Stephen Sorokoff - Page 87

It was the last Tuesday of the month and once again Terese charged out with her Little Big Band and Broadway was swinging. 'It Had Better Be Tonight' really took on a special meaning as her opening song, it was the mantra for the band to take off in the tradition of the Johnny Carson Tonight Show Orchestra. Add Klea Blackhurst as her guest and the mix became an intoxicating evening, taking the audience back to the days of the Rat Packs swinging Las Vegas shows.

The music of Mickey Leonard, composer and arranger cherished by the cabaret and jazz communities was presented by Karen Oberlin at the Metropolitan Room on January 22, 2011. The evening was hosted by David Hadju and Mr. Leonard's music was sung & played by a bevy of the music worlds finest. The event will also take place on February 10, at 9:30 hosted by Rex Reed. Mickey Leoanrd has written some of the most beloved standards of the Great American Songbook, such as 'Why Did I Choose You?' and 'I'm All Smiles' with lyrics by Herb Martin. He has also written with lyricists Carolyn Leigh and Marshall Barer to name a few, and he has arranged and conducted for the legendary jazz pianist Bill Evans and many others. His songs have been recorded by Barbra Streisand, Barbara Cook, Marvin Gaye, Shirley Horn, Mabel Mercer, Nancy Lamott, Joe Williams, George Shearing, Andy Williams and the list goes on.........Performers in these events will include: Joyce Breach Barbara Brussell, Ellen Bullinger, Eric Comstock & Barbara Fasano, Maud Hixson, Tanya Holt, Mickey Leonard, Pamela Luss, Marissa Mulder, Mark Murphy, Mark Nadler, Karen Oberlin, Rex Reed, Jane Scheckter, Sandy Stewart,KT Sullivan, Warren Vache, Jon Weber and special surprise guests.

RAISSA KATONA BENNETT BREATHING LIFE INTO KERN" AT FEINSTEIN'S THROUGH SATURDAY The singer-actress Raissa Katona Bennett shows how "actable" the music of Jerome Kern is in her delightful new show, "Can't Help Singing - The Music of Jerome Kern." Each song is a little play, and she's ready to feel every emotion as they occur, bringing us right up the emotional edge with her. At Thursday's premiere at Feinstein's at the Loews Regency, men melted and women swooned when she sang "Long Ago and Far Away," and "Why Do I Love You." An older gent exclaimed "hot dog!" several times at the end of several classics. The singers Lucy Arnaz, Karen Oberlin, Valerie Lemon and Christine Reisner were among the singers there to enjoy this show that plays through Saturday. "Can't Help Singing - The Music of Jerome Kern" is ably backed by music director Don Rebic on piano, Tom Hubbard on bass. The multi-threat actor/director/singer Eric Michael Gillett directs. After the show Bennett who was Christine on Broadway in "Phantom of the Opera," and was in the first national tours of "Cats" and "Parade," told us "Oh, I feel like I performed a two hour play in one hour!" Bennett also produces and is the 2010 Bistro Award-winning host of "The Concerts at Tudor City Greens," an outdoor series that features many of New York's most noted singers.

Cabaret Cares 5 An evening with the Cast of In the Heights.

Broadway and West End Star Amra-Faye Wright made her New York Cabaret Debut December 29th at the Metropolitan Room. Her show 'Sittin' on Top of the World' was an elegant evening of wry tales, engaging wit and sophisticated glamour. It traced Amra-Faye Wright's unlikely journey from African farm girl to Broadway leading lady-illustrated with stylish interpretations of The Great American Songbook, popular show-tunes and renditions from her native South Africa and other lands.

Terese Genecco & Her Little Big Band packed the house last night at The Iridium for another high-energy, super-charged Las Vegas-style performance. In addition to Genecco's big, swingin' vocals, the generous host welcomed friends and guest stars to join in on the fun. Producer/performer Scott Barbarino took the stage and enlisted Genecco to sing back-up vocals for him on the Dean Martin favorite 'Memories Are Made Of This' then flew solo on Genecco's signature tune 'Ain't That A Kick In The Head.'

Nancy Dussault at the Metropolitan Room 12/16/10 By Stephen Sorokoff

Marilyn Maye gave her New York fans another reason to cheer on Monday night-a special Christmas present that none of us will forget.