Music

Billy Stritch Returns to Birdland Jazz Club Birthday Bash! Just in Time For An Early Valentine’s Day

Published

1 year ago

January 15, 2022

Birdland Jazz Club will welcome back Grammy Award-nominated pianist, vocalist and songwriter Billy Stritch for an exclusive five-show concert engagement celebrating “Billy Stritch’s Big Birdland Birthday Bash!” from Thursday, February 10 through Saturday, February 12. This new show highlights Billy’s unique mix of songs from the jazz canon and the Great American Songbook, in addition to personal favorites from his award-winning livestream series “Billy’s Place” and special guests to join the birthday fun. In addition to Stritch on piano and vocals, the Birdland shows will feature Tom Hubbard on bass and Eric Halvorson on drums. For tickets, please visit BirdlandJazz.com.

The run of concerts also helps celebrate The Sunday Set, the new album with Jim Caruso which boasts a new selection of urbane standards, jazz favorites and sly comedy numbers. The recording from Club44 Records, captured live at The Birdland Theater, will be released on Friday, January 21.

Other upcoming national tour dates include The Kravis Center with Gabrielle Stravelli in West Palm Beach, FL (January 14-15) and Feinstein’s/54 Below with Linda Eder (February 3-5). Additional tour dates will be announced at BillyStritch.com.

His recent album Billy’s Place – hailed as “causal, cool and charming” by Jazz Weekly – is the first piano-and-vocals album of his career, delivering a deeper level of intimacy and connection than his previous releases. “The song selection was born out of my weekly livestream show ‘Billy’s Place’ that I started during the pandemic,” comments Billy. “I’ve been able to learn and present music by a diverse group of composers, and the songs on the album are many of my favorites from these shows. I was able to include many special songwriters, including Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart (‘Falling in Love with Love’) and Hoagy Carmichael (‘Skylark’), as well as more contemporary writers like Peter Allen (‘Planes’) and my friend Barry Manilow (‘Meet Me, Midnight’).”

The album’s latest single – a lush symphonic version of the album’s song “Ordinary Miracles,” the Marvin Hamlisch and Alan & Marilyn Bergman standard also performed by Barbra Streisand and Nancy LaMott – boasts a 46-piece orchestra.

Billy Stritch will celebrate “Billy Stritch’s Big Birdland Birthday Bash!” at Birdland Jazz Club on Thursday, February 10 at 8:30 PM; Friday, February 11 at 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM; and Saturday, February 12 at 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM. The cover charge is $30. Birdland Jazz Club is located at 315 West 44th Street (between 8^th and 9^th Avenues) in Manhattan. For reservations, please call (212) 581-3080 or visit www.BirdlandJazz.com

Billy Stritch is one of the premier singer-pianists on the New York and national jazz and cabaret scenes. He began his career in Houston, Texas, where he formed the vocal trio Montgomery, Plant and Stritch. The trio performed all over the world from 1983 until they disbanded in 1990. A chance meeting with Liza Minnelli in 1991 resulted in her asking him to create vocal arrangements for Liza’s record-breaking extravaganza Stepping Out at Radio City. In addition to his 25-year collaboration with as accompanist and opening act for Liza, Billy recently toured with the legendary Tony Bennett as Tony’s pianist and musical director.

A solo entertainer in his own right, he has performed his own shows (including tributes to Mel Tormé and Cy Coleman) in concert halls and nightclubs across the country. Billy also serves as music director for such leading vocalists as Marilyn Maye, Linda Lavin, Linda Eder, Christine Ebersole and Paulo Szot. He is the co-writer of the Grammy Award-winning song “Does He Love You,” recorded by Reba McEntire and Linda Davis. The single reached the number one spot on the Billboard Country music chart, winning a Grammy Award and selling in excess of five million copies along the way. A new version was released in 2021 by Reba and the legendary Dolly Parton.

Billy has arranged music for many top performers and created the arrangements for Minnelli on Minnelli and Liza’s at the Palace, both at Broadway’s famed Palace Theatre. He was also seen on stage playing the role of “Oscar” in the Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of 42^nd Street in 2001. During Covid-19, he created his own weekly Facebook live-stream show “Billy’s Place,” celebrating the Great American Songbook with songs and stories from his varied career.

