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| Live at Birdland Jazz Club and Birdland Theater: May 2025 April 29 - May 3 (Tuesday-Saturday) 7:00 PM & 9:30 PM (4/29-5/1); 8:30 PM & 10:30 PM (5/2-3) – Birdland Jazz Club The Mingus Big Band Celebrating the music of its founder Sue Mingus's late husband, this Grammy-winning and 4-time Grammy-nominated ensemble plays with fire and imagination. The Mingus Big Band and its two sister ensembles, Mingus Dynasty and Mingus Orchestra, held a famed weekly residency in New York City for decades until the COVID-19 pandemic put them on pause. But they are still swinging as hard as ever, and with this 6-night run at the jazz club, they are bound to knock the socks off of their audience. Charles Mingus was known for powerful bass playing, his groundbreaking compositions of visionary genius, and his openness to the individual personalities of the members of his groups. The Mingus Big Band continues this legacy with a cast of New York's most inventive, accomplished jazz musicians. $45 tables / $35 bar + $20 food/drink minimum May 2 - 4 (Friday-Sunday) 7:00 & 9:30 PM – Birdland Theater Peter Bernstein Quartet Peter Bernstein was born in New York City in 1967. He has been playing and recording since 1990 when he first appeared on recordings with Lou Donaldson and the organ trio of Larry Goldings and Bill Stewart, a group still touring and recording today. Peter played in Lou Donaldson's group for 10 years as well as performing and recording with Joshua Redman's group 1995-97. Other associations and collaborations include Jimmy Cobb, Dr. Lonnie Smith, David Fathead Newman, Brad Mehldau, Etta Jones, Melvin Rhyne, Diana Krall, Bobby Hutcherson, Lee Konitz, Nicholas Payton, George Coleman, and Sonny Rollins. Peter has played on festival, concert, and club stages all over the world since the early 90's. He has appeared on over 300 recordings with these musicians and many of his contemporaries as well as 14 records under his own name. These recordings have featured many of his own compositions and musicians such as Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride, Greg Hutchinson, Jimmy Cobb, Bill Stewart, Larry Grenadier, Gerald Clayton, Sullivan Fortner, Peter Washington, Doug Weiss, and Joe Farnsworth among others. His latest recording on the Smoke Sessions label is "Better Angels", and features Brad Mehldau, Vicente Archer, and Al Foster. For this engagement, Bernstein brings a stellar quartet featuring Aaron Goldberg on piano, Doug Weiss on bass and Billy Drummond on drums. $40 tables / $30 bar + $20 food/drink minimum May 5 (Monday) 7:00 PM – Birdland Jazz Club Eric Comstock and Barbara Fasano: Spring Spring Fresh off their sold-out CD Release Concert in March, singer/pianist Eric Comstock and vocalist Barbara Fasano come home to Birdland Jazz Club with "Spring Spring". The acclaimed married musical couple ("swinging, artistic, and superbly entertaining" – Ira Gitler) will present new material as well as favorites from their new album 'Painting The Town'. Drawing from an ever-evolving American Songbook – Jazz and pop classics by Billy Strayhorn, Harold Arlen, and Cole Porter to singer-songwriters like Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, Randy Newman, and Bruce Springsteen, plus surprising gems – Comstock and Fasano's electrifying combination of warmth, wit, swing, and sensuality have made them the nightclub world's most celebrated team. Their cozy Upper West Side apartment is filled with awards for their concerts and recordings. Winners of 9 MAC Awards, 5 New York Bistro Awards and the New York Nightlife Award, Eric and Barbara recently received the Donald F. Smith Award from the Mabel Mercer Foundation, acknowledging their artistry. Their performances have taken them from Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center to Saratoga Jazz Festival, Music Mountain Twilight Jazz, London's Pizza Express, Italy's Monteverdi Tuscany, and nightclubs and music festivals across the country. $40 tables / $30 bar + $20 food/drink minimum May 6 (Tuesday) 7:00 & 9:30 PM – Birdland Jazz Club Shelly Berg Trio