The Met Room Announces Additions To Feb Calendar

FEBRUARY AT THE METROPOLITAN ROOM ADDENDUM
Additions to the Metropolitan Room calendar for  February 2010.

Come join us every Friday and Saturday from 11PM-2AM for our piano lounge.
No cover, no minimum!

2/15 9:30PM Jennifer Smolos Jazz pianist Bartosz Hadala returns to the Metropolitan Room bringing with him a breath of fresh air - Singer/Actress Jennifer Smolos.
Join them for an evening of new takes on classics, jazz infused standards, and gems from Broadway's best young songwriters.
Wending her way from the halls of NYU to the Actor's Studio to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, to Sundance and the Tribeca Film Festival, Jennifer has built a following as a rising vocal talent in NY, and was named runner-up Best Vocal Coach by Backstage Magazine in 2009.
Hailing from Poland and making a real impression upon the New York City Jazz and Theatre Scene, Bartosz is a top-notch collaborator with true nuance and vision. His synthesis of jazz and contemporary styles make his arrangements stand alone.
Come for the Hammerstein, stay for some Sondheim, try a little Title of Show and leave humming jazz standards-- you'll say you heard them here first at the Metropolitan Room.$10

2/18 9:45PM Helene Ellford Ms. Ellford presents a show equality in a benefit for Haiti. $20

2/19 7:30PM Kelly Mittleman Kelly was an award winning journalist and correspondent for CBS and NPR, a finalist in the Today Show Superstar Contest (out of 5000 entrants), which brought her to the attention of mega producer Nile Rodgers (Chic, Madonna, David Bowie), who subsequently produced her debut CD Kelly. She is a 2009 finalist in the International Songwriting Competition (ISC) for her song "Cake," from her new CD A New Reason, which features all original material. Songs from the CD have also been chosen to be in the forthcoming feature film, Hollywood & Wine, which stars David Spade, Pamela Anderson and an all star cast, reuniting many of those from Saturday Night Live during the late Chris Farley years. Don Heckman of the Los Angeles Times says, "she transcends limitations of style...her songs are an appealing combination of wit, lyricism, and musicality", and the LA Jazz Scene says, "Mittleman shows an overwhelming readiness for prime time!" Her songs and vocal quality are an extraordinary mix of jazz, soul and R&B. Kelly appears with: Dave Anderson, Bass Joel Rosenblatt, Drums Andy Ezrin, piano and keys Bill Bickford, guitar Kelly can also be heard on itunes and cdbaby.netwebsite: www.kellysings.net
9:45PM Pamela Luss Pamela Luss's latest album, Sweet and Saxy, with Houston Person was hailed by Nate Chinen of The New York
Times as "a strong entry in the contemporary jazz-vocal catalog and an accurate showcase for Ms. Luss." On the same album, Pamela's voice was described as "intoxicating" and her performance as "bulls-eye accurate"
by Christopher Loudon of Jazztimes. After releasing four critically acclaimed albums on Savant/HighNote Records and headlining in nearly every major venue in New York, Ms. Luss makes her Metropolitan Room debut in an all-new production. She will put her personal stamp on this amazingly rich and diverse decade, ranging from the Beatles to Broadway to Brazil and from singer-songwriters to Sinatra. Ms. Luss's performance, commemorating the 50th anniversary of this decade and its unique musical history, will be introduced and discussed by the noted pop/jazz music scholar Will Friedwald. $20
11:00PM Piano Bar @ The Metropolitan Room

2/20 5PM Justin Ritchie $20
7:30PM SAl Richards An evening of hilarious comedy and funny characterizations of famous singers.
"One of the funniest guy's in show biz" NY Daily News
"SAl Richards Is Hilarious" Cindy Adams NY Post"
Had the audience howling" Newark Star Ledger
9:45PM Qtalk Q-Talk the hit Gay Talk Show Returns for its monthly stint at the Metropolitan Room. Hosted by Frantz Hall, Stacey Todd Holt, Joseph John and
Angie McKnight.
Q-talk has been compared to The View on fire. With Table Talk, hot monthly topics that open up issues on everything from Aging in the Gay Community, Open Relationships, Gay Marriage, Bisexuality, Prop 8, and "DOES SIZE MATTER?"
Every show is adorned with fabulous performers from cabaret and Broadway.
On February 20th Q-Talk welcomes performer Tom Gamblin and Comedian Eugene
Gamblin. Brother Michael will join the gang to talk about the months Hot
Topic: Gay Siblings.

