Birdland Jazz Club Announces November 2008 Schedule

Enrico Pieranunzi Latin Quintet
Born in Rome in 1949, Enrico Pieranunzi has long been one of the best-known and appreciated personalities on the European jazz scene. As pianist, composer, and arranger, he has recorded more than sixty CDs under his own name, ranging from solo piano to trio, and from duet to quintet. He has played in concert and in the studio with Chet Baker, Lee Konitz, Marc Johnson, Joey Baron, Paul Motian, and Charlie Haden. Pieranunzis formative years embraced both classical and jazz piano, and the influence of Debussy is readily apparent in the lush romanticism at the heart of his music. In 1989 and 2003 he was voted Musician of the Year in the Musica Jazz critics poll and he was 1997 recipient of the Django dOr Award for best European Jazz Musician. In addition to recording many albums, he has written more than 200 compositions including Night Bird, which was recorded several times by Chet Baker and performed by many others. Jazz writer Nat Hentoff writes that Pieranunzi is a luminously lyrical pianist, with a constant flow of ideas. He builds the kind of quality of designs that have a powerful inner logic. Ray Spencer of Jazz Journal has written that Enrico Pieranunzi breathes new life into contemporary jazz.
Saturday, November 1 @ 8:30 & 11pm ($30 General Admission, $40 Orchestra)

John Bucchino
Noted songwriter and pianist John Bucchino presents an intimate solo evening of his work. Bucchino will share songs from his CDs “Grateful," “It's Only Life," and “On Richard Rodgers' Piano," as well as material from his recent Broadway show “A Catered Affair." John Bucchino's songs have been recorded and performed by an array of incredible talents, including Judy Collins, Barbara Cook, Michael Feinstein, Art Garfunkel, Patti LuPone, Yo-Yo Ma, Audra MacDonald, Liza Minnelli, Deborah Voight, The Boston Pops, The Los Angeles Philharmonic, and many others in venues that include Carnegie Hall, The Metropolitan Opera, The Hollywood Bowl, The Sydney Opera House, and The White House. Among his numerous honors are The Johnny Mercer Songwriter Award, The ASCAP Foundation Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award, The Jonathan Larson Award, The Kleban Award, and the first annual Fred Ebb Award. Don't miss this rare opportunity to hear these extraordinary songs performed by the composer himself.
Monday, November 3 @ 7pm ($25)

DJANGO REINHARDT FESTIVAL
The spirit of Django lives on in New York, returning to Birdland for its ninth year! Excitement over the music of the legendary French gypsy jazz guitarist has grown immeasurably since Producers Pat Philips & Ettore Stratta founded the Django Reinhardt NY Festival in 2000. Combining the best players from Europe with some of America's finest jazz artists, a unique atmosphere of virtuosity and fun pervades Birdland for one week only! Reinhardt, a musical genius born to gypsy parents, was a virtuoso on the six-string banjo while still in his teens. In 1931, he heard the music of Louis Armstrong, an experience that inspired and shaped the future of his music. By the time of his death, twenty-two years later, Reinhardt had single-handedly redirected the course of jazz guitar. With music directed by Brian Torff, this years festival features The Young Lions of Gypsy Jazz Samson and Jean-Baptiste Schmitt, Timbo, and Ludovic Beier of France, Swedens Andreas Oberg, Kruno Spisic of Philadelphia, and Hot Club of Detroit. Special guests include Joel Frahm, Edmar Castaneda, Wycliffe Gordon, Howard Levy, and David Langlois. See for yourself why this Birdland tradition is one of our most anticipated events of the year!
Tuesday- Sunday, November 4-9 @ 8:30 & 11pm ($35 General Admission, $45 Orchestra)

