Stephen Sorokoff - Page 14

Last night, Sheldon Harnick received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Songbook Association! Performers included Kissy Simmons, Klea Blackhurst, Adam Heller, Danny Bacher, Samantha Massell, Melanie Moore, Alexandra Silber, Brad Oscar, Liz Callaway, Jeff Harnar & Alex Rybeck, Alan Schmuckler, Jeffrey Saver and Rhyn Mclemore Saver, Ed Dixon, Sidney Myer, Judy Kuhn, Robert Cuccioli, and Steven Skybell.

Shoshana Bean, star of Wicked, City Center's Songs for a New World, and the most recent Jenna in Broadway's Waitress, is currently in the midst of her long anticipated Feinstein's/54 Below debut.

The Broadway at Birdland series had one of the country's finest pop/jazz vocalists on it's stage last night. No….it wasn't Marilyn Maye, however the cheering and constant standing ovations Clint Holmes was receiving after each spectacular song interpretation was very similar to the ovations at a marvelous Marilyn performance. In the creative soul of Clint Holmes a tune you have heard many times gets deconstructed and reconstructed in ways that create a new work of art.

The Cast of Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish may have been expelled from their Home in Anatevka but they were royally welcomed to Home (Plate) at Yankee Stadium yesterday!

There are few places where you can see and hear (up close) a big band comprised of full horn sections, a 7ft Grand Piano, and world class musicians all crammed onto one stage. It happens at Birdland every Friday as the Birdland Big Band blows the roof off the the building on 44th street playing some of the best jazz, funk, Brazilian and Latin music on the planet at the “Jazz Corner of The World”

There was a television show in the 1950's called “What's My Line”. The celebrity panelists had to guess what job a person did by asking them investigative questions. I dare say if Gunhild Carling was a guest on a show her occupation could not be ascertained. Who could imagine a musician that can play 20 instruments, sings, tap dances, is capable of physical frolicking and is a master at all of them. As she started her first number I began thinking is this a karaoke singer who had an extra drink before taking the Mic? but then quickly realized that Gunhild Carling is a superb jazz musician who's technique is reminiscent of the 20's 30's hot swing style. Her vocals have an amorous swing to them and it doesn't hurt that she has a kind of nostalgic glamorous appearance that so fits her persona. At one point in her show she had most of the audience following her around the Birdland Theater as she played The Saints Go Marching In.

We are all aware of those great music scores created by gifted composers for the movies but last night at Dizzy's Club, Christine Tamburr, a gifted composer and virtuoso vibraphonist led a world class group of musicians and jazz great Clint Holmes in a performance of his score “The Awakening “ Sounds For Sculpture”. Just as you can't imagine a movie without the underlying music, something tells me I won't be able to enjoy a “silent” Sculpture anymore after the experience of listening to Christian Tambour's breathtaking music inspired by the Sculpture of world renowned Seward Johnson.

Michael Feinstein's genius is not only exemplified by his voice, his piano, his wit, his encyclopedic knowledge of show business, and his remarkable ability to entertain an audience. He also has an astute talent for choosing the type of guest artist to have in his shows who will create a special magic when paired with his musical personality. Melissa Manchester the Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter, actress was on stage with him last night and the combination of these two icons unleashed a chemistry that produced a spectacular event that had a celebrity filled Feinstein's/54 Below enthralled from start to finish. Al Roker, Deborah Roberts, Clive Davis, Brenda Vaccaro, and Michael Riedel among others were in the club for this exciting opening night.

Mario Lanza brought Opera to Hollywood and Sean Patrick Murtagh brought Mario Lanza to the Cabaret World at The Green Room 42 last night. Sean's lyric baritone effectively handled the repertoire usually sung by a tenor's voice and brought a distinctive vivacity to the songs usually associated with Mario Lanza and other celebrated tenors. Actually this show was about Mario and Richard (not Tucker). It was a heartfelt tribute to Sean's vocal teacher Richard who first exposed him to the Mario Lanza songbook. With his superior musical theater acting skills and charming personality Sean Patrick Murtagh is an exciting addition to the Cabaret World. Similar to the Metropolitan Opera, The Green Room 42 was full of Bravo's last night and I was thinking 3 Tenors plus 1 great Lyric Baritone would also make a great performance.

In the theater community Jamie deRoy is a well known Broadway producer but in the Friars community she is also acclaimed as an entertainer. Friar Jamie deRoy furthermore has the distinction of being the 8th woman to become a Friar subsequent to the men's only club changing it's rules in 1988. Jamie deRoy who is usually the earliest to spot an opportunity had to wait behind the likes of Liza Minnelli, Joan Rivers Gloria Allred, and Brooke Shields who were also among the first to join the Friars Club.

You can physically build a welcoming and attractive Cabaret Room (in this case Mr. Finn's at Barrington Stage). You can have a name on the door that represents important musical theater (William Finn). However it really doesn't have any greatness unless the music and artists that appear on it's stage are of the highest order.

