Natalie Cole to Perform at Ridgefield Playhouse's End-of-Summer Soirée, 8/21

An end-of-summer soirée with the daughter of legendary crooner Nat King Cole ("Mona Lisa", "The Christmas Song", "Unforgettable"), Natalie Cole won the first of her nine career Grammy Awards as Best New Artist of 1975, the year she debuted with the hit "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)". This superstar performer is returning to The Ridgefield Playhouse on Thursday, August 21, at 8 p.m. for a special event that includes not only a memorable performance of R&B, jazz and pop but also wine, cheese, art and more. Natalie Cole's vocal dexterity and lyric interpretations appeal to a broad fan base who will hear her sing hits such as "Inseparable", "Our Love", "Pink Cadillac" and "Miss You Like Crazy" not to mention her seminal duet, "Unforgettable", with her legendary dad. Wine and cheese tastings courtesy of No. 109 Cheese & Wine and a reception with artist Lawrence McGarvey, courtesy of Rockwell Art and Framing, will take place in the lobby at 7:15 p.m. This evening of jazz, wine and art is part of the Ridgefield Magazine Broadway & Cabaret Series and the No. 109 Cheese & Wine's "Art, Wine & Jazz" Series. To make the evening even more special, Bernard's (20 West Lane, Ridgefield) is offering a special $45 prix-fixe menu, or a free glass of wine with dinner the night of these events when tickets are presented; reservations suggested.

Taking a break from recording until 2009 to write an autobiography and focus on other projects, Natalie returned to the studio to make Still Unforgettable, which showcases her supple voice in 14 standards. This time she recorded "Walkin" My Baby Back Home" with Nat King Cole thanks to high-tech recording capabilities. Other classics on the album include "Nice 'N Easy", "The Best is Yet To Come" and "Come Rain or Come Shine". "Every single one of these songs was a challenge to sing because the original performances are so iconic," Cole says. So she and her co-producer enlisted the A-list of arrangers including John Clayton, Patrick Williams, Nan Schwartz and Vince Vanacore, all of whom paid homage to the originals while creating something fresh and new.

For tickets ($135 orchestra, $125 mezzanine/balcony), call the box office at (203) 438-5795, or order online at ridgefieldplayhouse.org. The Ridgefield Playhouse is a not-for-profit performing arts center located at 80 East Ridge, parallel to Main Street, Ridgefield, CT, ridgefieldplayhouse.org.