The Cabaret Chronicles: Cast Party, MetroJam, and a Look at the Week Ahead!

Happy August!  I don't know what happened to June and July, but I could swear it was just May a few days ago!  This week was fairly quiet for me, show-wise but I did manage to kick it off and close it with two fun, entertaining evenings.  Monday night found me (as most Monday nights do!) at Jim Caruso's Cast Party at Birdland.  Touted as "Extreme Open Mic" by ABC TV, Cast Party consistently attracts some of the best entertainers in the world to come and share their talents.  This Monday was no exception, with people like Broadway and television star Paige Davis and her husband (and fellow Broadway star!) Patrick Page treating the audience to a fabulous duet, the fabulous David Shenton wowing the crowd with his incredible violin AND piano skills, award-winning vocalist Klea Blackhurst doing a rousing vocal rendition of "Stars and Stripes Forever," and cult "caburlesque" favorite Lady Rizo bringing the house down with "I Put A Spell On You."  Host Jim Caruso kept things hopping all night, and the fabulous Cast Party Symphony Orchestra (Tedd Firth on piano, Steve Doyle on bass, and Dustin Jensen on drums) was, well...fabulous! 

Friday night, it was time for another open mic - this time, it was MetroJam, which I have the pleasure of hosting!  MetroJam is the once-a-month open mic at The Metropolitan Room and, like Cast Party, boasts a great band and is always a lot of fun!  Last night saw a terrific parade of talent, including MAC and Bistro Award winner Susan Winter, Kathleen France, Mary Lahti, Ken Greves, MetroJam newcomers Ronnie Giles and Greta Herron, and the special guest star for the evening, Mark Aaron James, who did a fabulous 3-song set, and then brought pianist Bill Goffi up to the stage to join in on his jazzed-up cover of Britney Spears' "Toxic," which was a blast!  As always, the MetroJam Band (John DiPinto on piano, Saadi Zain on bass and Bobby Sher on drums) was outstanding.  What a great way to kick off the weekend! 

Where I'm Going This Week...  

TODAY, Saturday, August 7^th: ALFIO in Little Italy!  Sponsored by Bertolli Olive Oil, this FREE concert is part of the annual Ferragosto celebration.  There are family-oriented activities going on from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., and the concert is scheduled to take place at 4 p.m. at the corner of Mulberry St. and Hester St.  A Sydney native, ALFIO has toured the world with his music, and has been hailed as a young Dean Martin.  This will be my first time seeing him live and I can't wait!  

Monday, August 9^th:  7:00 p.m. - Hilary Kole at Birdland.  The amazingly talented Hilary Kole will be celebrating the release of her new album, You Are There, with this Birdland concert, and I can't wait to be there (or to hear the new album!)   

10: 00 p.m. - Jim Caruso's Cast Party at Birdland.  Hosted by Jim Caruso, this weekly open mic is THE place to be on Monday nights!  It runs from 10 p.m. - 1 a.m., but if you'd like to perform, be sure to arrive early to sign up!

Pictured: ALFIO

 

 

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