Norman Granz News

 In celebration of GRAMMY Award-winning international jazz legend Oscar Peterson's 99th birthday today, Massey Hall and the Oscar Peterson Estate have announced a centennial celebration honouring the titan of jazz on Saturday, June 14, 2025.

Ella, First Lady of Song traces the 60-year career of the woman Mel Torme called “the best singer on the planet.” Learn more about the musical here!

2023-24 Seasonal Auditions for Houston actors will be at Alley Theatre. Auditions will be for AEA and non-AEA adult actors, ages 18 and older. 

What did our critic think of ELLA: FIRST LADY OF SONG at The Madison Theatre At Molloy College?

The majesty and magic of Ella Fitzgerald performing live is brought to vivid life in the new animated video for the incredible, one-of-a-kind performance of her beloved tune, “Cheek To Cheek,” recorded live at the Hollywood Bowl on August 16, 1958 with a full orchestra, conducted and arranged by Paul Weston.

Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Irving Berlin Songbook, The First Lady Of Song performed selections from that album live at the Hollywood Bowl. Conducted and arranged by Paul Weston, who also arranged and conducted the studio sessions, this concert marked the only time that Ella performed these iconic arrangements live with a full orchestra.

You won't want to miss the Jack Skleinsinger's dynamic final Highlights in Jazz concert for 2022, when today's top jazz players take to the BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center stage to celebrate the Return of the Jam Session. The 49th season final is is set for May 12. It features Peter and Will Anderson on saxophones, flutes and clarinets; trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, pianist Ted Rosenthal, drummer Victor Lewis, trumpeter Brian Lynch and guitarist James Chirillo, playing together for the very first time.

In celebration of the legendary Ella Fitzgerald's 104th birthday, one of her most enduring and beloved duets with Louis Armstrong, “Cheek To Cheek,” has received a whimsical new animated video.

Leading up to Birda??s 100th birthday and throughout the year, the celebration will encompass a series of releases spanning a variety of media and perspectives in order to explore the full span of his inestimable legacy.

Multi-GRAMMY® Award-winning composer/pianist/educator Arturo O'Farrill and the non-profit The Afro Latin Jazz Alliance (ALJA) continue their 18th Anniversary live performance season with Jazz Across The Americas: Argentina -- A Tribute To Lalo Schifrin at Symphony Space on Friday, January 17 & Saturday, January 18, 2020. 

The incomparable life and extraordinary, trailblazing career of jazz titan and influential composer Charlie Parker will be honored throughout 2020 with a worldwide celebration commemorating the 100th anniversary of his birth (August 29, 1920). Lovingly dubbed Bird 100 after the nickname of the preeminent alto saxophonist who was one of the fathers of bebop and progenitors of modern jazz, the centennial will include a host of major initiatives including exciting new music releases, a tribute tour, festivals and events, prestigious exhibitions, special partnerships, a unique graphic novel, exclusive collectible art, and myriad of independent appreciations and concerts.

In the annals of jazz history, few events have been more influential than the Jazz at the Philharmonic concert series, and the album series of the same name. From 1944 to 1957, pioneering impresario, Verve Records founder, Norman Granz organized a series of prestigious all-star concerts that featured a who's-who of the genre's most popular and influential artists. These shows were instrumental in raising jazz's public profile, and were among the first high-profile performances to feature racially mixed bands performing for integrated audiences.

By the time Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong collaborated on their first duet together, they were each already jazz giants. Fitzgerald was an acclaimed solo artist for Decca with many hits and more than 200 songs under her young belt, first with the Chick Webb Orchestra and then as leader of her own big band.

The centennial of Ella Fitzgerald's birthday has been celebrated throughout this year and is culminated with the release of SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME, featuring digitally remastered vocal tracks from Ella's original Decca and Verve recordings paired with newly orchestrated and arranged performances by the London Symphony Orchestra.

To celebrate the 60 th anniversary of the classic Audrey Hepburn/Fred Astaire musical film, FUNNY FACE, Verve Records/UMe is releasing an expanded version of the colorful soundtrack featuring, for the first time ever, all the songs from the beloved romantic comedy resequenced in the order in which they're heard in the film.

The centennial of Ella Fitzgerald's birthday has been celebrated throughout this year and is culminated with the release of SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME, featuring digitally remastered vocal tracks from Ella's original Decca and Verve recordings paired with newly orchestrated and arranged performances by the London Symphony Orchestra.

Centenary Stage Company's exciting 2017 - 18 season of events are now available for purchase to the general public.  As Northwest New Jersey's premier regional theater, Centenary Stage Company's upcoming 2017 - 18 season boasts over 20 individual events ranging from self-produced professional plays and musicals to a host of explosive concert, dance and special events.

                Music, dance and special events fill the Lackland Performing Arts Center as Centenary Stage Company announces its 2017 - 18 full season line up of events.  In addition to CSC's theatrical events the 2017 - 18 season will see the return of audience favorite series, such as, the January Thaw Music Festival and the annual Dance Fest all while hosting an array of exciting guest artists.

The Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, Verve Label Group and UMe are pleased to announce some of the major initiatives confirmed as part of this year's Ella 100 centennial celebration honoring one of the most beloved and influential vocalists of all time, Ella Fitzgerald. T

On July 1, Verve/UMe brings a thrill to jazz lovers worldwide with the release of Unheard Bird: The Unissued Takes