Related Topics:Billy Stritch Birdland Jazz Club Birthday Bash!Feinstein’s/54 Below Jim Caruso Linda Eder New The Sunday Set

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Suzanna Bowling

Suzanna, co-owns and publishes the newspaper Times Square Chronicles or T2C. At one point a working actress, she has performed in numerous productions in film, TV, cabaret, opera and theatre. She has performed at The New Orleans Jazz festival, The United Nations and Carnegie Hall. She has a screenplay and a TV show in the works, which she developed with her mentor and friend the late Arthur Herzog. She is a proud member of the Drama Desk and the Outer Critics Circle and was a nominator. Email: suzanna@t2conline.com

Music

Czech Jazz Singer Jan Smigmator to Debut at Carnegie Hall

Published

7 hours ago

March 21, 2023

Magda Katz

Jan Smigmator is set to be the first Czech jazz singer to perform at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York. His solo concert will take place on April 29, 2023 during which he will perform the famous repertoire of The Great American Songbook. Smigmator will be accompanied by The New York Sextet which comprises musicians from a band of the legendary American singer Tony Bennett, including two Czech jazzmen.

The band will meet for the first time only a couple of days before the concert in New York. It includes a music producer and jazz pianist Jan Steinsdörfer, an excellent player on Hammond organ Jan Andr and the members of Tony Bennett quartet – double bassist Marshall Wood and guitar player Gray Sargent from Boston, legendary Californian drummer Harold Jones and swing matador, tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton.The New York concert will also be released as an album Jan Smigmator Live At Carnegie Hall. All details about the concert can be found at www.smigmator.com as well as on the official pages of Carnegie Hall www.carnegiehall.org – tickets to be purchased on this page as well.

“It’s a dream of any musician to have a solo concert at the famous Carnegie Hall. It’s the Mecca of music and also the biggest accomplishment that can be achieved in the music world. It is a reference that opens the doors to the entire world. It signifies that you do your job very well. It is wonderful that we will play alongside the best American musicians,” says Jan Smigmator.

Celebrity

The Glorious Corner

Published

1 day ago

March 20, 2023

G. H. HARDING

Carmine Appice and David Salidor

G.H. Harding

SIXX APPICE –— (Via Ultimate Clsssic Rock) Nikki Sixx spoke out against Carmine Appice’s claim that guitarist Mick Mars had been in dispute with his bandmates in the run-up to his retirement from Motley Crue. Mars’ departure was announced on the completion of their 2022 Stadium Tour, with John 5 named as his replacement soon afterwards. The official reason given was that Mars’ longterm illness had finally caught up with him – but in a recent interview, former Ozzy Osbourne and Vanilla Fudge drummer Appice suggested otherwise.

Motley Crue 1985 by Mark Weiss

“[Mars] told me, ‘When I was on the Stadium Tour, I was not happy,’” Appice told Ultimate Guitar. “Basically, everything was on tape; it was all planned out and ultimately a lot of crap. … The truth is that everything has been weird for a while with Motley Crue… Mick told me that people that came to see it could tell that it was all pre-recorded and that everything was on tape.”

Appice added that Mars “would travel alone on a bus while the other guys flew everywhere,” and continued: “He said, ‘Man, these guys are pissing their money away, flying to every gig.’ They were all busy still trying to be rock stars, and Mick just wanted to play the music. … [T]here were a lot of disagreements. I think he was just done.” When Mars was told about Crue’s World Tour with Def Leppard, Appice claimed, the guitarist told his colleagues: “You can do it. I’m not going out with you for this.”

Earlier this week Sixx appeared to refer indirectly to Appice’s comments, tweeting: “Love how people talk FOR us without talking TO us. This is why the media has lost credibility. Obviously by printing BS they make money off of advertising and we’re not into that clickbait game. When the truth comes out it will be FROM us.”

But he was more direct during a Twitter Q&A session last night. “A washed up drummer trying to speak for us? And bottom feeder media running with it to make money off of lies? Welcome to the sad new world of LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME,” the bassist wrote.

He more or less repeated the same answer when asked: “Is what Carmine Appice said true?” Sixx replied: “A washed up drummer speaking for our band without any of the facts is as ridiculous as bottom feeder media running with stories without fact checking. When you hear the truth it will be from us.” He later commented: “It’s a funny money game.”

Crue will continue on the road through much of the year. Asked if 5’s status in the group was secure, Sixx stated: “Of course. He’s our guitar player. We have big plans.

Seems like there’s really a rumble in the metal-jungle. First off, I love these names … but, the name ‘Carmine Appice’ actually sounds pretty normal.

