Broadway's Winther Brings SONGS AND VARIATIONS to the Metropolitan Room 1/11

For four performances in January, Michael Winther teams up with the dynamic, acclaimed, jazz pianist, Dan Tepfer for a unique set of well-known standards, as well as contemporary popular songs that explores the intersection between jazz improvisation, musical theatre and popular music. Performances of the show, SONGS AND VARIATIONS, will take place January 4th, 11th, 17th and 18th.

Winther has appeared both on and off-Broadway in numerous productions. On Broadway, Winther has appeared in 1776, Artist Descending in a Staircase, Mamma Mia!, Damn Yankees, and The Crucible. Off-Broadway, Winther has been seen in Hapgood, Berlin to Broadway, Predator's Ball, Tony 'n' Tina's Wedding (original cast), Forever Plaid, and Songs From and Unmade Bed, for which he was a 2006 Drama Desk Nominee.

Described as a "remarkable musician" by the Washington Post and praised for his "brilliant career" by the New York Times, Dan Tepfer is a New York-based jazz pianist and composer. Born in 1982 in Paris, France, in an American family, he earned a bachelor's degree in astrophysics from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, before settling down in the United States. Today he divides his time between sideman work with some of the great jazz musicians of our time (Lee Konitz, Joe Lovano, Paul Motian, Ralph Towner to name a few), and a busy touring schedule with his own solo, duo and trio projects. One of his compositions was recently premiered at Carnegie Hall. He is the winner of both the first prize and audience prize of the 2006 Montreux Jazz Festival Solo Piano Competition and is the current Cole Porter Fellow of the American Pianists Association.

Stephen Holden of the New York Times said of Winther, "[his] singing is strong but refined, with perfect intonation and a warm sound that becomes incandescent when he raises the volume. He has none of the blustery, flowery mannerisms of the typical theatrical baritone. Discreet understatement is his method, a raised eyebrow, a playful grin and an insinuating hesitation substituting for fist-shaking declamation and sobbing histrionics.'

Performances for SONGS AND VARIATIONS take place Monday, January 4th at 7:00pm, Monday, January 11th at 9:30pm, Sunday, January 17th at 7:00pm and Monday, January 18th at 9:30pm. There is a $20 cover charge fir entrance to the concert, as well as a 2 drink minumum.