54 Below's WBGO Jazz Series Begins 4/2

The 54 Below WBGO Jazz Series will feature weekly Tuesday evening shows by jazz artists. Just around the corner from Swing Street, these seasoned jazz performers come to Broadway's Nightclub to play and sing the night away in grand style. Whether you're a long time jazz buff or new to the genre, this series, sponsored by the country's premier jazz radio station, promises a truly classic only-in-New York experience.

Tuesday, April 2 at 7PM and 9:15PM
Peter Bernstein Quintet with Jimmy Cobb, Harold Mabern, Frank Wess, and John Webber
The sublimely swinging and deeply lyrical young jazz guitar master, Peter Bernstein, joins forces with the legendary jazz drummaster Jimmy Cobb-who played on Mi Les Davis's "Kind Of Blue" and hundreds of other classic jazz recordings. The evening is rounded out by the explosive deep groove of pianist Harold Mabern and special guest saxophone/flute virtuoso Frank Wess.

Tuesday, April 9 at 7PM and 9:15PM
Barbara Carroll Quartet with Ken Peplowski
After more than half a century in the spotlight (she debuted in 1947 with Dizzy Gillespie's big band), jazz singer and pianist Barbara Carroll has earned a reputation as one of America's greatest interpreters of American standards- "the first girl ever to play bebop piano." For two special performances, Ms. Carroll and her quartet reunite with the talented Ken Peplowski, a virtuosic clarinetist, sax player and charismatic entertainer who has been delighting audiences for over 30 years. A former member of the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Ken has collaborated with Benny Goodman, Mel Torme, Rosemary Clooney, and more.

Tuesday, April 16 at 7PM and 9:15PM
Eddie Palmieri Latin Jazz Septet
NEA Jazz Master and nine time Grammy Award winner Eddie Palmieri, known for his charismatic power and bold innovative drive, has a musical career that spans over 50 years as a bandleader of Salsa and Latin Jazz orchestras and a discography that includes 36 titles. For Latin New Yorkers of Eddie's generation, music was a vehicle out of El Barrio. A true powerhouse known for his astute arranging skills and historic compositions, Mr. Palmieri continues to thrill audiences across the globe with his legendary style. The Eddie Palmieri Latin Jazz Septet features Eddie Palmieri (leader, piano), Jose Claussell (timbales), Vicente "Little Johnny" Rivero (congas), Luques Curtis (bass), Orlando Vega (bongos), Louis Fouche (alto saxophone), and JoNathan Powell (trumpet).

Tuesday, May 7 at 7PM and 9:15PM
Nightsongs - An Evening with Janis Siegel from Manhattan Transfer
Nightsongs will feature songs from Janis Siegel's brand new, soon-to-be released Palmetto CD, a delicious, nocturnal blend of jazz, Cuban and Brazilian grooves guaranteed to put you in the mood. Featuring a band of some of New York's most extraordinary and versatile musicians led by pianist John DiMartino, this ten-time Grammy-winning vocalist will premiere new songs as well as old favorites, and as always, some fresh surprises.

Tuesday, May 14 at 7PM and 9:15PM
Sing! Sing! Sing! The 75th Anniversary of Benny Goodman's Historic Carnegie Hall Concert
with Ken Peplowski, Jay Leonhart, Ehud Asherie, Willie Jones III, and more
Sing! Sing! Sing! features an all-star lineup directed by Ken Peplowski, reinventing clarinetist Benny Goodman's legendary Carnegie Hall Concert 75 years ago on January 16, 1938. That famous concert marked a momentous occasion of jazz crossing from the clubs to the highbrow realm of concert music (as well as being notable as one of the first public concerts featuring a racially integrated lineup). The show featured a host of stars including Goodman regulars Lionel Hampton and Gene Krupa as well as Buck Clayton, Johnny Hodges, Walter Page, Lester Young, Harry Carney, and FrEddie Green. This show's director, Ken Peplowski, is a virtuosic clarinetist and sax player and charismatic entertainer who has been delighting audiences for over 30 years. A former member of the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Ken has collaborated with Benny Goodman, Mel Torme, Rosemary Clooney, and more.