Bill Nolte
Broadway singing actor Bill Nolte sheds his helmut (Franz Liebkind in The Producers), feline makeup (Cats), wigs (1776), and dance belt (Joseph...), to present his solo cabaret act, All of Me. Directed by Mark Waldrop (When Pigs Fly), with musical direction by Pam Drews Phillips (Crazy for You), All of Me features original material along with standard tunes by Harold Arlen, Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer, Fats Waller, Johnny Cash, and others. With music and comedy, Bill Nolte puts his unique spin on his varied 32-year stage career, touring and travel, life in Las Vegas, and reality TV (Dancing With the Stars) in his thoroughly entertaining one-man-show.
Monday, November 10 @ 7pm ($25)

John Pizzarelli & The Swing Seven
The son of the legendary guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, New Jersey native John Pizzarelli has become one of the most recognizable faces and voices in contemporary jazz. He has had a multi-faceted career as a jazz guitarist, vocalist and bandleader. Internationally known for classic standards, late-night ballads, and the cool jazz flavor he brings to his performances and recordings, Pizzarelli continues to charm audiences with his warmth, conversational humor, and musical moxie. With Pizzarelli on guitar and vocals, the sensational Swing Seven includes Martin Pizzarelli (bass), Ray Kennedy (piano), Tony Tedesco (drums), John Mosca (trombone,) Tony Kadleck (trumpet,) Andy Fusco (alto sax, tenor sax, clarinet, flute,) and Kenny Berger (baritone sax, bass clarinet, clarinet, flute.)
Tuesday Saturday, November 11-15 @ 8:30 & 11pm ($40 General Admission, $50 Orchestra)

Sonnet Sings: The Bard (A Benefit for Sonnet Repertory Theatre)
An Evening of Original Songs Inspired by the Work of William Shakespeare Dedicated to classic theatre for the modern planet. Sonnet Repertory Theatre promotes classic plays and adaptations, providing forums for collaboration between emerging artists and established professionals. With Classics in the Classroom, SRT aims not only to entertain, but also to educate young people by engaging them with timeless literature through expressive theatre. This years benefit evening will include contributions by such artists as Jeff Bowen (Obie Award-winner for [title of show]), Alan Menken (Eight-time Academy Award-winning composer and pianist whose work includes Little Shop of Horrors, Disneys The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast, and countless others), Henry Krieger (Academy and Tony Award-nominated, and Grammy Award-winning composer of Dreamgirls, The Tap Dance Kid, and Sideshow), and Bobby Lopez and Jeff Marx (Tony Award-winning composers, lyricists, and collaborators for Avenue Q). Additional performers and composers are to be announced shortly. Last years event included songs and performances from Will Chase, Bradley Dean, William Finn, Zina Goldrich, Adam Guettel, Brian D'Arcy James, Amanda Green and Tom Kitt, Terrence Mann, Steve Marzullo, David Miller, Marsha Norman, Duncan Sheik, Q Smith, Rachel Ulanet and Brandon Wardell.
Monday, November 17 @ 5:30pm ($40, $60 & $80)

Tierney Sutton
In a world of overnight sensations, jazz vocalist Tierney Sutton's steady and ever-growing success has developed over time. Still going strong on a 15-year collaboration, The Tierney Sutton Band has accumulated acknowledgements such as two consecutive Grammy nominations for Best Vocal Jazz Album, the JazzWeek Award for Vocalist of the year, consecutive nominations for Jazz Journalist Association awards, several #1 CDs on jazz radio, and critical praise throughout the world. The New York Times calls her, “a serious jazz artist who takes the whole enterprise to another level." Experience this rare and powerful harmony achieved by virtuosic performers, reknowned for their ability to master the art of collaboration and musical unity. The Tierney Sutton Band features Sutton and instrumental virtuosos Christian Jacob, Trey Henry, Kevin Axt and Ray Brinker.
Wednesday-Saturday, November 19-22 @ 8:30 & 11pm ($30 General Admission, $40 Orchestra)

