Birdland Jazz Club and Birdland Theater are proudly open this March with a full slate of nightly performances!
At Birdland Jazz Club, catch Stella Cole, Eric Comstock & Barbara Fasano: “Painting the Town”, The Kleinbort Collection: The Songs of Barry Kleinbort, John Pizzarelli, Laila Biali, Nicolas King, SF JAZZ Collective, Ryan Keberle’s All Ears Orchestra, Karen Akers: “Feels Like Home”, Cyrille Aimée and The Guitar Heroes, Jazz At Lincoln Center’s Jazz Academy Big Band, Karen Mason: “Karen’s Back…at Birdland!”, Anderson Brothers Present THE JOURNEY OF JAZZ, Kurt Elling Celebrates Weather Report, Dave Pietro Quintet, and Jamie deRoy & Friends.
Birdland Theater will present Gunhild Carling, Flying High with Champian Fulton, Olivia Chindamo, and Ekep Nkwelle, Frank Vignola’s Django Reinhardt Celebration Featuring Joscho Stephan, John Jorgensen, & Gary Mazzaroppi, Richard Bona Presents Asante Trio, and Tony DeSare: Sinatra and Beyond.
Repeat engagements include Vince Giordano & The Nighthawks, Jim Caruso’s Cast Party with Billy Stritch at the piano, David Ostwald’s Louis Armstrong Eternity Band, Frank Vignola’s Guitar Night, The High Society New Orleans Jazz Band, The Birdland Big Band, Gabrielle Stravelli, Hilary Kole Quartet, and The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra.
See below for the full schedule! More information can be found at www.birdlandjazz.com
February 27 – March 1 (Thursday-Saturday) 7:00 & 9:30 PM (2/27); 8:30 & 10:30 PM (2/28-3/1) – Birdland Jazz Club
Stella Cole
26 year-old Stella Cole is in rare possession of an old voice: a breathtaking visitation from the past. A veritable sensation, Cole has amassed a huge following of young fans: with nearly 900k followers on TikTok and over 600k on Instagram, she brings youth to the vintage sound of the Great American Songbook and brings the timeless wisdom of the songbook to audiences of all ages. Recent performances at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, Town Hall, 54 Below, and Cafe Carlyle, as well as praise from legends Michael Buble, James Taylor, and Meghan Trainor have all confirmed what aura of grandeur Cole naturally radiates: a dream-like quality, evoking Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, and Ella Fitzgerald for modern fans. Catch her three-night run on the Birdland stage.
$50 tables / $40 bar + $20 food/drink minimum
February 28 – March 2 (Friday-Sunday) 7:00 & 9:30 PM – Birdland Theater
Gunhild Carling
International sensation, virtuoso multi-instrumentalist, vocalist extraordinaire—shall we say, conceptualist? The real question is: what can’t you say about Gunhild Carling? She seems to do it all: performing on trumpet, trombone, bagpipes, drums, piano, bass, three trumpets at once, a trumpet balanced vertically using no hands, all on one song which she is singing. Carling continuously proves she will break any limitation in front of her. And with her feel-good revival of 1920s hot swing, this brilliant entertainer makes audiences smile and dance as she wows them with unheard-of talents. Featured on Scott Bradlee’s Post Modern Jukebox, Carling has put the 20s twist on popular contemporary songs such as Madonna’s “Material Girl,” Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up,” and Pharrell’s “Happy.” This will surely be a weekend filled with surprises!