2/22 9:30PM Ricky Ritzel CABARET VETERAN Ricky Ritzel TALKS ABOUT HIS 30-PLUS YEAR CAREER, HIS BRUSHES WITH CELEBS AND RUNNING OVER AN ALLIGATOR IN FLORIDA!
Ricky Ritzel has been a fixture on the nightclub and cabaret scene in NYC for 30 years and has received most Cabaret awards including 13 Manhattan Association of Clubs Awards in 8 different categories .He has performed all over the United States as well as London and Paris. An accomplished solo performer, Ricky has also accompanied such greats as Vivian Blaine, Ruth Warrick, Arthur Prysock, Varla Jean Merman, Julie Wilson, Lenora Nemetz and Miss Coco. Ricky was featured musician/sidekick on Sandra Bernhard's Radio Show on SIRIUS Satellite network and was musical director for the Sally Rand Tribute at Town Hall featuring Bebe Neuwirth, Donna McKechnie, Marge Champion, Karen Mason and directed by Tony Stevens. With famed Chicago jazz vocalist Spider Saloff, Ricky created several award winning revues such as "1938", which was recorded on the Kopathetics label, "Porgy & Bess: a Cabaret Concert" and "Ira and Others". His performance as Jimmy Durante in "Schnozzola!" earned him critical raves and numerous awards. Ricky is half of the kooky "Lounge does Top 40" duo, THE LOUNGEOLEERS with 5 CD's on the Emenar label. As an actor his roles include Snug in ' A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, Third Priest in 'MURDER IN THE CATHEDRAL', Dr. Rance in 'WHAT THE BUTLER SAW', Jonathan in 'OH DAD POOR DAD...' and various roles in 'HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN FILM' He can also be seen as SCARY MAN who comes on to Christian Campbell in the film "TRICK". Ricky was seen in Las Vegas as Jimmy Durante in "Stop the Music!' at the Cashman Theatre with Sharon McKnight as Sophie Tucker and with Leslie Anderson at the legendary Monkey Bar on East 54th. Ricky was the first Artistic Director for Cabaret at the Inaugural
Gettysburg Festival in 2008 and returned in 2009. He is also proud to serve on the Board of Directors for the Manhattan Association of Cabarets, for which he served as President for 3 years. $20

2/28 4:00PM Les Bandits "Using mostly material from the 1960s, sung in French and English, Les Bandits' show is fascinating and unusual-to say the least-in its musical accompaniment: all on the small cabaret stage, we have a glockenspiel, melodica, sax (these three all by Chris Shade) cello, bass, ukulele, drums, percussion. And a harp (Kristi Shade)! Versatile, glowing and girlish, with lovely high tones, Elisabeth Cernadas does all the singing and spoken intros...They appreciatively listen to each other and have a striking serenity. Intelligent, and a valentine to the music and era, joy radiates and the musicianship is as marvelous to drink in as to watch being played: struck, strummed, bowed, etc. Whatever they play and sing-Oscar Brown, Jr.'s "Forbidden Fruit," a couple from The Beatles' White album ("Blackbird") and "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" (in French!!), their original "The East and The West" French poetry, sweet innocence or knowing sophistication-it's all smartly done, fresh, winsome, and unaffected. Fantastique." Rob Lester Cabaret Scenes $10 with reservation, $15 at the door 7:00pm Pat Holley After a lifetime of singing, Pat Holley calls Tall Songs songs that rise above the average. In their original form they are often lengthier and quite possibly more detailed. Forgotten Gems are simply wonderful songs not often heard today. Pat will also be singing several of her own compositions from her new musical, "Me & Caesar Lee." with special guest jazz artist Tommy Morimoto, DownBeat Magazine prize-winning saxophonist, Brubeck Fellowship recipient and former weekly guest with the late, great Les Paul

"Pat Holley is a fascinating singer with a warm, personal flow. Her singing is phrased beautifully and sensitively in a warm and winning voice." John Wilson, New York Times, 1976 $20

The Metropolitan Room
34 West 22 (between 5th and 6th Ave.)
Reservations strongly suggested
(212) 206-0440

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