Will Friedwald News

The 'hot swing' musical style of DJANGO holds the crowd like a magnet. The Django Reinhardt NY Festival continues at Birdland for the 19thsuccessful year, Nov. 6-11. Legendary gypsy great Dorado Schmitt from the Alsace region of France returns with the joy of playing alongside his two sons Samson & Amati, guitar virtuosos of the style.   Dorado turns more and more to violin, taught to him by his father as in the gypsy tradition and is passing the torch.  The Band is 'on fire', ripping thru hot swinging numbers and will break your heart with a ballad,  influenced musically  by the top French Jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli as well as America's Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong.

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.

After critically lauded performances in New York, London and Paris, award-winning performer Eric Yves Garcia (Margaret Whiting Award; Bistro Award for Singing Instrumentalist) brought his show 'This is All I Ask' to Feinstein's/54 Below last night and Broadway@orld was there. Check out the photos below!

Returning for its fourth year, Emerging Music Festival (EMF) features ten on-the-rise indie rock, pop, blues, and soul bands performing for thousands on the Bryant Park lawn. Almost all artists hail from the greater New York area, making EMF one of the city's largest celebrations of young local bands. Between sets, attendees can purchase beer and wine, eat food from local vendors curated by Hester Street Fair, borrow a free picnic blanket, learn to juggle, and play giant lawn games.

Formed just a few years ago, Svetlana and the Delancey Five have become one of New York's most popular young jazz bands with a repertoire that moves flawlessly from the hot jazz of the 1920s to new takes on modern standards, offering a joyous "exuberant, foot-stomping party combining swing and pop-singer/songwriter sensibilities" (WPIX 11). The group makes its Bickford Theatre at the Morris Museum debut on Thursday, July 19, with a food truck picnic that begins at 5:30 followed by the concert at 7:30. The food trucks are open to the public and everyone is invited.

Beautiful was the operative word last night as Corinna Sowers Adler brought her beautiful voice and beautiful songs to Feinstein's/54 Below last night and BroadwayWorld was there. Check out the photos.

In a darkened Frank Sinatra Dining Room an off stage voice using that classic Dean Martin intro ' And Now Direct From The Bar' announced co-hosts Bill Boggs, Bruce Charet and countless actors, singers, celebrities and friends to toast one of the most beloved entertainers in show business…..Deana Martin.

It was night that will long be remembered by fans (and who isn't) of Marilyn Maye and of American Songbook hero, Dick Robinson. Marilyn is currently celebrating her 90th year with her current engagement at Feinstein's/54 Below and her friend DIck Robinson, creator of Legends Radio and founder of the Connecticut School of Broadcasting is celebrating his 80th.

In the annals of jazz history, few events have been more influential than the Jazz at the Philharmonic concert series, and the album series of the same name. From 1944 to 1957, pioneering impresario, Verve Records founder, Norman Granz organized a series of prestigious all-star concerts that featured a who's-who of the genre's most popular and influential artists. These shows were instrumental in raising jazz's public profile, and were among the first high-profile performances to feature racially mixed bands performing for integrated audiences.

Liz Robertson gave an affectionate musical tribute to her late husband, Alan Jay Lerner, the internationally acclaimed author of My Fair Lady last night in the theatre districts legendary Don't Tell Mama. My Fair Lady of course began it's Broadway run of 2,717 performances in 1956 at the Mark Hellinger Theatre on 51st Street. Don't Tell Mama on 46th street will present Liz Robinson's Cabaret show ( which she also performs in London) for three performances.

It took this year's two time Grammy Nominee Clint Holmes about 10 seconds of music to change the mood of the Jazz at Lincoln Center audience from disappointment to excitement as he moved from being the featured guest vocalist to becoming the host of Michael Feinstein's Jazz & Popular Song series in the Appel Room.

Barb Jungr has wowed audiences and critics worldwide with her powerful reinterpretations of Bob Dylan's work. Known for her passionate singing, minimal and subtle arrangements, and great humour, Barb is the definitive performer of one of the great musical icons of the 20th century, Bob Dylan.

92nd Street Y has announced an exciting spring lineup of theatre-centric programming, featuring many of today's Broadway favorites. 

Back by popular demand, the legendary Marilyn Maye returns to Feinstein's at the Nikko for two performances only-Friday, March 23 (8 p.m.) and Saturday, March 24 (8 p.m.). In this special evening celebrating her 90th birthday, Ms. Maye will perform selections from the Great American Songbook and share anecdotes from her legendary career! Tickets for Marilyn Maye range in price from $41.25-$75 and are available now by calling 866.663.1063 or visiting www.ticketfly.com.

Grammy Award-winning vocalist Catherine Russell has received universal acclaim since her debut album in 2006, Cat. She is a fresh and original voice.' wrote Sinatra biographer, Will Friedwald, who picked Cat among his top 10 cds of the year. It's a delight to hear the real thing in Catherine Russell.', chimed in Nat Hentoff in The Wall Street Journal. She will perform at the South Orange Performing Arts Center on Saturday, February 10 at 8 p.m. bringing to sparkling life songs from her new album Harlem on My Mind, an homage to the creativity and genius of 1930s Harlem Renaissance.

Next month, the Harris Center joins Capital Public Radio in celebrating a historic moment in the history of jazz. The date was January 16, 1938 at Carnegie Hall the hallowed venue for respectable classical music. There, Benny Goodman's band played swing music for the first time, with one of the earliest racially-integrated jazz groups.

The date was January 16, 1938 at Carnegie Hall the hallowed venue for respectable classical music. There, Benny Goodman's band played swing music for the first time, with one of the earliest racially-integrated jazz groups. It was an important day in the history of American music, one worthy of celebration.

Urban Stages presents this year's award-winning series, WINTER RHYTHMS 2017, which begins tonight, December 12, featuring some of New York's best musical performances through Saturday, December 23, 2017 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street, just East of 8th Avenue).

Next month, the Harris Center joins Capital Public Radio in celebrating a historic moment in the history of jazz. The date was January 16, 1938 at Carnegie Hall the hallowed venue for respectable classical music. There, Benny Goodman's band played swing music for the first time, with one of the earliest racially-integrated jazz groups.

Urban Stages announces the line-up for this year's award-winning series, WINTER RHYTHMS 2017, which will begin Tuesday, December 12 and will feature some of New York's best musical performances through Saturday, December 23, 2017 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street, just East of 8th Avenue).