Janis Siegel with The Jimmy Masters Trio at the Sandler Center

In 1972 Tim Hauser, Laurel Masse, Alan Paul and Janis Siegel created a four part vocal group called The Manhattan Transfer. Cheryl Bentyne replaced Masse in 1979 and the group remained intact until October 2014 with the passing of Hauser. Trist Curless replaced Hauser and the four vocalist have been recording and traveling ever since. The group announced that the 2022 world tour, celebrating their 50th anniversary, would be their last.

Who better to lead a musical evening entitled "I'll Take Manhattan" than one of the original members of The Manhattan Transfer, Janis Siegel. The nine time Grammy winner joined bassist Jimmy Masters, pianist John Toomey and drummer Emre Kartari for an evening celebrating Manhattan in song. Siegel and company treated a sold out audience to a night of sophisticated story telling, soulful ballads and a swinging homage to a city so dear to her heart. During the two 45 minute sets Siegel entertained the audience with tidbits about her city and about the song she was about to sing. By the end of the evening not only had Siegel taken Manhattan but she had also taken her old and new fans on a trip they won't soon forget.