Ft. Dafnis Prieto and Carlitos Del Puerto Pianist Shelly Berg is a 5-time Grammy nominee whose own music has garnered him Record of the Year and Artist of the Year nominations from Jazzweek, as well as reaching #1 on the US Jazz charts. His work with Patti Austin, Nancy Wilson, Gloria Estefan, Bobby McFerrin, Kurt Elling, Arturo Sandoval, Branford Marsalis, and Clark Terry inform his sensitive and mature approach to pianism. He brings a trio to Birdland for one night only, featuring some of the best in the business on drums and bass: Dafnis Prieto, the rhythmic genius of modern Latin jazz fusion, and Carlitos Del Puerto, a force of nature whose basslines carried Chick Corea's trio for years at the end of his life. Don't miss the chemistry of this amazing trio! $40 tables / $30 bar + $20 food/drink minimum May 7-10 (Wednesday-Saturday) 7:00 & 9:30 PM (5/7-8); 8:30 & 10:30 PM (5/9-10) – Birdland Jazz Club Joe Lovano Tenor Legacy Hailed by The New York Times as "one of the greatest musicians in jazz history, " saxophone master Joe Lovano is renowned for his work with legends Paul Motian, Bill Frisell, Elvin Jones, Michael Brecker, Dave Holland, Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, Abbey Lincoln, Ornette Coleman, and Diana Krall. The leader of 25 albums on Blue Note Records and twice named Jazz Artist of the Year by Downbeat Magazine, the Grammy Award winning saxophone titan has, over the years, curated Tenor Legacy events which celebrate contemporary voices in tenor saxophone. In this four-night engagement, Lovano shares the stage with modern saxophone legends George Garzone and Jerry Bergonzi, in conversation with a brilliant rhythm section of Leo Genovese on piano, Gerald Cannon on bass, and Billy Hart on drums. Greatness will abound. Don't miss. $45 tables / $35 bar + $20 food/drink minimum May 9-11 (Friday-Sunday) 7:00 & 9:30 PM – Birdland Theater David Ostwald's Louis Armstrong Eternity Band 25th Anniversary David Ostwald's Louis Armstrong Eternity Band celebrates its 25th Anniversary with a weekend at the Theater! 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 25th year of residency at Birdland, the weekly post-workday engagement has long been the city's best musical bargain, performing every Wednesday with a rotating lineup that features talents such as clarinetist Anat Cohen, trombonist/vocalist Wycliffe Gordon, pianist Ehud Asherie, drummer Marion Felder and more!! Tuba player David Ostwald leads. $40 tables / $30 bar + $20 food/drink minimum May 11 (Sunday) 5:30 PM – Birdland Jazz Club Benny Benack III Quartet: “This Is The Life” Album Pre-Release Party Join Emmy-nominated trumpeter and Downbeat Magazine’s “Rising Star Male Jazz Vocalist” Benny Benack III as he previews his brand new live album “This is the Life” featuring his quartet! A trumpeter’s trumpeter and a mature singer with a true entertainer’s gift, Benny Benack’s boundless energy and charismatic crooning has earned him his spot at the front of his generation’s jazz talent. With trumpet chops in the legacy of Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, and Freddie Hubbard—and with a singing voice reminiscent of Sinatra and Mel Torme—Benny has brought his high spirits and remarkable virtuosity across the country and around the world. Appearing as a soloist with Josh Groban, Ben Folds and fashion icon Isaac Mizrahi, as well as with jazz bass extraordinaire Christian McBride, cabaret legend Ann Hampton-Callaway (at Birdland!), and several regarded philharmonic orchestras, Benack is a captivating figure to watch and hear. His third release, “Third Time’s the Charm, ” ascended to #2 on the JazzWeek International Radio Charts in 2023. “This is the Life” is his latest; advanced pre-release copies of CD & vinyl will be available for purchase at the show, and Benack will debut new arrangements of familiar classics from “Pure Imagination” to even The Backstreet Boys. Creative entertainment at its finest! $35 tables / $25 bar + $20 food/drink minimum May 12 (Monday) 7:00 PM – Birdland Jazz Club Clint Holmes in "Icons Reimagined" Birdland is proud to announce that Grammy Nominated