Nunziata fans are now going to be able to “take home Anthony” after his solo concert shows.  He's in the famed Samurai Hotel Recording Studios in Astoria, N.Y. recording his solo debut album as we speak.   You will not be able to take home his twin brother Will Nunziata on this CD.  It's only going to be Anthony's inspiring voice with soulful takes on classics like, “The Very Thought of You”, “When I Fall in Love”, “Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You”, “Somewhere”, 'Unchained Melody”, Can't Help Falling in Love with You” as well as his original songs including “I Found a Home,” Love Me Anyway”, and “Will You Be My Everyday?”

Entertainment royalty came out to see show biz royalty last night at Feinstein's/54 Below. Lorna Luft thoroughly enthralled a celebrity filled audience as she shared the music that was a part of her early years. The Beatles were very present in her song list and we learned that Lorna had a major crush on George Harrison. As Lorna related, “coming from a show biz family has it's perks”. She was able to meet them back stage after a concert she attended with her friend Leslie Bogart and her mother Lauren Bacall. Ms. Bacall warned the two youngsters that daughters of celebrities are not supposed to jump up and down and scream, consequently Lorna and Leslie were the only girls in the stadium quietly sitting with a stern look on their faces during The Beatle Concert!

Donna McKechnie, the Tony Award Winning Actress for A Chorus Line was in a different line last night. The super star was in The Lineup hosted by Susie Mosher at the Birdland Theater. Wether you're upstairs, downstairs, or on the line waiting to get into the club, there are celebs all over the place at Birdland and last night was no different. Tony Award winner Chita Rivera was in the house cheering a performance by her daughter Lisa Mordente who sang in Susie's wild variety show. It also wasn't to shabby that TV ( Madam Secretary) Film (Jersey Boys) and Broadway star Erich Bergen was in last night's Lineup too.

His show is titled “I Happen To Like New York” and at opening night at Feinstein's/54 Below New Yorkers happened to like Michael Feinstein in a very big way. In fact from coast to coast when the words Great American Songbook are spoken it's probably in the same sentence as the name Feinstein. Known to music lovers everywhere as America's ambassador of the songs that define our musical heritage for much of the 20th century, last night Michael thrilled an overflow audience at the club that has his name on the door. From multi-platinum recordings that have earned him five Grammy Award nominations to his Emmy nominated PBS-TV specials, his acclaimed NPR series, and concerts spanning the globe, his work as an educator and archivist define Feinstein as one of the most important musical forces of our time.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series presented singer/pianist Steve Ross in “Songs I Love” last night. Steve looked back at his long career and revisited songs from his first recording (1979) and his more recent efforts celebrating Alan Jay Lerner, Noel Coward and Stephen Sondheim. KT Sullivan who is currently appearing with Steve at the Irish Repertory Theatre in LOVE, NOEL: The Songs and Letters of Noel Coward (written and devised by Barry Day) joined Steve for a few songs.

I don't know if Benny Goodman “The King of Swing” ever performed at the original Birdland on Broadway at 52nd Street which was more known for the Bebop Jazz of Charlie Parker. However, his music was gloriously celebrated last night by John Pizzarelli and his special guest Clarinetist Ken Peplowski at the current Birdland on 44th Street. The link to the past was firmly established by the extraordinary artistry of Pizzarelli and Peplowski as they toured the Benny Goodman Songbook. The link was also established by the many stories both had about Benny Goodman. Ken Peplowski played in Benny's last band, and John's father Bucky was also was a featured guitarist with Goodman. In fact as John in his “Bucky Voice” recounted a funny story, when he was a youngster tagging along with Bucky John even got to strum a few notes for Benny Goodman until Bucky said “come on kid we gotta get home”! It was all smiles and happy swing music last night as John Pizzarelli and his trio with Ken Peplowski filled Birdland with great music and great conversation. The tradition of exceptional music continues at 'The Jazz Corner of The World”

The man who has a supreme dexterity with words, who possess an ability to weave them together and create harmonious and engrossing ideas came to see the man ( and woman) who do the same with music notes last night at Birdland. Stephen Holden the esteemed music and theatre critic of the New York Times, now retired came to hear John Pizzarelli and his special but not surprising guest (wife) Jessica Molaskey.

It's in the Steinbrenner genes, known for excellence, excitement, and showmanship in all things they endeavor. Haley Swindal, Broadway and Concert star continues the legacy of one of America's most well known families and used her formidable talents in an homage to her idol Liza Minnelli last night at Feinstein's/54 Below. Whenever Haley takes time off from her Broadway commitments (presently CHICAGO) her Cabaret concerts are a major happening and last night Broadway's Supper Club was the place to be in New York City. Haley's significant voice and acting abilities, her physical stature and blond hair may be different then Liza's but the audience arousal and passion she evokes is similar to the legend.

The Theater & Cabaret Audiences are flocking to the return engagement of Sherie Rene Scott & Norbert Leo Butz at Feinstein's/54 Below and this show seems to be one of the hottest tickets in town.