Jonathan Tunick
Highly acclaimed orchestrator, musical director and composer Jonathan Tunick has the extremely rare honor of being a recipient of all four major American show business awards: the Tony, Oscar, Emmy and Grammy. His orchestration credits include such hit Broadway shows as A Chorus Line, Titanic, Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, and classic films such as Blazing Saddles, The Birdcage, and Young Frankenstein, among many more. Come celebrate the man behind the music you love, and hear the original compositions of a true show biz legend whose extraordinary career spans over five decades!
Monday, November 24 @ 7pm ($30 General Admission, $50 Orchestra)

Christine Ebersole with Billy Stritch
The wildly sensational musical pair consisting of Grammy-winning composer, arranger, vocalist, and jazz pianist, Billy Stritch and Tony-winning actress and singer Christine Ebersole, share the Birdland stage once again, this time for a four-day run! The duo will cover cabaret standards, all the while bringing their own lively and exciting personal touches to the classics. In a recent review of their performance at Lincoln Center, The New York Times' Stephen Holden commented: “Ms. Ebersole, a bright, zany soprano and ebullient clown, can whirl on a dime and in a show like “Grey Gardens" evoke an inexpressible sorrow under a facade of garrulous pluck. When she adds a spinning vibrato to her lemony voice, she can turn into a playful latter-day Kathryn Grayson or Jeanette MacDonald, which she began to do on Friday during The Surrey With the Fringe on Top. Mr. Stritch, a pop-jazz pianist, gifted arranger and Liza Minnelli protg with a photographic musical memory...is a solid exponent of the gregarious, swinging Las Vegas style epitomized by Steve Lawrence." Longtime friends Ebersole and Stritch have a musical partnership in which two equally bright stars align and illuminate shared moments through perfect synchronicity. The result is a shining performance that you wont want to miss!
Wednesday-Saturday, November 26-29 @ 8:30 & 11pm ($40 General Admission, $50 Orchestra)

REGULAR MONTHLY ENGAGEMENTS

ANDY FARBER & HIS ORCHESTRA, Featuring Hilary Kole
Award winning composer/arranger and saxophonist Andy Farber leads his 17-piece jazz orchestra through a program of original compositions and new arrangements of standards. Featured with the big band is vocalist Hilary Kole, a star in the midst of a meteoric rise. The NY Observer calls her, “Hip and lovely...a musical marvel... sexy, charming and funny." While the NY Post raves, “Kole is drop dead gorgeous." And Time Out NY notes, “Kole has a sophisticated sex appeal...and presents her own distinctive style. She is the best at selling a song.
Sundays, November 2, 16, 23, 30 @ 6pm ($20)

CHICO OFARRILLS AFRO-CUBAN JAZZ ORCHESTRA (directed by Arturo OFarrill, Jr.)
Arranger-bandleader Arturo Chico O Farrill, Sr. began introducing Afro-Cuban rhythms into jazz in the 1940s. The band bearing Chicos name (directed by his son Arturo) continues to showcase the most seamless blend of clav rhythm and bebop harmony anywhere. (Time Out)
Sundays, November 2, 16, 23, 30 @ 9&11pm ($25)

JIM CARUSOS CAST PARTY
No one can be called a true New Yorker until theyve been to the Cast Party, (2007 Nightlife Award Winner) which is to Broadway what the Conde-Nast cafeteria is to publishing. Divas and dapper-dans insouciantly sip cocktails while watching each other sing and perform at the open-mic event during Broadways dark night, says Next Magazine. Broadway impresario Jim Caruso hosts a combination open-mic, networking event and party in which the biggest stars on Broadway relax on their night off by performing their favorite songs in an informal setting.
Mondays, November 3, 10, 17, 24 @ 9:3opm ($10 cover/$10 minimum)

THE MUSIC OF DUKE ELLINGTONw/David Berger & The Sultans of Swing
This Tuesday night residency has David Berger -- acclaimed bandleader, composer/arranger, and historical expert on all things Ellington leading his 16 piece Sultans of Swing Big Band in a program of authentic, swinging arrangements by Ellington, Basie and other big band icons.
Tuesdays, November 18 & 25 @ 8:30pm & 11pm ($25)

IMPORTANT INFORMATION, PLEASE NOTE: