Denman to Debut 'Jazz Turns,' Feb. 19; Anderson, Etc. Guest

Broadway song and dance man Jeffry Denman will debut his cabaret act "Jazz Turns" on Birdland (315 West 44th Street) on Monday, February 19th at 7 PM. 

'Jazz Turns' is, according to press notes, "an evening of contemporary and classic musical theatre songs given a jazz interpretation in both song and dance.  The theatre songs will include David Yazbek's 'Nothing is too Wonderful to be True,' Sondheim's 'Not While I'm Around,' Jason Robert Brown's 'Moving too Fast,' Kander & Ebb's 'My Own Space,' Harnick and Bock's 'Tonight at Eight' and Andrew Lippa's 'Life of the Party.' 

Denman said: "Jazz greats like Louis Armstrong, Oscar Peterson, Chet Baker and Ella Fitzgerald often added their own jazz spin to classic musical theatre songs, letting us hear them in a fresh new light. Many of today's composers are creating songs just as exciting to interpret or re-interpret. That's what 'Jazz Turns' is all about."

Jeffry Denman and Joshua Pearl and his Classic Jazz Trio will be joined by special guests Tony-nominee Brian D'Arcy James, Drama Desk-winner Nancy Anderson and Broadway hoofer Dennis Stowe (The Apple Tree).  Denman said "I will add a little tap as another percussion instrument in the rhythm section.  It joins the piano, bass and drums of the jazz trio."

Denman most recently played 'Phil Davis' in Irving Berlin's White Christmas, opposite Stephen Bogardus and Kerry O'Malley at the Ordway in St. Paul.  He originated the 'Danny Kaye' role opposite Brian D'Arcy James at SF's Curran Theatre in 2004 and reprised it at LA's Pantages Theatre in 2005.  He also appeared in the Encores! production of Of Thee I Sing at City Center.  His Broadway credits include The Producers, Cats, How to Succeed..., and Dream. Off-Broadway and regionally he has appeared in Children of a Lesser God, Pvt. Wars, If Love Were All, Lady Be Good, and Singin' in the Rain.  He also choreographed the long-running off-Broadway hit Naked Boys Singing.  He has also made numerous concert appearances.

On February 5th, he will appear in "The Music of Kurt Weill: Kurt and Lenya In Their Own Words," with Isabella Rossellini and others at The New York Historical Society.  On Monday, February 26, he will join Hunter Bell, Anita Gillette, Mary Testa and others in "My First Time," an all-star Broadway concert to benefit Quality Services for the Autistic Community (QSAC) at New World Stages at 7 p.m.

Cover for the evening is $25.  Food/drink minimum is $10.  Call (212) 581-3080 or go to www.instantdeats.com/birdland or www.birdlandjazz.com.  The evening will be presented by Jim Caruso's Cast Party and TheaterMania.com.

For more information, visit www.jeffrydenman.com.  

Photo - Jeffry Denman with Nancy Anderson