$40 tables / $30 bar + $20 food/drink minimum
March 2 (Sunday) 5:30 PM – Birdland Jazz Club
Eric Comstock & Barbara Fasano: “Painting the Town”
Eric Comstock (piano/voice) and Barbara Fasano (voice) bring their singular, soulful showmanship back home to Birdland for a one-show special event celebrating the release of their first joint CD, PAINTING THE TOWN. Hailed as “smart, funny, and utterly delightful” and “a hotbed of pleasure” by The New York Times, the acclaimed married musical couple have painted a portrait of their love for one another, the music, and their “brilliant, resilient helluva town!” Comstock and Fasano draw from an ever-evolving American Songbook that unites the generations. Included will be jazz and pop classics by Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, and Cole Porter as well as singer-songwriters like Joni Mitchell, Carole King, and Paul Simon. Eric and Barbara’s unique take on their material makes their sets fresh, spontaneous, and fun—and their audiences feel they’ve been to a terrific party where the music and the stories have been equally great. Joining them will be the PAINTING THE TOWN band: an eminent rhythm section—bassist Sean Smith and drummer Vito Lesczak. The evening’s special guest, a true jazz icon, is the legendary tenor saxophonist Houston Person. The married musical couple’s electrifying combination of warmth, wit, swing, and sensuality have made them the nightclub world’s most celebrated team. Their performances have taken them from Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center to Saratoga Jazz Festival, Music Mountain Twilight Jazz, London’s Pizza Express, Italy’s Monteverdi Tuscany, and nightclubs and music festivals across the country. Every bit as entertaining as they are musically savvy, The New Yorker praises Comstock’s “expert musicianship and joie de vivre in equal measure.” Fasano has been hailed by The New York Times as “a lyrically sensitive interpreter with a special affinity for Joni Mitchell” and by The New York Post as “a gorgeous, soulful singer who has an actor’s intensity in whatever she sings.” Her CDs BUSY BEING FREE and WRITTEN IN THE STARS both won the MAC Award for Major Recording of the Year. Winners of 9 MAC Awards, 5 New York Bistro Awards and the New York Nightlife Award, Eric and Barbara recently received the Donald F. Smith Award from the Mabel Mercer Foundation, acknowledging their artistry. In the words of revered jazz critic Ira Gitler, they “have it all, and then some … artistic, swinging, and superbly entertaining.”
$35 tables / $25 bar + $20 food/drink minimum
March 3 (Monday) 7:00 PM – Birdland Jazz Club
The Kleinbort Collection: The Songs of Barry Kleinbort
Birdland is proud to announce that award-winning songwriter Barry Kleinbort will be hosting “The Kleinbort Collection,” an evening of his original songs on Monday, March 3 at 7pm! In cabaret circles, Barry Kleinbort is well known for his directorial prowess, helming highly regarded acts in both this country and overseas, receiving 13 Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs (MAC) awards and two Back Stage Bistros for his efforts. Less well-known is the fact that Mr. Kleinbort is also an award winning composer/lyricist who has crafted indelible moments for many musicals and revues, becoming the third recipient of the prestigious Edward Kleban Foundation Award for Lyric writing. The last time he compiled an evening of his songs was in the year 2000. Since then, his catalogue has only continued to expand. His friend, the entertainment icon Jamie deRoy, felt these songs deserved another airing—and so, thanks to her nudging, here it is. Jamie deRoy & friends presents The Kleinbort Collection, the 2025 edition. Joining Mr. Kleinbort on this journey through the files, culled from the past four decades, of Kleinbort-mania is a glorious group of performers from Broadway and cabaret including (in alphabetical order): Loni Ackerman, Lewis Cleale, Lorna Dallas, Gregg Edelman, Penny Fuller, Eric Michael Gillett, Judy Kaye, Nicolas King, Karen Mason, Gretchen Reinhagen, Caroline Roelands, and Haley Swindal. Three of Mr. Kleinbort’s esteemed musical directors will be at the piano: Christopher Denny, Paul Greenwood and David Gaines. The equally-revered Tom Hubbard will be on bass. The next Kleinbort Collection probably won’t be until 2050…so you don’t want to miss this “must-see” singular event.
$40 tables / $30 bar + $20 food/drink minimum
March 4-8 (Tuesday-Saturday) 7:00 & 9:30 PM (3/4-6); 8:30 & 10:30 PM (3/7-8) – Birdland Jazz Club
John Pizzarelli Trio
Internationally-acclaimed John Pizzarelli charms audiences with his warmth, sense of humor, and world-class musical chops. Through his multifaceted career as a jazz guitarist, vocalist and bandleader, the son of the legendary New Jersey native guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli has become one of the most recognizable faces and voices in contemporary jazz for his interpretations of classic standards, romantic ballads and the cool jazz flavor he brings to his performances and recordings. Pizzarelli has been a special guest on recordings for major pop names such as Natalie Cole, Kristin Chenoweth, Tom Wopat, Rickie Lee Jones and Dave Van Ronk, as well as leading jazz artists such as Rosemary Clooney, Ruby Braff, Johnny Frigo, Buddy DeFranco, Harry Allen and, of course, his father Bucky Pizzarelli. He won a Grammy Award in the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album category as co-producer of James Taylor’s American Standard in 2021. While maintaining a busy touring schedule, John also founded “Radio Deluxe with John Pizzarelli,” a nationally syndicated radio program co-hosted with his wife, Broadway star Jessica Molaskey. Long-time a Birdland favorite, Pizzarelli puts on a show you won’t want to miss.