Singer/Songwriter Clint Holmes will performs songs by iconic artists from iconic movies and Broadway shows on Monday, May 12. Bill Zappia will be musical director for the one-night-only event. The son of an African-American jazz musician and a classically-trained British opera singer, Clint was raised with the best of two musical worlds. His subsequent 40+ year career has taken him from the top of the charts, to concert halls, onto TV screens, and cemented his legacy as a veritable Las Vegas institution. His big break came in 1972 when he released “Playground In My Mind, ” a song that stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 23 weeks. In addition to hosting his own Emmy Award-winning talk/variety show, Clint was a musical feature and event correspondent for Entertainment Tonight, and served as Joan Rivers’ sidekick and announcer on FOX’s The Late Show. New York City has become a second home, where he won two Broadway World Awards with Billy Stritch and Christian Tamburr for a show he co-wrote and co-starred in, “Straighten Up and Fly Right… A Nat King Cole Tribute, ” as well as winning the 2013 Bistro Award for “Best Male Singer” for his performance in “Stop this Train” (a show which he also co-wrote). Most recognizably, he received the highest honor of a GRAMMY® nomination for his album, “Rendezvous.” VIP tables $60 / general tables $40 / bar $40 + $20 food/drink minimum May 13-17 (Tuesday-Saturday) 7:00 & 9:30 PM (5/13-15); 8:30 & 10:30 PM (5/16-17) – Birdland Jazz Club Gil Evans Project Directed by Ryan Truesdell: “Shades of Sound” Album Release The critically-acclaimed and Grammy Award-nominated Gil Evans Project returns to Birdland celebrating not only the music of legendary composer/arranger, Gil Evans, but also their new album, “Shades of Sound: Gil Evans Project Live at the Jazz Standard Vol. 2”! Led by Grammy Award-winning producer Ryan Truesdell, this outstanding ensemble of New York City’s finest musicians present rarely performed music written by Evans during the 1940s-1960s. This week, the band will move through three sonic territories: Tues/Wed (5/13-14), Out of the Cool; Thurs (5/15), “Shades of Sound” pre-release show; and Fri/Sat (5/16-17), Claude Thornhill Orchestra with Vocal Quartet. “Shades of Sound”—which includes never-before-recorded Evans arrangements as well as classics by the great and colorful arranger—features an unbelievable roster of jazz’s best: including Lewis Nash, Donny McCaslin, Steve Wilson, Ryan Keberle, Wendy Gilles, and the late Frank Kimbrough. Join an all-star cast for a week honoring Evans and pushing his music toward new horizons. $45 tables / $35 bar + $20 food/drink minimum May 16 (Friday) 5:30 PM – Birdland Jazz Club The Birdland Big Band with Special Guest Hilary Kole This Friday in May, enjoy the incredible Hilary Kole with Birdland’s very own Birdland Big Band! A singer, composer, and arranger who has headlined in the United States and around the world at the Umbria Jazz Festival, The Montreal Jazz Festival, Town Hall, The Blue Note, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops, and throughout Japan and Europe, Kole has recorded with music legends David Brubeck, Oscar Peterson, Michel LeGrand, Hank Jones, John Pizzarelli, Monty Alexander, Kenny Barron, and Freddy Cole, the Indianapolis Symphony, and The Colorado Symphony, among others. This Friday engagement, she joins the unmatched congregation of modern-day style that is the Birdland Big Band. The BBB, of course, roars into action every Friday (and for two headlining weeks a year) playing a thrilling and original mix of jazz, funk, Brazilian, Latin and world music for sold-out audiences. Featured weekly guest artists drop in from television bands (David Letterman, Saturday Night Live) and pop music touring bands (Rob Thomas, Rod Stewart). 