springs from the fiendish mind of Joe Keenan, an Emmy, Kleban, and Thurber-Award winning novelist (Blue Heaven, My Lucky Star), lyricist, playwright, and TV writer (Frasier). As the fateful 2020 election approaches, Keenan’s brilliantly funny songs are both the call to arms and the hilarious antidote to despair we need to survive today’s news and change tomorrow’s. $30 tables; $20 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 (Tuesdays) 9:30 PM – Birdland Theater The Lineup with Susie Mosher The Lineup with Susie Mosher is a wild, anything-goes variety show featuring entertainers from the Broadway, cabaret and comedy scenes. Actress/singer Mosher hosts the spontaneous extravaganza at 7 pm every Tuesday, and each Lineup is unique and promises to deliver an unforgettable night of quintessential NYC entertainment. All tickets $25, $10 food/drink minimum March 4, 11, 18, 25 (Wednesdays) 5:30 – Birdland Jazz Club David Ostwald’s Louis Armstrong Eternity Band Inspired by the noble jazz pioneers Louis Armstrong, Bix Beiderbecke, Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton and their colleagues, David Ostwald’s Louis Armstrong Eternity Band breathes life and passion into America’s own great art form. Now in its 17th year of residency at Birdland, the weekly post-workday engagement is the city’s best musical bargain! Tuba player David Ostwald leads a rotating lineup that features talents such as clarinetist Anat Cohen, trombonist/vocalist Wycliffe Gordon, pianist Ehud Asherie, drummer Marion Felder and more! $30 tables; $20 bar + $10 food/drink minimum March 6, 13, 20, 27 (Fridays) 5:30 PM – Birdland Jazz Club The Birdland Big Band Every Friday, and for two headlining weeks a year, the “BBB” roars into action playing a thrilling and original mix of jazz, funk, Brazilian, Latin, and world music for sold-out audiences. Directed by David DeJesus and featuring weekly guest artists who drop-in from around the NYC jazz scene, come see for yourself why Time Out New York called the BBB, “a completely unique experience… there isn’t another band like this anywhere, ” and yelp.com proclaims, “if you hear one band in NYC make sure this is it… and prepare to be blown away!” All tickets $30, $10 food/drink minimum March 7, 14, 21, 28 (Saturdays) 5:30 PM – Birdland Jazz Club Eric Comstock with Sean Smith (bass) and special guest Barbara Fasano (voice) Hailed as “the truest heir to Bobby Short” in The New York Times, pianist/singer Eric Comstock returns to Birdland with star bassist/composer Sean Smith with songs by everyone from George Gershwin to George Harrison. These two masters met on the Off-Broadway hit OUR SINATRA (which Eric co-wrote) and have since worked separately and together around the world. Vocalist Barbara Fasano joins them at Birdland for a swinging Saturday supper where the music and stories are equally great. All tickets $30, $10 food/drink minimum March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 (Sundays) 8:30 & 11:00 PM – Birdland Jazz Club Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra Pianist, composer and educator Arturo O’Farrill—leader of the “first family of Afro-Cuban Jazz” (NY Times)—leads the GRAMMY® award winning Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra (ALJO), who bring together the drama of big band jazz, the culture of Latin music, and the virtuosity of eighteen of the world’s most accomplished solo musicians. Twelve years of critically-acclaimed performances internationally have firmly established the ALJO as the standard-bearer for creative interpretation of Latin jazz greats such as Tito Puente, Frank “Machito” Grillo, and Chico O’Farrill, as well as the driving force behind new commissions from Latin music’s most talented composers and arrangers. $40 tables; $30 bar + $10 food/drink minimum write your comments about the article :: © 2020 Jazz News :: home page |