Kevin Axt

Review: BERNADETTE PETERS at Carnegie Hall Is Iconic

Renowned Broadway singer Bernadette Peters made a stunning return to Carnegie Hall on Monday October 27, 2024. It had been nearly 30 years since her last show there in 1997, but it was well worth the wait. The show kicked off Carnegie Hall's 2024-25 Original series which continues tomorrow night with Pink Martini on 11/1

Staci Griesbach Drops New Jazz-Bossa Nova Single 'Asilomar'

Vocalist and songwriter Staci Griesbach has released a new Jazz-Bossa Nova-inspired single titled “ASILOMAR”. The original tune was inspired after listening to Nat King Cole and walking among the Cypress trees and rocky shore of Central California’s iconic Asilomar State Beach.

Staci Griesbach's Original Holiday Song Makes Film Debut in Hallmark's A VERY VERMONT CHRISTMAS

It’s Christmas in July and vocalist Staci Griesbach’s popular holiday hit “You and Me at Christmastime” will make its feature film debut in the new A Very Vermont Christmas on HALLMARK CHANNEL on July 20th at 8/7c. “You and Me at Christmastime” is the lead single off Griesbach’s 2024 holiday album entitled “Christmastime.” Listen to it now!

Staci Griesbach to Release 'Christmastime' Album With 'You And Me At Christmastime' Single

The album features 11 tracks, four of them are originals including the lead single 'You and Me at Christmastime' dropping Nov 3rd featuring a 'Meghan Trainor meets Katy Perry' vibe! The album features a balanced blend of up-beat and introspective tracks, including holiday standards like 'Santa Bring My Baby Back to Me' and 'White Christmas.'

Review: Tony Winner Kelli O'Hara Performs Exquisite Concert at Irvine Barclay

Tony Award-winning Broadway star Kelli O'Hara has established herself as true theater royalty, one of a handful of go-to leading ladies that have amassed a rabid, fanatic following that can elicit frequent deafening kudos from audiences and critics alike. She brings undeniable evidence of this in her recent return engagement to the O.C.

'RAYMOND SCOTT REIMAGINED' Releases on Violinjazz Recordings

Violinjazz Recordings, the label of acclaimed Grammy-nominated musician Jeremy Cohen, principal violinist and founder of Classical Crossover specialists Quartet San Francisco, has announced the release of 'Raymond Scott Reimagined,' an unprecedented new collaboration teaming Quartet San Francisco with accomplished Grammy/Emmy Award-winning composer/producer/arranger Gordon Goodwin and revered Grammy-winning a cappella group Take 6.

RAYMOND SCOTT REIMAGINED, An Unprecedented Musical Journey Arrives July 21 Via Violinjazz Recordings

Violinjazz Recordings, the label of acclaimed Grammy-nominated musician Jeremy Cohen, principal violinist and founder of Classical Crossover specialists Quartet San Francisco, has announced the release of 'Raymond Scott Reimagined,' an unprecedented new collaboration teaming Quartet San Francisco with accomplished Grammy/Emmy Award-winning composer/producer/arranger Gordon Goodwin and revered Grammy-winning a cappella group Take 6.

BWW Review: LEA SALONGA at The Music Center at Strathmore

There are very few times in a reviewer’s career where he/she can honestly say they saw a perfect performance. This past weekend at The Music Center at Strathmore international star of stage, screen, and the concert stage Lea Salonga gave a perfect performance. Her Dream Again Tour has a song list that’s so well constructed it’s as if they had been planning it for over two years….oh wait!!! Seriously though, Salonga’s mix of pop, showtunes and of course, film songs made for a totally wonderful evening of music.  

Tierney Sutton Set to Release New Album 'Paris Sessions 2'

On 2014’s Grammy-nominated Paris Sessions, acclaimed singer Tierney Sutton forged an indelible chemistry with classically-trained guitarist-arranger Serge Merlaud. Sutton’s 15th album, which she has dedicated to the late songwriter Marilyn Bergman. Watch the lyric video for 'Triste' now. Plus, check out upcoming tour dates!

Gordon Goodwin to Release New 5-Song EP, THE RESET

Multiple Grammy/Emmy Award winner Gordon Goodwin returns to forefront of adventurous compositions and modern jazz with 'The Reset,' an urgent and topical 5-song EP, a bold foray into the intersection of composition and improvisation, a futuristic excursion brimming with purpose and cursive.

