Articles by Mark Edelman
Oscar Peterson 100 birthday celebration at Birdland
by Mark Edelman
Makoto Ozone, John Clayton, Jeff Hamilton Birdland Oscar Peterson 100th birthday New York, NY August 15, 2025 The “Maharajah of the Keyboard" as Duke Ellington dubbed Oscar Peterson--or, to his friends, simply O.P.--would have turned one hundred in August, reason enough to remember the consummate Canadian pianist at that hallowed house of jazz, Birdland in New York City. In the nimble hands of Peterson protege Makoto Ozone, bassist John Clayton and drummer Jeff Hamilton, ...
Continue ReadingDave Kline At Blues Alley
by Mark Edelman
Dave Kline Blues AlleyWashington, DC June 20, 2025 Keyboard, guitar, bass and drums: a standard jazz quartet, no doubt, no argument. But add electric violin, trombone and the Chinese dulcimer and you've got something entirely different. Dave Kline and friends brought that unique line-up and a passel of original tunes to Blues Alley in DC's Georgetown district. The result?--as tasty and exotic as the jambalaya and shrimp and grits we enjoyed while Kline and company ...
Continue ReadingSteve Ross at Birdland
by Mark Edelman
Steve Ross Birdland New York, NY May 19, 2025 The food was great and the service fine, so you'd be forgiven for confusing Birdland with the cozy confines of the Oak Room at the Algonquin, circa 1981. Nevertheless, there we were (or weren't) as cabaret great Steve Ross took the Birdland stage and wowed another adoring audience, as he first did more than 45 years ago. Dressed smartly in a rich velvety dinner jacket--purportedly a ...
Continue ReadingDee Dee Bridgewater and Bill Charlap at Kennedy Center
by Mark Edelman
Dee Dee Bridgewater and Bill Charlap Kennedy Center Washington, DC May 5, 2025 In advance of the much anticipated release of her forthcoming album “Elemental" on Mack Avenue Records, three-time Grammy ® Award winner Dee Dee Bridgewater gave a powerful performance to open this year's Mary Lou Williams (previously “Women In Jazz") Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington. Just as powerful, her co-star--accompanist doesn't begin to describe him--Bill Charlap drove through an astonishing series ...
Continue ReadingJoanne Halev at Birdland
by Mark Edelman
Joanne Halev BirdlandNew York, NY April 21, 2025 Backed by everybody's favorite musical director Alex Rybeck and bassist Tom Hubbard, chanteuse Joanne Halev made her long-anticipated move upstairs to Birdland's main room for an elegant, thoughtful set of music and mirth. Drawing on life, love and the shifting tides of fortune in a show aptly titled “Sailing On," Halev brought a sold-out crowd to their feet in sincere appreciation for her mastery of ...
Continue ReadingVince Giordano and the Nighthawks at Birdland
by Mark Edelman
Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks Birdland New York, NYMarch 18, 2025 The sign on the door reads “Birdland Jazz Club," but when Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks take the Intimate downstairs stage on 44th Street, append the words “and College of Fine Music" to that moniker. For when Giordano hits that lectern, discerning students of great jazz lean in and listen up. And why not? Surrounded by some of the best sidemen in the tri-state ...
Continue ReadingKaren Akers at Birdland
by Mark Edelman
Karen AkersBirdland New York, NYMarch 17, 2025 The two blocks between Birdland and Broadway melted away on a recent Monday eve when chanteuse Karen Akers brought her classy cabaret act to the 44th Street jazz mecca. Elegantly assisted by musical directing stalwart Alex Rybeck and bassist Ritt Henn, the Tony Award nominee (for Nine, the stage adaptation of Fellini's 8 ½) made it clear from her first golden tones that she richly deserved the accolades ...
Continue ReadingFreda Payne at Blues Alley
by Mark Edelman
Freda Payne Blues Alley Freda Payne Washington, DC January 26, 2025 Blues Alley kicked off its 60th anniversary celebration with a special treat: multi-gold-record performing artist Freda Payne, the “Band of Gold" gal who captivated the pop charts back in the early '70s with her soulful serenade to lost love. Good news to report: Payne looks great, sounds better and makes the transition from pop songstress to American songbook chanteuse with equal measures of ...
Continue ReadingDavid Ostwald's Louis Armstrong Eternity Band at Birdland
by Mark Edelman
David Ostwald's Louis Armstrong Eternity Band Birdland Theater New York, NY December 24, 2024 Christmas came a day early in the cozy confines of downstairs' Birdland Theater on 44th Street just west of 8th Avenue. The holiday-bedecked elves in David Ostwald's Louis Armstrong Eternity Band provided the kind of Yuletide cheer that had a packed crowd of early era jazz fans loving every minute. Santa Ost-wald kept the joint jumpin,' aided by fellow bandleader Vince ...
Continue ReadingJohn Pizzarelli at Blues Alley
by Mark Edelman
John Pizzarelli Blues AlleyWashington, DC December 8, 2024 When you're part of a jazz dynasty--son of guitar-great Bucky Pizzarelli, husband of chanteuse Jessica Molaskey--it's only natural that you'd ring in the holiday season for us peasants with a Christmas carol or two. John Pizzarelli warmed up the crowd at DC's venerable Blues Alley with a swinging mug of wassail alongside classics from the Great American songbook and some original tunes for good measure. In ...
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