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 why yelp.com proclaims, “If you hear one band in NYC make sure this is it… and prepare to be blown away! $40 tables / $30 bar + $20 food/drink minimum May 16-18 (Friday-Sunday) 7:00 & 9:30 PM – Birdland Theater Gil Gutierrez Trio Mexican guitar virtuoso Gil Gutiérrez is an icon of his instrument, performing around the world with some of music’s greatest names. A master of nylon string guitar and tres, he has performed at the Kennedy Center, the Mexican Cultural Institute of the Mexican Embassy in Washington D.C., and at Carnegie Hall accompanied by the New York Pops with Doc Severinsen; toured internationally with Arturo Sandoval, Ana Gabriel, Ricardo Arjona, Francisco Céspedes and Pedro Guerrail; and was featured with Severinson in 2022 on PBS American Masters series. Join him at the Birdland Theater for a weekend with his group, featuring violinist Bob Stern (Jerry Miller, Charlie Prichard, Laura Branigan) and bassist Dave Rodriguez (Max Roach, Tito Puente). Alternatively soothing, rhythmic, pyrotechnic, and tender, this band will refresh and uplift its audiences. $40 tables / $25 bar + $20 food/drink minimum May 18 (Sunday) 5:30 PM – Birdland Jazz Club June Cavlan An indisputable talent among the new voices singing standards today, the hypnotizing June Cavlan returns to Birdland after her recently released debut album, “A Portrait of June” (La Reserve). Since her move to New York in 2023, Cavlan has been welcomed by leaders in the straight-ahead scene such as Emmet Cohen, Bryan Carter, and Benny Benack III. June’s accomplishments have been plentiful: her vocal trio The Sunhouse Singers, rounded out by award-winning singers Joie Bianco and Kate Kortum, has been featured on “Emmet’s Place”; June herself has presented her music on PIX11 New York; Luciana Souza, the Grammy-winning Brazilian vocalist, has called June “someone to watch”; and her videos have garnered her nearly 130, 000 followers on TikTok and even the attention of music superstar SZA. Only 23 years old, she won four years’ worth of prestigious student music awards from Downbeat Magazine and YoungArts. Inspired by Ella Fitzgerald, Shirley Horn, and Barbra Streisand, June’s debut effort showcases her skills in arranging, composing, and improvisation—in addition to her incredible vocal prowess. $35 tables / $25 bar + $20 food/drink minimum May 19 (Monday) 7:00 PM – Birdland Jazz Club Steve Ross – Love Songs: Old and New Birdland is proud to present cabaret icon Steve Ross in “Love Songs: Old and New” on Monday, May 19th at 7pm! Ross delves into the rich treasures of the Great American Songbook in this new collection, featuring classics by Berlin, Porter, the Gershwins, Dietz and Schwartz, Johnny Mercer, Michel Legrand, Lerner & Loewe, and Noël Coward. He'll also introduce newly-minted gems by contemporary American and British songwriters. The legend Steve Ross rose to prominence in New York before beginning his celebrated 15+ year run at the Algonquin Hotel’s Oak Room, which helped make the space a cabaret landmark. He has performed internationally—London, Paris, Tokyo, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Melbourne and Sydney—as well as cabarets and theaters across America and on the high seas. Ross has accompanied legends like Liza Minnelli and Ginger Rogers. He hosted cabaret series for both BBC Television and National Public Radio, solidifying his reputation as a global ambassador of sophisticated song. $40 tables / $40 bar + $20 food/drink minimum May 20-24 (Tuesday-Saturday) 7:00 & 9:30 PM (5/20-22); 8:30 & 10:30 PM (5/23-24) – Birdland Jazz Club Delfeayo Marsalis & The Uptown Jazz Orchestra The great New Orleans trombonist, producer, composer, and educator Delfeayo Marsalis is a powerful force in the music world. With over 120 recording credits as a producer (including one GRAMMY Award and several nominations) and nearly 50 recordings as a trombonist, Delfeayo could be said to have made his mark. But in 2000, this committed educator created the Uptown Music Theatre, a non-profit that leads musical theater training for youth, and in 2008 he formed the UMT’s sister organization: the Uptown Jazz Orchestra. As the jazz arm of his grand endeavor, this 18-piece band upholds the traditions of New Orleans swing, ensemble riff-playing, and infectious, soulful dance music that form the foundations of American jazz. With a star-studded cast, they