THE SORTING ROOM SESSIONS Virtual Return Comes to Wallis Annenberg Center

The virtual Sorting Room Sessions, the Wallis Annenberg Center for Performing Arts' popular nightclub series, returns with four new entertaining on-demand programs featuring a range of Motown, jazz, popular and classical music.

Eddie Daniels to Release New Album NIGHT KISSES

 “It's jazz, it's beauty and it opens the heart.” That is how six-time GRAMMY-nominated horn player Eddie Daniels describes his forthcoming album, “Night Kisses: A Tribute to Ivan Lins.”

Chris Standring to Release REAL LIFE

Riding the momentum of being named 2019's Artist of the Year, contemporary jazz guitarist Chris Standring's first single from his forthcoming 13th solo album, “Real Life,” was the most added track in its debut week at radio. The curiously titled “Is There A Doctor In The House?,” which is illumined by a celestial gospel vocal sample and Standring's joyous electric guitar parlance and rousing keyboard blasts, is one of nine new tunes written by the artist, who produced and arranged the eleven-song set dropping March 20 on the Ultimate Vibe Recordings imprint.

MAC Winner, Ann Kittredge, Will Make West Coast Debut At Feinstein's At Vitello's

MAC winner, Ann Kittredge, Makes her West Coast Debut at Feinstein's at Vitello's, November 12th @ 8:00 p.m; with the acclaimed 'Fancy Meeting You Here: An Evening of Arhens and Flaherty.' Special Guests are Andrea Marcovicci and Marcus Lovett.

BWW Review: OPENING NIGHT AT BOSTON POPS WITH BERNADETTE PETERS

Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Orchestra opened the 134th Spring Pops season with a 50th anniversary tribute to the watershed events of the summer of 1969, two stunning short films, a homegrown astronaut, and a celestial Broadway legend. Commencing with the 'Opening Fanfare' from Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathustra (the theme used in '2001: A Space Odyssey'), and concluding with the Pops' signature song, John Philip Sousa's 'The Stars and Stripes Forever,' the two selections bookended the program that took us to the moon, to the past, and to the Great White Way.

Birdland Presents The Ron Carter Quartet And More Week Of October 22

Birdland will kick-off their great week of programming with week two of the "Second Annual Celebration of Ron Carter" with the Ron Carter Quartet, Capathia Jenkins & Louis Rosen 'PHENOMENAL WOMAN: The Maya Angelou Songs,' Alex Frondelli Quartet, and more!

Jazz Artist Ilya Serov Releases Second Album, 'Back In Time', Homage To Big Band Era

Back in Time, the second album from up and coming jazz trumpeter and vocalist Ilya Serov, is now available

Birdland Announces October 2018 Schedule; Anita Gillette, Max von Essen, and More

Birdland will kick-off their exciting month of programming with Dee Dee Bridgewater with the Theo Croker Quintet, Kevin Eubanks Quartet, Anita Gillette, Ron Carter's Great Big Band, Quartet and Golden Striker Trio, Alan Broadbent Trio, Capathia Jenkins & Louis Rosen, Jay Leonhart, Pasquale Grasso Trio, Ken Peplowski with Special Guest Sinne Eeg, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more!

BWW Review: There's Only One BEN VEREEN: STEPPIN' OUT at The Catalina Bar & Grill

'Razzle Dazzle 'Em' is what Ben does, innately; it's in his blood, it's in his soul. 'Steppin' Out' signifies going beyond what you have achieved thus far. Ben Vereen is an Evolved Entity that shares his evolutional journey with us, delightedly so... on both sides!! This past Saturday evening, I had the great pleasure to see Ben Vereen perform at the Catalina Bar & Grill. When I first heard where he would be, I wondered why he chose a Jazz Club. Now I know why. Ben Vereen not only has decades of hit Broadway Shows, TV Series, Nightclub Acts, Awards and Accolades to his repertoire, but from that he has still kept his initial joy and exuberance in performing, yet taken his showmanship to another level.

Birdland Presents the Tierney Sutton Band and More the Week of February 19

Birdland will kick-off their great week of programming with Tierney Sutton Band, Nicolas King, Shelly Berg and David Finck, and more!