Steve Wilson News

A musical tribute to timeless talents Billy Strayhorn and Lee Morgan will be performed on March 11th by the Terell Stafford Quintet on stage at Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Artists appearing at Birdland Jazz Club include John Pizzarelli (The Swing 7 and Quartet), Steve Ross, Erena Terakubo and Nana Quintet, Leanne Borghesi & Marta Sanders, Constantine Maroulis, Michelle Lordi and David Berger Orchestra.

A Night with Janis Joplin returns to ZACH where its journey began; this time in the Topfer with Tony-nominated Mary Bridget Davies, who originated the title role on Broadway running January 29–March 8, 2020 at The Topfer at ZACH. Creator, writer and original director Randy Johnson joins Mary Bridget Davies with original choreographer Patricia Wilcox and original associate director Tyler Rhodes. 

The New York Youth Symphony (NYYS) continues its 2019-2020 season with a performance by the 17-member NYYS Jazz ensemble on Monday, March 9, 2020 in two sets at 7:30pm and 9:30pm, at Dizzy's Club, Jazz at Lincoln Center, led by Director Andy Clausen. Titled Celebrating Charlie Parker @ 100, and featuring saxophonist Steve Wilson, the performances pay homage to Charlie Parker's centennial, musical legacy, and bebop innovations with selections by Parker, Wilson, Bennie Moten, Jelly Roll Morton, Duke Ellington, and more. NYYS Jazz will also give the world premiere of the NYYS First Music commission In the Shadow of Tall Giants by Devin Reilly.

Birdland Jazz Club and Birdland Theater have announced their March schedules!

Birdland Jazz Club and Birdland Theater are pleased to present the schedule for the month of February! At Birdland Jazz Club, catch the iconic Lionel Hampton Big Band Featuring Jason Marsalis, current GRAMMY nominee Catherine Russell, the Birdland debut of AGUAS Trio with Omar Sosa, Yilian Cañizares and Gustavo Ovalles, and iconic vocalist Jane Monheit. Internationally recognized trumpeter Rachel Therrien, the Seth Weaver Big Band, and The Voice contestant Melinda Rose Rodriguez will also be performing upstairs. 

ZACH Theatre kicks off 2020 with two show openings, celebrating a legendary rock goddess, and bringing Eric Carle's books of children's classics to life on the stage. A Night with Janis Joplin will return to ZACH where its journey began; this time in the Topfer with Tony-nominated Mary Bridget Davies, who originated the title role on Broadway running January 29-March 8, 2020 at The Topfer at ZACH. Creator, writer and original director Randy Johnson joins Mary Bridget Davies with original choreographer Patti Wilcox and original associate director Tyler Rhodes. The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show wiggles the ZACH Moody Foundation Theatre for Families into the 2020 Season when this menagerie of Eric Carle's favorite books is brought to life with puppetry for all ages.

The 48th season of the popular Highlights In Jazz continues on March 19, 2020, when producer Jack Kleinsinger presents 'Ellington Everlasting.' The concert turns the spotlight on the maestro's timeless compositions and enduring legacy, through the dynamic vision of featured performers like trombonist Art Baron & The Duke's Men, drummer Bernard Purdie, bassist Bill Crow, saxophonists Bill Easley and Mark Hynes, pianist James Weidman and vocalist Ira Hawkins. In keeping with the beloved HIJ tradition, a surprise special guest will be on hand for the concert, to be held at BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center.

The 48th season of the popular Highlights In Jazz series gets off to a roaring start on Feb. 13, 2020, when producer Jack Kleinsinger presents the Highlights In Jazz 47th Anniversary Gala. Featured performers include bassist Jay Leonhart, pianist Tomoko Ohno, drummer Bobby Sanabria, saxophonist Steve Wilson, percussionist/drummer Memo Acevedo, violinist/mandolinist Aaron Weinstein, and drummer Vito Lesczak. And, in keeping with the beloved HIJ tradition, a surprise special guest will be on hand for the concert, held at BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center.

The 48th season of the popular Highlights In Jazz series gets off to a roaring start on Feb. 13, 2020, when producer Jack Kleinsinger presents the Highlights In Jazz 47th Anniversary Gala. Featured performers include bassist Jay Leonhart, pianist Tomoko Ohno, drummer Bobby Sanabria, saxophonist Steve Wilson, percussionist/drummer Memo Acevedo, violinist/mandolinist Aaron Weinstein, and drummer Vito Lesczak. And, in keeping with the beloved HIJ tradition, a surprise special guest will be on hand for the concert, held at BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center.

