Legendary jazz singer and lyricist Jon Hendricks, dubbed "The Poet Laureate of Jazz," celebrated jazz vocalist and actress Annie Ross, and acclaimed jazz singer Janis Siegel are among the artists who will be honored at the 31st Annual Bistro Awards gala tonight, March 8 at 6:30 pm at the Gotham Comedy Club, 208 W. 23rd St. As is the Bistro Awards tradition, the evening will feature performances by the winners; for the full list, see below!
Mr. Hendricks is receiving the ASCAP Bob Harrington
Lifetime Achievement Award. He co-founded the pioneering vocal trio Lambert, Hendricks & Ross in the '50s. Together with
Dave Lambert and
Annie Ross, he mastered the art of vocalese -- that of adding lyrics to instrumental compositions and instrumental solos, as well as complex vocal treatments for the
Big Band arrangements of the likes of
Duke Ellington and
Count Basie. Their work influenced countless well-known singers, including Van Morrison,
Al Jarreau, and
Bobby McFerrin. As a solo vocalist, he has recorded several albums, made frequent television appearances, and toured extensively internationally, and he has served multiple times on the
Kennedy Center Honors committee.
Being honored with a Bistro Award for her Outstanding Contributions to the World of Jazz, Ms. Ross was part of the famed Lambert, Hendricks & Ross trio for six years. After leaving the group, she ran a jazz club in London and has enjoyed a long career in film and theatre. She has been a celebrated solo jazz vocalist for many years.
Ms. Siegel has been a member of Manhattan
Transfer since 1973 and is also an acclaimed solo jazz vocalist; she is being recognized for Sustained Excellence in Jazz Performance and Recording,
Four of the top cabaret greats are in the Bistro spotlight this year. Being honored with a Bistro Award for Ongoing Artistry in Cabaret and Concert Performance is
Christine Andreas who has maintained an international career in theatre, television, concert halls, and clubs.
Sharon McNight, the powerhouse cabaret and theatre star,.is being recognized for her Commanding Cabaret Artistry, while
KT Sullivan and
Jeff Harnar, along with director
Sondra Lee, are being singled out for their extraordinary talents that were on view in "Another Hundred People," the Bistro Awards' pick for Outstanding Musical Revue.
Jarrod Spector, who received a 2015 Tony Award nomination for his portrayal of
Barry Mann in the
Carole King musical Beautiful, will share the Bistro honor for Major Engagement with his wife,
Kelli Barrett, for their appearance at Feinstein's/54 Below.
This year's Ira Eaker Special Achievement Award -- given to an outstanding performer on the rise and named after Back Stage's co-founder, co-publisher, and first nightclub critic -- goes to Australian transplant, jazz pianist, arranger, music director, and composer
Matt Baker, who has received increasing attention and acclaim since arriving here a few years ago.
Molly Pope, a strikingly original performer and personality, is being feted as Creative Cabaret Artist. In the Entertainer category,
Charlie Johnson is being recognized for his talents as a singer, storyteller, and showman. Aaron Morishita is being honored for his CD "Singing Sondheim," which makes even familiar Sondheim songs seem fresh and new.
A number of outstanding vocalists caught the Awards Committee's attention this year: In her entertaining show "Traveling Solo," Ann Dawson told of her career and life with pluck, humor, and musical savvy.
Rob Sutton's offering, "Not the Boy Next Door," was deeply personal and charming, and filled with splendid singing. And
Dawn Derow impressed with her glorious voice and character-rich interpretations in "Legit," her program of operatic arias.
The Bistro Awards honors Urban Stages' ambitious "Winter Rhythms" series, produced by
Peter Napolitano as a benefit for
Frances Hill's Urban Stages' Outreach Program, which for several years has presented a varied mix of shows from the worlds of cabaret, jazz, and theatre.