The metal world is a rough one for sure with fanzines named Blabbermouth; Louder Sound; Metal Edge; Metal Anarchy; Chaoszine; and Metal Injection. Remember, look before you leap!

The Longhorn

SHORT TAKES — Growing up, every Sunday night was family-dinner night at the steak-eatery The Longhorn in Rockville Center, Long Island. Sure it was a long-time ago, but the memory survives (as does the memory of our favorite waiter Tomas). Did you know that Micky Dolenz’s father George, owner and operated a restaurant in the heart of the Sunset Strip called The Marquis? The always regal-Alison Martino did a terrific piece on it, check it out here: https://martinostimemachine.blogspot.com/2022/02/the-marquis-restaurant-once-located-on.html?m=1&mibextid=uc01c0&fbclid=IwAR3wCiU_sgRmpjqWGpda_mEHthrj7OS1UfLOVkvYdbfVP_d5Iz0fO-KZbUw

Do you know the HLN Network? I really didn’t either, but it turns out its owned by CNN and Warner Brothers. This past weekend they ran a Fringe-fest, consisting of all the season of that show (2008-2013) which was one of my all time favorites. I watched most of it and it’s uncanny how well the show holds up. It features the wondrous John Noble; Joshua Jackson; Anna Torv and the late-Lance Reddick. The writing was just off the charts and more than being a sci-fi shows, it was about relationships. Just uncannily brilliant. Right up there with the X-Files and Lost …

Is it me or has the movie 80 For Brady dropped like a lead-balloon? There was a top-heavy PR-campaign before it came out and then nada. I’d still like to see it … HAPPY BDAY Andrew Freeman and Larry Yasgur.NAMES IN THE NEWS — Charles F. Rosenay; Jodi Ritzen; Jim Burgess; Richie Kaczor; Wayne Avers; Andrew Sandoval; Tom & Lisa Cuddy; Jodi Ritzen; Donna Quinter-Dolenz; Cindy Ronzoni; Kim Garner; Alan Rothstein; Crimshaw; Julian Lennon; Roger Friedman; Felipe Rose; Shep Pettibone; Mark Simone; Harvey Levin; Randy Jones; Bruce Haring; Andy Greene; and BELLA!

Events

Grace Jones, Bruce Hornsby Comes To The Blue Note Jazz Festival

Published

1 day ago

March 20, 2023

Suzanna Bowling

The Blue Note Jazz Festival runs from May 31st through July 2nd.

On May 31st Grace Jones, singer, actress, author, traveller, artist and revolutionist will be playing at the Hammerstein Ballroom at 8pm. Her CD ‘Hurricane,’ received widespread praise. In 1977 Jones secured her first record deal resulting in a string of dance-club hits including “I Need A Man” and her acclaimed reinvention of Edith Piaf’s classic “La Vie En Rose.” The three disco albums she recorded, ‘Portfolio’ (1977), ‘Fame’ (1978) and ‘Muse’ (1979), generated considerable success in the market and established her as a major recording artist.

Jones also became a muse to Andy Warhol who photographed her extensively and created a series of iconic portraits of her.

Jones is equally famous for her motion picture roles in such features as “Conan the Destroyer” (1984) co-starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, “A View to a Kill” (1985) co-starring Roger Moore as James Bond, the vampire thriller “Vamp” (in which Keith Haring famously painted her body for her role as an undead exotic dancer) and “Boomerang” (1992) co-starring Eddie Murphy (for which she recorded the song “7 Day Weekend”).

On June 3rd at Town Hall Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers with special guests John Scofield, Kenny Garrett & Christian McBride.

Bruce Hornsby, pianist Bruce Hornsby writes powerful songs from the heart that touch on several distinctly American traditions: pop, jazz, bluegrass, and 1960s soul. He recorded with his backing band the Range. Hornsby ultimately rejected the musical mainstream, disbanding the Range so he could tour with the Grateful Dead in the early ’90s, then exploring a variety of adventurous musical fusions on his own that decade and with the Noisemakers in the 2000s. Along the way, Hornsby collaborated with everybody from bluegrass picker Ricky Skaggs to jazz musicians Christian McBride and Jack DeJohnette while also spending time composing scores for Spike Lee, but his real revival arrived in the 2010s when Justin Vernon cited Hornsby as an influence and invited the pianist to play on Bon Iver’s 2019 album I, I. Hornsby embraced the opportunities that arose with a series of electronic-inflected, unpredictable albums that ran from 2019’s Absolute Zero through 2022’s ‘Flicted.