New York vocalist Kendra Shank pays tribute to her friend and mentor Abbey Lincoln (1930 - 2010) in a program of songs composed by the legendary singer, songwriter, actress, poet, civil rights activist, and NEA Jazz Master whose powerful messages of love, struggle, hope, and freedom are timeless and timely. Shank's CD A Spirit Free: Abbey Lincoln Songbook (2007, the first Lincoln songbook ever recorded) received a New York Times Critics' Choice, 4 stars in DownBeat, and numerous 'Best of the Year' awards, among other accolades.

Birdland Jazz Club's schedule for December 23-December 29 includes A Swinging Birdland Christmas,nVeronica Swift, Freddy Cole Quartet, and more!

After experiencing a performance like last night's one yearns for another 1000 years of revelations. In keeping with honouring the affiliated school's anniversary, it feels comforting to know that there is a clear pipeline for keeping the company strong. Here's to a continued vision of strength in 2020.

Birdland's December 2019 schedule will feature The Joe Lovano Nonet, Stacey Kent, Monty Alexander, A Swinging Birdland Christmas, Freddy Cole Quartet, Gunhild Carling, Julius Rodriguez, Veronica Swift Holiday Show, 'Season's Swingin' Greetings!a??, Marta Sanchez Quintet, Darius de Haas, Marilyn Maye New Years Eve Extravaganza, The Lineup with Susie Mosher, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and MORE!

Cyrille Aimee: A Sondheim Adventure, Brandon Goldberg Trio, Sheila Jordan Birthday Celebration and more announced for the week of November 18-November 24 at Birdland Jazz Club. 

Theatre Or* and the JCC Mizel Arts and Culture Center are pleased to present Emmy and Tony-nominated Tovah Feldshuh in Dancing with Giants, a play in development, to open the 2019 Neustadt JAAMM (Jewish Arts, Authors, Movies and Music) Festival September 13 - 15 in The Elaine Wolf Theater at the Staenberg-Loup Jewish Community Center (JCC Denver). Written and directed by Pulitzer Prize Finalist David Feldshuh, (Tovah's brother) the play will have four performances, and three post-performance talkbacks with Tovah and artists. Saturday evening, September 14, will be the Gala Premiere opening for JAAMM Fest, with an optional opportunity to join Tovah and the artists privately after the performance for a dessert reception with wine and discussion about the play.

New York Youth Symphony (NYYS), is proud to continue its mission of educating and inspiring young musicians through its Orchestra, Jazz, Chamber Music, Composition, Musical Theater Composition, Apprenticeship Conducting, and First Music commissioning programs. This season includes seven world premieres of new works commissioned through the First Music program, composed for the Orchestra, Jazz, and Chamber Music ensembles. The season also features renowned and up-and-coming soloists including prodigy pianist Harmony Zhu, 2019 Sphinx Competition winner cellist Sterling Elliott, and leading young pianist Michelle Cann in the Carnegie Hall premiere of Florence Price's recently re-discovered Piano Concerto in One Movement with NYYS Orchestra, as well as in-demand drummer Matt Wilson, celebrated saxophonist Steve Wilson, and trombone virtuoso Wycliffe Gordon with NYYS Jazz. The complete NYYS 2019-2020 concert calendar follows at the end of this press release.

Birdland Presents Dee Dee Bridgewater, Nicki Parrott, Chiemi Nakai Latin Jazz Quartet and More

Birdland will kick-off their exciting month of programming with John Pizzarelli: A Tribute to Benny Goodman, Dee Dee Bridgewater, David Matthews Trio, The Count Basie Orchestra, Charlie Parker Birthday Celebration, Chris Byars Original Sextet, Nicki Parrott, Gunhild Carling, Ken Peplowski and Diego Figueiredo, Birdography: Celebrating Charlie Parker, Lorin Cohen, Sam Behr, Laila Biali, Carole J. Bufford, The Lineup with Susie Mosher, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more!

Danny Zelisko Presents the sonic master of Progressive Rock, Alan Parsons Live Project  to The Town Hall on Tuesday, September 17th at 7:30pm. Reserved seat tickets for the event go on sale Monday, May 20th at 10am at www.thetownhall.org