$50 tables / $40 bar + $20 food/drink minimum
March 7-9 (Friday-Sunday) 7:00 & 9:30 PM – Birdland Theater
Flying High with Champian Fulton, Olivia Chindamo, and Ekep Nkwelle
Flying High carries forth the legacy of the great female big band vocalists who went solo: Dinah Washington, Jo Stafford, Anita O’Day, Billie Holiday, and others started in big bands and went on to well-known soloist careers. and others. The group features three powerful vocalists—Champian Fulton, Olivia Chindamo, and Ekep Nkwelle—accompanied by an incredible rhythm team of Charles Ruggiero and Neal Miner. Birdland fan-favorite Fulton serves as pianist and Artistic Director. Singing classics of the jazz vocal tradition, this group delivers in a big way and highlights the trailblazing women of yesteryear with the trailblazers of today. Fulton is a Birdland favorite, and boasts 16 albums as a leader to her name. She was named the Hot House Readers Poll 2019 Pianist and Vocalist of the Year. Chindamo made history as the first ever female jazz voice graduate at The Juilliard School, receiving a Masters degree. She has performed extensively across North America, Europe, and Australia, including at venues such as The Kennedy Center, Dizzy’s Club, and Lincoln Center. And Ekep Nkwelle, the 26-year-old Cameroonian-American jazz vocalist—like Chindamo, Juilliard-trained—has shared the bandstand with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Russell Malone, Cyrus Chestnut, Emmet Cohen and Endea Owens. Flying High brings these incredible vocalists together for an evening of joyful music.
$40 tables / $30 bar + $20 food/drink minimum
March 9 (Sunday) 5:30 PM – Birdland Jazz Club
Laila Biali: Classics Reimagined
Laila Biali is an award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter and pianist who has toured with Chris Botti, Paula Cole, and Suzanne Vega, and recorded with and supported Sting. Named SOCAN Composer of the Year and Keyboardist of the Year at Canada’s National Jazz Awards, Biali’s music combines pop, rock, classical, world, and soul with her deep expertise in jazz to create unique statements on old forms. She serves as the host of the beloved Saturday Night Jazz national radio show on CBC Music (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation). Performances at the North Sea Jazz Festival, Tokyo’s Cotton Club, Peru’s El Festival Internacional de Lima, and Carnegie Hall in New York City—as well as a JUNO nomination for “Best Vocal Jazz Album of the Year” for her her studio recording, “Tracing Light,” and a 4-star Downbeat review for her follow-up recording, “Live in Concert” (named as one of Downbeat’s Best Albums of 2013)—have set her career apart. Spinner Magazine praises Biali’s “ability to meld traditional jazz with contemporary pop so effortlessly that neither style seems out of place on the same record.”
$35 tables / $25 bar + $20 food/drink minimum
March 10 (Monday) 7:00 PM – Birdland Jazz Club
Nicolas King
Nicolas King returns to the legendary Birdland on Monday, March 10 with a new show featuring music to celebrate the spring season in New York! A tribute to the golden age of nightclubs, his concert will feature music paying homage to Mel Tormé, Sammy Davis Jr., and Tony Bennett. King celebrates 30 years in showbusiness this year, having begun his career at 4 years old in TV commercials and on Broadway as the longest-running “Chip” in Disney’s Beauty And The Beast. He appeared in Carol Burnett’s Hollywood Arms directed by Hal Prince and toured the country with his mentor Liza Minnelli as her opening act. He teamed with jazz legend Mike Renzi when he was 17, releasing three albums including the award-winning “On Another Note.” He’s appeared at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, The Blue Note and the jazz corner of the world, Birdland.