never fail to amaze. $45 tables / $35 bar + $20 food/drink minimum May 23-25 (Friday-Sunday) 7:00 & 9:30 PM – Birdland Theater Scott Robinson Quartet Virtuoso multi-instrumentalist Scott Robinson is widely hailed for his unique, eccentric approach and his powerful improvisations. The top call man for baritone saxophone, Robinson has worked with orchestras led by Maria Schneider, Frank Mantooth, Bob Mintzer and John Fedchock, but his skills on tenor sax, trumpet, clarinets, and even the mysterious sarrusophone are well-known. Having appeared on over 275 recordings to date—20 as a leader—Robinson’s music draws from a wide range of traditions. His playing at once wry, humorous, magnetic, and profound, this is the rare musician from whom you don’t know what to expect—and it’s precisely that joy of surprise which makes Robinson so assuredly a wonder to watch perform. He brings a quartet to Birdland for this engagement. With Helen Sung (piano) Martin Wind (bass) Dennis Mackrel (drums) $35 tables / $25 bar + $20 food/drink minimum May 25 (Sunday) 5:30 PM – Birdland Jazz Club The Pete McGuinness Jazz Orchestra Back in the mid 00s—after years of performing with and writing for numerous jazz big bands—Pete McGuinness finally decided to realize his life-long dream and front a large jazz ensemble of his own. Thus was born, nearly twenty years ago, the Pete McGuinness Jazz Orchestra—which immediately began performing at NYC area jazz clubs celebrating its recording First Flight. The group features all of the various aspects of McGuiness’s expert musicianship—as a trombonist, composer/arranger, and jazz vocalist. Pete’s music for the band is a reflection of all the many great jazz writers he has loved and been influenced by throughout his life—composer/arrangers Bill Holman, Bob Brookmeyer, and the late Thad Jones, as well as contemporaries John Fedchock and Maria Schneider—and comes out as a sound uniquely his own. $35 tables / $25 bar + $20 food/drink minimum May 26 (Monday) 7:00 PM – Birdland Jazz Club Sinatra with Style: Hits & Rare Gems Sung by Richard Cortez A leader in the new crop of vocal talents emerging from the New York City jazz scene, Richard Cortez’s golden voice handles the Great American Songbook with a deep emotional intelligence, an unbridled passion for song, and—rare and moving—an activist’s relationship to both his material and his audience. Cortez’s openly gay renderings of timeless treasures by Cole Porter, Billie Holiday, Jerome Kern, and so many others deliver sweetness, self-assuredness and disarming vulnerability with a well-timed wit. Having stewarded—all simultaneously—a collection of weekly residencies at iconic gay venues across the city—among them Club Cumming, Metropolitan Bar, and Rebar—Cortez focused and refined his artistry while growing his wide fan-base. Performances in distinguished productions such as Live at Emmet’s Place with the Emmet Cohen Trio or Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Jazz at Pride with drummer/bandleader Bryan Carter—not to mention several unforgettable shows at Birdland—have marked the vocalist’s career for success. Don’t miss this already legendary new voice as he takes us through the favorites, and the deep cuts, of the great Old Blue Eyes. $40 tables / $30 bar + $20 food/drink minimum May 27-31 (Tuesday-Saturday) 7:00 & 9:30 PM (5/27-29); 8:30 & 10:30 PM (5/30-31) – Birdland Jazz Club Maria Schneider Orchestra The legendary, groundbreaking composer and arranger Maria Schneider returns to Birdland this May. Ms. Schneider’s music, which has received 7 GRAMMY wins and 14 nominations across jazz, classical and arranging categories, is regarded as some of the most evocative work of our contemporary artistic world. Her most recent project, the double-album Data Lords (2020)—called “the most daring work of Schneider’s career” by esteemed critic Nate Chinen—was a Finalist for the 2020 Pulitzer Prize. It pits the digital world against the natural one in musical form to warn listeners of the profound dangers of Big Data and reacquaint them with their essential lifeforce. A living icon of music, Ms. Schneider recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of her debut recording, Evanescence, at Town Hall. Don’t miss this five-night engagement by a musical giant. $50 tables / $40 bar + $20 food/drink minimum May 30 - June 1 (Friday-Sunday) 7:00 & 9:30 PM – Birdland Theater Ethan Iverson Trio w/ Buster Williams & Billy Hart Ethan Iverson came to prominence in the early 2000s as the pianist in the iconoclastic trio The Bad Plus, a group famed for legendary explorations into genre cross-pollination and an experimentalism with style that connected with a new generation of music listener. But the pianist’s success has included many other expeditions, including a long-time post in the quartet of Billy Hart, the Miles Davis/Herbie Hancock drummer; work with legends Ron Carter and Albert “Tootie” Heath; recordings with Mark Turner, Tom Harrell, and Jack Dejohnette; and significant works of both program curation (Duke University’s Thelonious Monk Centennial Celebration) and jazz scholarship (his popular blog “Do The M@th). In this three night engagement at the Theater, Iverson reassembles a profound configuration in which he has spent considerable time: trio with legends Buster Williams on bass and Billy Hart on drums, some of the most recorded, influential artists of the past 60 years. As the pianist cautions: “Expect the unexpected!” $40 tables / $30 bar + $20 food/drink minimum Monthly Engagements: May 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27 (Mondays and Tuesdays) 5:30 & 8:30 PM – Birdland Theater Vince Giordano & The Nighthawks Catch Vince Giordano & The Nighthawks every Monday and Tuesday evening in May at Birdland Theater! Giordano, the recipient of a GRAMMY Award for his work scoring the HBO show Boardwalk Empire, is a master composer and arranger whose 11-piece band, The Nighthawks, recreate the jubilant 1920s jazz sound with amazing definition, using violins, tubas, banjos, and collector’s item drum sets. The band has provided soundtracks for film and television productions including The Cotton Club, The Aviator, Finding Forrester, Revolutionary Road, Cafe Society, Boardwalk Empire, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and many more. Not to be missed! $40 tables / $30 bar / $20 partial view table seating + $20 food/drink minimum May 5, 12, 19, 26 (Mondays) 9:30 PM - Birdland Jazz Club Jim Caruso’s Cast Party Step into the glittering world of Jim Caruso’s Cast Party, the legendary weekly open mic night that turns Birdland into the ultimate showbiz playground! Every Monday, the iconic venue transforms into a raucous, star-studded celebration of music, comedy, and jaw-dropping talent, where seasoned pros and up-and-coming performers share the stage in an unforgettable, high-energy variety show. Leading the charge is the ever-dapper Jim Caruso. With his signature charm and boundless enthusiasm, Caruso keeps the night moving at a thrilling pace, welcoming Broadway belters, jazz virtuosos, master tappers, and the occasional surprise megastar drop-in! Fueling the musical magic is the incomparable trio of powerhouse musicians: the dazzling Billy Stritch at the piano, the rock-solid Steve Doyle on bass, and the dynamic Daniel Glass on drums. Together, they create a swinging, electrifying sound that transforms every performance into a showstopping moment. From Tony and Oscar winners to hopeful newcomers, Cast Party is where talent shines, friendships are forged, and the spirit of live performance is alive and thriving. Whether you’re gracing the stage or cheering from the audience, one thing’s for sure—you never know who might take the mic next! Join the party every Monday night at Birdland and witness why Jim Caruso’s Cast Party remains a can’t-miss New York City tradition. $35 tables / $25 bar + $20 food/drink minimum May 7, 14, 21, 28 (Wednesdays) 5:30 PM - Birdland Theater 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 25th 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! $40 tables / $30 bar + $20 food/drink minimum May 7, 14, 21, 28 (Wednesdays) 8:30 PM – Birdland Theater Frank Vignola’s Guitar Night It's the best jazz guitar