Happy New Year, all! January has gotten off to a rollicking musical start for me, thanks to two trips to Birdland for Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a terrific Café Thursday at the famed Friars Club, a rockin' MetroJam at The Metropolitan Room, and a swell concert by the incomparable Klea Blackhurst, also at Birdland! On Monday, January 3rd, I got my musical New Year off to a bang with my first Cast Party of the year. Despite the cold weather and the usual post-holiday slump, there was a great crowd, and some terrific talent there that evening! Jazz vocalist Nancy Harms heated things up with a couple of great selections, YouTube sensation Charlie Pluth was a hit, the sensational Hilary Kole treated us to a fantastic "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home to," and Kate Flannery of The Office brought down the house with her "Cry Me a River!" Host Jim Caruso was as charming as ever, and the "Cast Party Symphony Orchestra" (Tedd Firth on piano and Steve Doyle on bass) was terrific!
Later that week, it was off to the Friars Club for their weekly open mic night for members & invited guests, Café Thursdays. Hosted by Stan Gilbert and featuring Marty Silver on piano and Bobby Sher on drums, this open mic is a great way to spend a Thursday evening! On any given night at the Friars, there is tons of talent, both at the mic and in the audience, and this past week was no exception! Mr. Gilbert himself was outstanding, and Friar Larry Stevens came with his band and got everyone moving and clapping along with "Brown Eyed Girl" and an original tune. The room was packed to the gills, and the party-like atmosphere kept everyone smiling throughout the night.
The following night found me at The Metropolitan Room for MetroJam, the monthly open mic I have the honor of hosting. Every month features a special guest, and January's guest was the ?ber-talented Tony DeSare. Mr. DeSare is nearing the end of his current run of Sunday evenings at Bemelmans Bar at the Carlyle Hotel (but you can still catch him there this Sunday night, starting at 9 p.m.!), and it was truly a treat to have him stop into MetroJam for a few numbers! Since MetroJam this month was on the eve of Elvis' birthday, there was an optional Elvis theme for the night. Several performers partook in the theme, including Tom D'Angelo (who did a great "All Shook Up"), Ken Iovino (who performed "The Wonder of You"), MetroJam pianist John DiPinto (who gave us a terrific "Stuck on You"), and Fortune Esposito, who put together a rockin' medley of "Blue Suede Shoes" and "Hound Dog," and invited fellow guitarists Jerry Cherry and Sean Harkness to join him in what ended up being an amazing 3-guitar jam on the songs!
This past Monday evening, it was back to Birdland for a highly entertaining doubleheader. First up, it was Klea Blackhurst in concert as part of the "Broadway at Birdland" concert series. The program included a variety of songs, from "Do I Hear a Waltz" to a jazzy, bass-driven "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes" to "The Yodeling Muchacha" (complete with yodeling AND a pocket trumpet solo), to a happy, upbeat "That's Life." Number after number, Ms. Blackhurst was right on the money - a true vocal powerhouse! And, if that wasn't enough, she had the audience in stitches as she regaled them with her tales of growing up in Salt Lake City, her ongoing obsession with Donny Osmond, and her memorable audition for Star Search, among other things! Truly one of the most talented and engaging entertainers on the scene today, Ms. Blackhurst put on a phenomenal show - one can only hope there will be a reprise soon!