$35 tables / $35 bar + $20 food/drink minimum
March 11-15 (Tuesday-Saturday) 7:00 & 9:30 PM (3/11-13); 8:30 & 10:30 PM (3/14-15) – Birdland Jazz Club
SF JAZZ Collective
The SFJAZZ Collective’s mission is “to perform fresh arrangements of works by a modern master and newly commissioned pieces by each member….simultaneously honoring music’s greatest figures while championing jazz’s up-to-the-minute directions.” To celebrate the 10th Season of the SFJAZZ Center and the endless diversity of music that the rotating supergroup has debuted, this year’s band will perform new compositions, timeless classics, and everything in between. Under artistic direction of Chris Potter, current members include Mike Rodriguez, trumpet; Kendrick Scott, drums; Matt Brewer, bass; David Sanchez, saxophone; Warren Wolff, vibraphone; Chris Potter, saxophone; and Edward Simon, piano. They have studied and performed the work of John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Herbie Hancock, Thelonious Monk, Wayne Shorter, McCoy Tyner, Horace Silver, Stevie Wonder, Chick Corea, Joe Henderson, Michael Jackson, Miles Davis, António Carlos Jobim, and Sly Stone, and they have created over 100 new arrangements and original compositions.
$45 tables / $35 bar + $20 food/drink minimum
March 12-16 (Thursday-Sunday) 8:30 PM (3/12-13); 7:00 & 9:30 PM (3/14-16) – Birdland Theater
Frank Vignola’s Django Reinhardt Celebration Featuring Joscho Stephan, John Jorgensen, & Gary Mazzaroppi
Frank Vignola, leader of Birdland’s famed weekly Guitar Nights, headlines at the Theater for a 4-night engagement celebrating the music of Django Reinhardt! Featuring the great gypsy jazz guitarists Joscho Stephan and John Jorgensen with regular Guitar Night bassist Gary Mazzaroppi, Vignola will lead audiences through the fascinating musical world which Django fearlessly pioneered. Reinhardt’s music was some of the first that Vignola learned in his study of guitar. Indeed, it was his first tribute to the Hot Club Of France in 1988 that prompted the New York Times to call him one of the Top 10 acts of the year, and inspired others to record albums dedicated to the music of Reinhardt’s all-string quintet. He released “100 Years Of Django” in early 2010, making this run of shows a 15th anniversary of sorts. Sure to be both rollicking and intimate—don’t miss!
$40 tables / $30 bar + $20 food/drink minimum
March 16 (Sunday) 5:30 PM – Birdland Jazz Club
Ryan Keberle’s All Ears Orchestra
Both a formidable trombonist and a prolific composer, Ryan Keberle has been hailed by The New York Times as a player “of vision and composure.” Named #1 Rising Star Trombonist in the Downbeat International Critics Poll, Keberle the instrumentalist is a force to be reckoned with, lending his voice to ensembles led by Maria Schneider, David Bowie, Justin Timberlake, Ivan Lins, and Wynton Marsalis. As a composer, he has developed a wide-ranging and refreshing style, writing pieces with voice and synthesized instruments, as well as traditional big band configurations. While Keberle’s first two albums featured thick brass textures and a “little big band,” his group Catharsis incorporated Camila Meza’s stunning vocals and guitar for three stylistically groundbreaking recordings, including 2016’s Azul Infinito, named one of “five jazz albums you need to hear” by Billboard. Four subsequent albums by his group Reverso all see Keberle exploring new sonic territory. At Birdland, come see this daring explorer on his ever-changing journey: this time, with his All Ears Orchestra.