Hosting this year's 31st annual show is
Jason Graae, whose varied career spans Broadway, Off Broadway, opera, television, and film. He is a four-time Bistro Award recipient for his various one-man shows which have toured all over the country and for his special musical material.
This will be the fourth year in a row that the Bistro Awards show will be under the directorial helm of
Shellen Lubin. A director, songwriter, performer, and vocal and acting coach, she has been in the forefront of attaining parity for women in the arts.
The gala event will be held on Tuesday, March 8 at 6:30 pm at Gotham
Comedy Club. 208 W. 23rd Street.
Sherry Eaker, the former longtime Editor-in Chief of Back Stage and the producer of the event since its inception, heads up the Awards Committee that includes
BistroAwards.com critics
Gerry Geddes,
Roy Sander, Robert Windeler, and Mark Dundas Wood. Sander is also the award show's associate producer.
The Bistro Awards is sponsored by ASCAP. Premium Tickets are $120.00; General Admission tickets are $70.00. Ticket-buyers in both categories are invited to the "After-Bistros" party as guests of the Bistros. For details about the various ticket categories and early purchase prices, visit
www.BistroAwards.com. For additional information, call 917-239-5467.
Following is a complete list of the winners being recognized for their outstanding work:Jon Hendricks / ASCAP Bob Harrington
Lifetime Achievement Award
Annie Ross / Outstanding Contributions to the World of Jazz
Janis Siegel / Sustained Excellence in Jazz Performance and Recording
Christine Andreas / Ongoing Artistry in Cabaret and Concert Performance
Jarrod Spector,
Kelli Barrett / Major Engagement
"Another Hundred People" (
KT Sullivan,
Jeff Harnar,
Sondra Lee) / Musical Revue
Sharon McNight / Commanding Cabaret Artistry
Matt Baker / Ira Eaker Special Achievement Award
Molly Pope / Creative Cabaret Artist
Ann Dawson / Vocalist
Dawn Derow / Vocalist
Rob Sutton / Vocalist
Charlie Johnson / Entertainer
Aaron Morishita / Recording ("Singing Sondheim")
Urban Stages' "Winter Rhythms" (
Frances Hill,
Peter Napolitano) / Series
The BISTRO AWARDS has been recognizing, encouraging, nurturing, and educating cabaret, jazz and comedy artists for 31 years through its insightful reviews and annual awards. It is the oldest award of its kind in the industry. It was established by Bob Harrington in 1985 in his "Bistro Bits" column in the trade weekly Back Stage, then under the editorship of
Sherry Eaker. For the first few years, the awards were merely listed in Harrington's column as notable performances he had seen during the calendar year. The first formal presentation of the awards was held in 1990 at Eighty Eight's, a popular cabaret venue in the West Village. From there, the show moved on to
The Ballroom in Chelsea, and then relocated to the
Supper Club in the Broadway District, where it remained for many years. This year marks the tenth year at Gotham
Comedy Club.
The guidelines that Harrington set up for himself to determine the first winners have become the basic philosophy behind the Bistro Awards, which recognize achievement in a wide variety of categories -- from outstanding performances to outstanding contributions by members of the cabaret community. The object is not to choose the "best" of anything of the year, but to recognize and congratulate the accomplishments of those who have done something special. Accordingly, categories can easily be created from year to year as they best fit the year's distinguished work.
Some of the Bistro's special honorees have included
Ben Vereen (2014);
Lainie Kazan and
Maurice Hines (2013);
Kaye Ballard,
Melissa Manchester, and
Dee Dee Bridgewater (2012);
Dionne Warwick and
Carol Channing (2011);
Mitzi Gaynor and
Elaine Stritch (2010);
Charles Aznavour and
Liza Minnelli (2009);
Marilyn Maye (2008);
Betty Buckley (2007);
Steve Ross (2006); as well as
Cleo Laine and
John Dankworth,
Bobby Short,
Eartha Kitt,
Barbara Cook, and many others.
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