Friday night, I headed over to The Metropolitan Room for MetroJam, which is the monthly open mic I have the honor of hosting. There was a great turnout last night, and it was a true pleasure to see so many talented folks take the stage! Among the evening's performers were David Goldman, Maria Moncada, Rob Langeder, Sigali Hamburger, Malou Beauvoir, and the aforementioned Ray Jessel. And throughout it all, the MetroJam band was in rare form. John DiPinto on piano, Ritt Henn on bass, and Bobby Sher on drums provided stellar accompaniment for the parade of singers - and some great one-liners as well! The special guest for the night was the incredibly talented Hilary Kole. Ms. Kole is, without question, one of the top female jazz vocalists on the scene today. She has impeccable style and taste and a warm, rich voice, over which she exerts perfect control. She accompanied herself at the piano, which was a rare treat, and delighted the crowd with her 3-song set, which included "Like a Lover," "Haunted Heart" (the title track from her debut CD!), and a gorgeous, haunting "Come Back To Me" (for which she did the arrangement). She was joined by Mr. Henn and Mr. Sher for the first and third numbers, and collectively, they really sounded terrific. Another great night of entertainment, and a fabulous way to kick off the weekend!
Where I'm Going This Week...
TONIGHT - Saturday, March 6th: Marilyn Maye at Feinstein's at Loews Regency. This Grammy-nominated singer was Johnny Carson's favorite (she appeared on his show a whopping 76 times!), and for good reason - she can sing, she can swing, and she can entertain like nobody's business. One of my favorite entertainers, too, and a true treasure in the world of American popular song.
Monday, March 8th: Jim Caruso's Cast Party at Birdland. This fantastic weekly open mic runs from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. but make sure to arrive early to sign up if you want to sing!
Tuesday, March 9th: Shaynee Rainbolt at Ashford & Simpson's Sugar Bar. Recently featured in the New York Times, Sugar Bar has become a hot entertainment destination in the city. Ms. Rainbolt heads up to 72nd Street to perform two sets (7:30 & 9:00 p.m.), where she'll be joined by Janice Friedman on piano, Tony Cintron on drums, Bill Moring on bass, and Cliff Lyons on sax and flute!
Pictured: BarbAra Martinez