$35 tables / $25 bar + $20 food/drink minimum
March 17 (Monday) 7:00 PM – Birdland Jazz Club
Karen Akers: “Feels Like Home”
Birdland is thrilled to announce the concert return of legendary Karen Akers to the historic Birdland stage on Monday, March 17 at 7pm. The show, entitled “Feels Like Home,” will be musical-directed by Alex Rybeck and include songs by Carly Simon, Stephen Flaherty, Craig Carnelia, Randy Newman, Stephen Sondheim, Julie Gold, and many more. Karen Akers is one of America’s more arresting and successful concert and cabaret stars. She is the recipient of the 2005 New York Nightlife Award for Outstanding Female Cabaret Vocalist in a Major Engagement, as well as the 2009 Nightlife Legend Award. Ms. Akers has appeared in many prestigious venues worldwide, including Carnegie Hall and The Hollywood Bowl, as well as New York’s premiere nightspots, Cafe Carlyle and The Oak Room at The Algonquin Hotel. She appeared at the Martin Beck Theatre on Broadway as one of the original stars of the Tony Award-winning musical Grand Hotel, directed by Tommy Tune. She made her debut on the Great White Way in the original production of NINE, also directed by Tommy Tune, receiving a Tony nomination and a Theatre World Award. Ms. Akers television appearances include Cheers, The Tonight Show, The Equalizer, Hart to Hart, The Merv Griffin Show and the PBS specials “Ellington: The Music Lives On” and “Ira Gershwin at 100: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall.” In addition, Ms. Akers had two of her own PBS specials, “Presenting Karen Akers” and “Karen Akers: On Stage at Wolf Trap.” Her film roles include the femme fatale in Mike Nichol’s Heartburn, opposite Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep, Woody Allen’s The Purple Rose of Cairo, and Vibes. Ms. Akers’s CDs include: “If We Only Have Love,” “Feels Like Home,” “Live From Rainbow and Stars,” “Under Paris Skies,” “Just Imagine,” “Unchained Melodies,” “In A Very Unusual Way,” “Like It Was,” “Presenting Karen Akers” and “Simply Styne” (DRG Records).
$40 tables / $40 bar + $20 food/drink minimum
March 18-22 (Tuesday-Saturday) 7:00 & 9:30 PM (3/18-20); 8:30 & 10:30 PM (3/21-22) – Birdland Jazz Club
Cyrille Aimée and The Guitar Heroes
Reintroducing Cyrille Aimee’s world-pop guitar ensemble, The Guitar Heroes! Grammy-nominated Cyrille Aimee spent over 10 years in NYC wowing audiences with her joyful improvisations, effortless swing, and wild spirit. Having relocated to New Orleans to enter the vibrant musical community of that storied city, Aimee loves to return to Birdland—where she spent years with a weekly residency. From her native France to the USA, from jazz festivals to Broadway, from a longtime working band to new adventures in new sonic landscapes, Cyrille Aimee is never content to stay in one place too long. Recent releases include 2018’s “Cyrille Aimee Live” (Mack Avenue); 2019’s “Move On: A Sondheim Adventure”; 2021’s “I’ll Be Seeing You”; 2021’s “Petite Fleur,” as a featured guest of drummer Adonis Rose and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra; and last year’s “à Fleur de Peau.” Hailed as “one of the most promising jazz singers of her generation” by The Wall Street Journal, Aimee will bring something both old and new to the city she used to call home: her Guitar Heroes band. Relive the magic of her gypsy jazz-inspired albums “It’s a Good Day” and “Let’s Get Lost” with fresh takes on beloved classics, exciting new songs, and the unparalleled artistry of the original guitar masters—now joined by a dynamic new rhythm section.
$50 tables / $40 bar + $20 food/drink minimum
March 21-23 (Friday-Sunday) 7:00 & 9:30 PM – Birdland Theater
Richard Bona Presents Asante Trio
One of the world’s greatest bass players, Richard Bona is a Grammy-winning musician whose stylings as both bassist and vocalist have contributed to genre-defining and genre-breaking musical projects with Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock, Harry Belafonte, Sting, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Bobby McFerrin, George Benson, Cucho Valdes, Chick Corea, and other trailblazers. Deeply invested in Afrobeat, Afropop, Flamenco, and other world styles, Bona’s sound is iconic and unmatched. A true modern master, he brings his Assante Trio to Birdland Theater for three unforgettable nights. Put simply: not to be missed.
$35 tables / $25 bar + $20 food/drink minimum
March 23 (Sunday) 5:30 PM – Birdland Jazz Club
Jazz At Lincoln Center’s Jazz Academy Big Band
Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Jazz Academy Big Band is directed by Julius Tolentino. Ambitious students of all ages from the tri-state area join together for instrumental instruction, big band experience, and mentorship from veteran jazz artists and members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. The collective is talented, spirited, and dedicated to swing and blues feeling. They perform regularly throughout the year in the Ertegun Atrium at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Dizzy’s Club and other venues throughout New York City, including Birdland, where they will play this Sunday evening engagement. This year, the group has been working extensively on the music of Charles Mingus; Birdland audiences will delight at the level of maturity and authenticity present in the ensemble’s delivery.
$35 tables / $25 bar + $20 food/drink minimum
March 24 (Monday) 7:00 PM – Birdland Jazz Club
Karen Mason: “Karen’s Back…at Birdland!”
