Jane Monheit, Ben Rimalower and More Set for Birdland, April 7-13

Birdland Jazz Club is pleased to announce their great line-up of talent for April 7 - April 13, featuring: Jane Monheit with The MSM Big Band, Ben Rimalower Presents "The Lady's Got Potential," Jay Leonhart Duo, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more. Details below!

Birdland will kick-off their wonderful week of programming with the following acts:

April 7 (Monday) at 7PM

Broadway at Birdland

Ben Rimalower presents "The Lady's Got Potential"

The Lady's Got Potential is named after the song from Evita about the ambitious woman on the rise, and is an evening of songs performed by some of the most exciting up and coming actresses working in musical theater today. Host Ben Rimalower (Patti Issues) was inspired to put this program together after the enormous response generated by his Playbill article of the same name. Ben Rimalower is the writer and original star of off Off-Broadway's long-running hit solo play, Patti Issues (New York Times Critics Pick, Bistro Award, M.A.C. Award),which he continues to tour all over the world. He writes for Playbill and the Huffington Post. In addition to directing a number of Off-Broadway plays, Ben was called "the Midas of Cabaret" by The Advocate for helming a slew of solo shows; most notably conceiving and directing Leslie Kritzer Is Patti LuPone At Les Mouches and subsequently producing Patti LuPone's "Live At Les Mouches" album for Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight Records.

All seats $25, $10 food/drink minimum

April 7 (Monday) at 9:30PM

Jim Caruso's Cast Party

Jim Caruso's Cast Party is a wildly popular weekly soiree that brings a sprinkling of Broadway glitz and urbane wit to the legendary Birdland in New York City every Monday night. It's a cool cabaret night-out enlivened by a hilariously impromptu variety show. Showbiz superstars, backed by Steve Doyle on bass, Tedd Firth on piano and Daniel Glass on drums, hit the stage alongside up-and-comers, serving up jaw-dropping music and general razzle-dazzle.

All tickets $25, $10 food/drink minimum

April 8-12 (Tuesday - Saturday) at 8:30PM & 11PM

Jane Monheit with MSM Big Band

In just over fifteen years, critically acclaimed jazz vocalist Jane Monheit's honey-smooth vocals, silky phrasing and natural knack for storytelling have earned her two Grammy nominations and established her as one of her generation's most beloved and accomplished vocalists. Jane returns to Birdland for her first ever engagement as a vocalist fronting a big band. Providing those classic vocal accompaniment sounds are members of (Jane's Alma Mater) the Manhattan School of Music Big Band.

All seats $40, $10 food/drink minimum

April 9 (Wednesday) at 5:30PM

David Ostwald's Louis Armstrong Eternity Band

Inspired by the noble jazz pioneers Louis Armstrong, Bix Beiderbecke, Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton and their colleagues, David Ostwald's Louis Armstrong Eternity Band breathes life and passion into America's own great art form. Now in its 14th year of residency at Birdland, the weekly post-workday engagement is the city's best musical bargain! Tuba player David Ostwald leads a rotating lineup that features talents such as clarinetist Anat Cohen, trombonist/vocalist Wycliffe Gordon, pianist Ehud Asherie, drummer Marion Felder and more!

All seats $25, $10 food/drink minimum

April 11 (Friday) at 5:00PM

The Birdland Big Band

Founded by drummer and musical director Tommy Igoe, the Birdland Big Band features the finest musicians in New York! The BBB roars into action every Friday, playing the finest Jazz, Latin and Brazilian music from the world's best arrangers. After work or before a show, drinks or a great dinner, come hear one of the world's best drummers driving the hardest swinging band in New York. Experience why the BBB is the must-see weekly jazz event in New York and kick off your weekend with what critics are calling "the best live music bargain in all of NYC!"

All seats $30, $10 food/drink minimum

April 12 (Saturday) at 6PM

Jay Leonhart Duo

Combining the skills of an old school entertainer and virtuoso jazz man, bassist, vocalist and composer Jay Leonhart has been a fixture of the New York scene for over forty years. When Jay was fourteen he started playing the bass in The Pier Five Dixieland Jazz Band in Baltimore and never looked back. After studying at The Peabody Institute, Jay attended The Berklee School of Music and The Advanced School of Contemporary Music in Toronto, before leaving school to start touring with the traveling big bands of the late 50's and early 60's. Upon moving to New York, Jay eventually began playing for many of the great jazz musicians, big bands, and singers who were to be found in New York - artists like Thad Jones and Mel Lewis, Tony Bennett, Marian McPartland, and Jim Hall. Jay became a very busy studio musician in New York City, visiting every musical genre from James Taylor to Ozzy Osbourne and Queen Latifah. Between 1975 and 1995 he was named The Most Valuable Bassist in the recording industry three times by the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences. Jay has now recorded 15 solo albums. His first one-man show "The Bass Lesson" is being received warmly by critics and audiences. Jay's next show "Nukular Tulips" is in the works.

All seats $30, $10 food/drink minimum

April 13 (Sunday) at 6PM

The Birdland Jazz Party

Featuring vocalist Hilary Gardner

Birdland's very own jazz quartet hits the stage every Sunday to wrap up the weekend with jazz classics! This quartet features John Hart (Guitar), Paul Gil (bass), Carmen Intorre (Drums) & Jon Davis (Piano) with a special guest vocalist!

All seats $25, $10 minimum

April 13 (Sunday) at 9:00PM & 11PM

Arturo O'Farrill Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra

Grammy Award winning pianist, composer and educator Arturo O'Farrill -- leader of the "first family of Afro-Cuban Jazz" (NY Times) -- was born in Mexico and grew up in New York City. Son of the late, great composer Chico O'Farrill, Arturo was Educated at Manhattan School of Music, Brooklyn College Conservatory and the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. He played piano in Carla Bley's Big Band from 1979 through 1983 and earned a reputation as a soloist in groups led by Dizzy Gillespie, Steve Turre, Freddy Cole, Lester Bowie, Wynton Marsalis and Harry Belafonte.

All seats $30, $10 minimum

Purchase tickets at: www.BirdlandJazz.com. For more information and reservations call 212-581-3080. Ticket prices will vary by performer. At the tables, there is a $10 food/drink minimum per person in addition to the music charge. At the bar, the music charge will include one complimentary drink with no additional minimum.

Named for alto saxophonist and jazz pioneer Charlie "Bird" Parker who dubbed it "The Jazz Corner of the World," Birdland opened on December 15th 1949. For 60 years it has been home to jazz legends, from Parker, John Coltrane Duke Ellington and Count Basie to Oscar Peterson, Hank Jones, Diana Krall and everyone in between. The original 52nd street location was a cultural barometer and meeting place, inspiring the songs "Birdland" and "Lullaby of Birdland," and serving as a regular haunt for celebrities and cultural figures. The modern incarnation is a state of the art nightclub featuring award winning Southern and Cajun cuisine, first rate sound and lighting and a who's who of contemporary musical artists, 7 nights a week.

Birdland is located at 315 West 44th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues), New York, NY 10036. Students (with current ID) & Broadway Theatre-Goers (with Broadway ticket stub from same day of performance): 50% off music charge at 11PM shows only. Birdland serves American Fare with a Cajun Flair nightly from 5PM until Midnight and until 1AM on Friday and Saturdays. Parking is available across the street at 332 West 44th Street. Concert Grand Piano By: Yamaha.

For more, visit www.BirdlandJazz.com or follow BIRDLAND JAZZ CLUB on Twitter: @birdlandjazz, Facebook, Instagram, and on Pinterest.

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