by Marilyn Lester   John Pizzarelli must have been voted “best all-round boy” in high school. The jazz guitarist, singer and leader seems to cover every aspect of entertainment in his shows, from jazz to pop to comedy, with a huge helping of standup, wit and shtick. He’s a...

    by Marilyn Lester   There was a time, when the Count was still alive, when Birdland was the home of the Basie Orchestra, so it’s only fitting that the band was booked for a five-day residency as in the days of yore. The opening number was a grabber – a big brass blow of...

    by Sandi Durell     The weather is hot, the cabarets and clubs are even hotter! What’s happening in NYC nightlife doesn’t go on vacation; it keeps right on going. Here’s a short list of some of the shows coming up. Check the club calendars for more performers or change...

  by Marilyn Lester     A packed room at Birdland was primed and ready to celebrate to the hilt: it was not only Father’s Day but the return of acclaimed jazz guitarist John Paul “Bucky” Pizzarelli to the performance stage. From the moment his fingers touched the legendary...

        by Joe Regan Jr.   After her sold out cabaret appearance at Birdland last October, the Welsh-born Iris Williams returned in triumph May 2 in a show entitled An Encore Evening With Iris Williams to a near capacity crowd. Once again, the venue was filled with...

        By: Sandi Durell     At last . . . it’s spring again and birds on the wing again . . . trees and flowers in bloom, no coats, no boots nor gloves and for the young and young at heart, it definitely feels like love!   The cabarets and clubs are filled with wonderful talent....

  by Sandi Durell     With a full house of fans and friends at Birdland, the ever-popular Jamie deRoy & friends series celebrated Spring and her new signature program for The Actors Fund: Jamie deRoy & friends Cabaret Initiative – assisting people in the cabaret...

    By Brian Scott Lipton     Over her past 39 shows at Birdland, Natalie Douglas has faced her fair share of challenges, including entire shows dedicated to such legendary vocalists as Nina Simone and Dolly Parton. But in presenting her newest show, Human Heart, on...

by Marilyn Lester   The internationally acclaimed rock n’ roll band U2, formed by four Dublin lads in 1976, is one of the best-known and best-selling music groups of all time. The members are not only musicians but activists and humanitarians who’ve barely left the spotlight in their...

        John, Paul, George, Ringo – and Dick     by Peter Haas   Call it cabaret; call it a concert: by all means, call it imaginative and joyful. It was pianist/composer John Bucchino’s hour-long riveting performance of his piano improvisations on the music...

      Linda Lavin: My First Farewell Concert. Birdland, January 31, 2016   by Joe Regan Jr.   Linda Lavin is receiving critical raves for her current Broadway performance in Our Mother’s Brief Affair. After eight performances including a Sunday matinee, Lavin chose to...

    Happy New Year Cabaret Revelers! It’s almost 2016 and much has happened in our world but it’s music that remains the healer, fills the soul with our passions, thoughts, desires, imagination and realities. Here are a few samplings of what you can expect this winter at New...

    by Joe Regan Jr.     On Thursday, December 10 multi award winning singer Barbara Fasano celebrated the release of her fourth CD at Birdland at 6 PM. There was a sold out house full of singers, composers, family and friends. The CD is entitled “Busy Being Free,” which...

      By: Sandi Durell     It’s that time of year. . . again and it’s always punctuated by the magnificent voice of James Barbour who yearly graces the stage of Birdland singing songs of the season to a filled-to-capacity room. And December 6th was no different other...

        by Joe Regan Jr.     There was a very special event at Birdland on Monday, November 16 when Steve Ross appeared with an eleven piece orchestra and sang some very special songs accented by the horns, winds, percussion, a violin, and a very special bass...

    Review by Joe Regan Jr.     Iris Williams, the Welsh contralto now living in the United States, appeared in Jim Caruso’s Broadway At Birdland series Monday, October 19 in a show entitled “I Wish You Love” to a sold out house full of the members of several Welsh groups,...

            By: Sandi Durell     When I think about writing a review about Steve Ross, it’s akin to writing a review for Marilyn Maye. Now that I’ve used every superlative and adjective known to mankind, what can I say? He’s always a Prince . . . Steve...

            by: Paulanne Simmons   Carole J. Bufford calls Birdland Jazz Party “an evening of Jazz and Blues standards with a killer quartet.” The only way to improve on this description would be to add that it’s hosted by a petite powerhouse with the energy...

      Review by Marilyn Lester Toward the end of “Merman’s Apprentice,” David Merrick appraises Ethel Merman and says he realizes a person can be hard and soft at the same time. In much the same way, this Stephen Cole-David Evans musical can be two things at once: a hilarious...

Photo Montage /Video: Russ Weatherford – Eric Rudy by: Linda Amiel Burns The songs of composer Larry Kerchner was celebrated at Birdland with an all-star cast of singers    In a gala evening, produced by Sandi Durell, “Hidden Treasures IV – The Songs of Larry Kerchner” was held at...

  A singer gathers her impressive friends for a tribute to Broadway musicals.         By Joel Benjamin   If we all had friends like Jamie deRoy, life would be one continuous celebration. Alas, we must settle for Ms. deRoy’s far too infrequent soirees like the most recent...

    Larry Kerchner has been a noted songwriter most of his musical life, having written the title song for the movie “Somewhere in Time” (sold that one when he was too young to know the ropes) and a couple of other tunes that were part of “The Wiz.” But...

  Making the Rounds with Russ             by: Russ Weatherford This lady, and I’m talking about the fabulous Anita Gillette, captures the room at Birdland on March 30th with her vocal talents and her magical stage presence. Her director is the glorious...

    Making the Rounds with Russ             Jazz chanteuse Natalie Douglas began her residency at Birdland on Sundays with a Jazz Party that was monumental. Boy, can this lady deliver! You bet! Her special guests were Trevor McQueen, a young man with pipes...

        By Joel Benjamin   Every song is an adventure for pianist/singer Barbara Carroll and her longtime musical collaborator Jay Leonhart, bassist extraordinaire, a journey into her musical imagination and her life. At an age when most people are playing bridge in...