Birdland is proud to present the return of concert and Broadway leading lady Karen Mason on March 24 at 7pm, in her new show “Karen’s Back…at Birdland!” After sold-out shows in Puerto Vallarta, New York City and Chicago, the formidable Ms. Mason returns for one night only to welcome spring with a bouquet of songs from Broadway and pop, including a handful of selections from her new Award-winning CD, “Karen Mason… and All That Jazz.” Supporting her will be an ace team of musicians: musical director Christopher Denny on piano and Ritt Henn on bass. Barry Kleinbort will direct. Karen Mason was seen playing Mrs. Marsh on Ryan Murphy’s “Halston” on Netflix. On tour, starred as Madame Giry in the North American premiere of “Love Never Dies” (Andrew Lloyd Webber’s epic sequel to “The Phantom of the Opera”). On Broadway, she starred as the Queen of Hearts in “Wonderland” and originated the role of Tanya in “Mamma Mia!” (2002 Drama Desk nomination as Best Actress). Her other leading roles include Norma Desmond in “Sunset Boulevard” on Broadway and in Los Angeles for three years; Velma von Tussel in the Broadway company of “Hairspray”; “Monotony” singer and Mazeppa in Jerome Robbins’ “Broadway.” In regional theater, Karen starred in “Chasing Rainbows” (Paper Mill Playhouse), “A Christmas Story” as Miss Shields; “White Christmas” (St. Louis Muni Opera); “Side by Side” by Sondheim (Coconut Grove Playhouse in Florida); “Gypsy” (Sundance Theatre in California); “Company” (Huntington Theatre in Boston). Off-Broadway, she won the Outer Critics Circle Award for her performance in “And The World Goes ‘Round.” She is a 14-time MAC Award winner, and was the recipient of the 2019 MAC Lifetime Achievement Award. She also won 3 Bistro Awards. Her nine recordings include the 2024 release of “All That Jazz” (King Kozmo Records/Zevely Records Inc); the single “It’s About Time,” written by Paul Rolnick and Shelly Markham; her 2009 MAC Award-winning “Right Here/Right Now,” “The Sweetest of Nights,” “When the Sun Comes Out,” “Christmas! Christmas! Christmas!,” “Better Days” (featuring the 1998 Emmy Award-winning song “Hold Me”); and “Not So Simply Broadway.” Also, “Wonderland” (original cast), the film “Jeffrey” (Varese Sarabande); “Wonderful Town” (JAY Records); and the cast album of “And The World Goes ‘Round” (RCA Victor).
$40 tables / $40 bar + $20 food/drink minimum
March 25 (Tuesday) 7:00 & 9:30 PM – Birdland Jazz Club
Anderson Brothers Present THE JOURNEY OF JAZZ
Juilliard-trained identical twins Peter and Will Anderson have been hailed as “virtuosos on clarinet and saxophone” by The New York Times. Their passion for classic jazz shines through each time they perform. Having shared the stage with some of the music’s biggest straight-ahead jazz acts—including Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Wycliffe Gordon, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Paquito D’Rivera, and Wynton Marsalis—the brothers constitute a formidable force. They’ve headlined shows at Carnegie Hall, The Blue Note, Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and live on Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion Radio Program. Birdland welcomes them this Tuesday in March as they deliver their no-funny-business, straight-down-the-middle, jazz-lover’s type of jazz: this time tracing the century-long development of American jazz from New Orleans to the Big Apple. Their all-star sextet will perform compositions by Louis Armstrong, George Gershwin, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, and Antonio Carlos Jobim, spanning ragtime and blues, swing, bebop, bossa nova, cool jazz and third-stream—and showcasing such songs as “Sing, Sing, Sing,” “Take the ‘A’ Train,” “Summertime,” “The Pink Panther Theme,” and “My Favorite Things.” The Andersons will take audiences down a musical memory lane to experience how these styles evolved and became intertwined with the music of Broadway and popular culture.