lover's show in the world. Frank Vignola's virtuosity has made him the guitarist of choice for many of the world’s top musicians, including Ringo Starr, Madonna, Donald Fagen, Les Paul, the Boston and New York Pops, and more. Every Wednesday at 8:30pm in the Birdland Theater, Frank leads “Frank Vignola’s Guitar Night at Birdland.” Inspired by journeyman jazz guitarist John Pisano’s now famous Los Angeles Guitar Night, the Frank Vignola Quartet, featuring pianist Ted Rosenthal, bassist Gary Mazzaroppi, and drummer Alex Raderman, perform tunes from the standard repertoire, bringing in special guests weekly. In May, catch Ed Cherry (guitar, 5/7); Bria Skonberg (trumpet, 5/14); Pasquale Grasso (guitar, 5/14); Olli Soikkeli (guitar, 5/21); and Pasquale Grasso (guitar, 5/28). **Guitar night streams live every week at: YouTube.com/RadioFreeBirdland $40 tables / $30 bar + $20 food/drink minimum May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 (Thursdays) 5:30 PM & 8:30 PM – Birdland Theater The High Society New Orleans Jazz Band Led by veteran trumpeter Simon Wettenhall and Grammy winning pianist Conal Fowkes, The High Society New Orleans Jazz Band is a New Orleans-style group which for decades has served as Woody Allen’s band of choice in his movies, concert tours and other performances—including, on the silver screen, the celebrated Wild Man Blues, Sweet and Lowdown, Midnight in Paris, Blue Jasmine, Cafe Society, Magic In The Moonlight, and A Rainy Day In New York. Appearing on all the premiere concert stages of Europe and the United States, the group features Conal Fowkes (piano/vocals co-leader), Simon Wettenhall (trumpet/vocals co-leader), Tom Abbott (clarinet), Harvey Tibbs (trombone), Josh Dunn (banjo), Brian Nalepka (bass/vocals), and Kevin Dorn (drums). Catch them each Thursday at Birdland Theater. $40 tables / $30 bar + $20 food/drink minimum May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 (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. Featured weekly guest artists drop in from television bands (David Letterman, Saturday Night Live) and pop music touring bands (Rob Thomas, Rod Stewart). 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 why yelp.com proclaims, “If you hear one band in NYC make sure this is it… and prepare to be blown away!” $40 tables / $30 bar + $20 food/drink minimum May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 (Saturdays) 5:30 PM - Birdland Jazz Club Joe Alterman Trio: Celebrating Ramsey Lewis Saturdays in May at Birdland belong to Joe Alterman—whose trio is hot off releasing “Brisket for Breakfast” with tenor saxophone legend Houston Person—as he celebrates piano great Ramsey Lewis. Alterman is the pianist whom Ramsey Lewis called “a joy to behold”; who Les McCann called “a giant”; and whose warm, upbeat pianism calls forth the exuberant wit of Ahmad Jamal, the blues of Red Garland, and the reflections of Bill Evans. An Atlanta native who has been performing in New York City for over ten years, former releases included Joe Alterman Plays Les McCann: Big Mo & Little Joe (August 2023) and Solo Joe: Songs You Know both in the same month. His prior recording, The Upside of Down, captured the power of two sets he played at Birdland in 2019 and 2020 in the months just preceding the pandemic. Alterman’s expertise lies in his ability to bring the heat on keys, conjuring up the down-home good feelings which we so badly need right about now. Perhaps this is why famed jazz critic Nat Hentoff says that the young pianist “would have been able to hold his own jamming with...Lester Young, Count Basie, Oscar Peterson, and Duke Ellington.” Let Alterman swing you out of your seats. Don’t be surprised if you dance the whole show! $35 tables / $25 bar + $20 food/drink minimum May 4, 11, 18, 25 (Sundays) 8:30 & 10:30 PM - Birdland Jazz Club The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra (ALJO) brings 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. Thirteen 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 + $20 food/drink minimum write your comments about the article :: © 2025 Jazz News :: home page |