$40 tables / $30 bar + $20 food/drink minimum
March 26-29 (Wednesday-Saturday) 7:00 & 9:30 PM (3/26-27); 8:30 & 10:30 PM (3/28-29) – Birdland Jazz Club
Kurt Elling Celebrates Weather Report
With Julius Rodriguez (piano), Essiet Okon Essiet (bass), Marcus Finnie (drums), Mike Moreno (guitar). Kurt Elling returns to Birdland! Elling, the winner of 3 Prix du Jazz Vocal (France), 2 German Echo Awards, 2 Dutch Edison Awards, and 2 GRAMMY wins (with 15 GRAMMY nominations), is one of contemporary jazz’s most prolific, celebrated voices. The Guardian has called him “a kind of Sinatra with superpowers” and “one of jazz’s all-time great vocalists.” Elling’s originality is intertwined with his devotion to the masters that came before him, and he regularly writes lyrics to classic melodies and improvisations by iconic artists, such as John Coltrane, Keith Jarrett, Pat Metheny, Wayne Shorter, and Jaco Pastorius. Join the singer and his masterful group for an inspiring four-night run as they reimagine the songs of jazz fusion superband Weather Report, whose contributions in the 1970s and 80s changed the sound of the music forever. Look out for songs like “Mysterious Traveller,” “Teen Town” & “Birdland,” plus lesser known treasures.
$50 tables / $40 bar + $20 food/drink minimum
March 28-30 (Friday-Sunday) 7:00 & 9:30 PM – Birdland Theater
Tony DeSare: Sinatra and Beyond
The excellent jazz vocalist and pianist Tony DeSare, named a Rising Star Male Vocalist by Downbeat Magazine, has released 11 albums of music, delivering a gem of a recording to his fans almost every year, with 4 of them reaching top 10 positions on the Billboard jazz charts. A crooner’s crooner, he is a master interpreter of the American Songbook who has performed as a featured guest on the CBS Early Show, NPR, A Prairie Home Companion, and the Today Show. Over the course of his career, Desare has also ventured into pop classics by Carole King, Prince, and the Beatles; and while he remains proudly a descendant of the Rat Pack singers and the swinging tradition, he has also carved out space as an interpreter of songs even further outside his genre’s norm, covering New Order, Philip Bailey, and Bob Dylan. His smooth, clear voice and his entertainer’s sensibility landed DeSare in now long-time collaboration with jazz giant Bucky Pizzarelli and in shows like Our Sinatra. Now a veteran of the music, DeSare will deliver a weekend at the Theater that delivers Sinatra and beyond—and that’s sure to have audiences swooning.
$35 tables / $25 bar + $20 food/drink minimum
March 30 (Sunday) 5:30 PM – Birdland Jazz Club
Dave Pietro Quintet
Celebrate saxophonist Dave Pietro’s new recording, “Satori”! One of the foremost reedmen in the jazz world for the past several decades, Dave Pietro is renowned for his writing, arranging, bandleading, soloing, and large ensemble work. His membership over the years in the Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra, Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society, and Toshiko Akiyoshi’s Orchestra belies his affinity for imaginative, fulfilling composition and robust improvisation. Pietro’s own projects have included a who’s who of contemporary jazz stardom since his recording career began in 1994 with Forgotten Dreams, an album featuring Dave Holland, Bill Stewart, Kenny Werner and Ben Monder. Over the next nearly three decades on the international jazz scene, Pietro established himself with scores of recording credits on projects by artists such as David Bowie, Maynard Ferguson, and Chaka Khan. He continues to write and record original work, his latest effort being 2025’s “Satori.” The band will feature Brandon Lee (trumpet); Gary Versace (piano); Johannes Weidenmueller (bass); and Adam Cruz (drums).
$35 tables / $25 bar + $20 food/drink minimum
March 31 (Monday) 7:00 PM – Birdland Jazz Club
Jamie deRoy & Friends
Birdland is happy to announce that hostess/producer Jamie deRoy will be bringing her multi-MAC Award-winning Variety Show, Jamie deRoy & friends back to the historic stage on Monday, March 31 at 7pm. Jamie deRoy has won 12 Tony Awards, nine MAC Awards, four Back Stage Bistro Awards and 11 Telly Awards for her extensive work on both stage and screen. She has headlined at many of New York’s major venues. She has also produced nine CDs in the Jamie deRoy & friends series, all of which are available on Harbinger and PS Classics labels. Proceeds from this special evening will benefit The Entertainment Community Fund: Jamie deRoy & friends Cabaret Initiative. Special guests will include Harolyn Blackwell, Julie Gold, and Rob Magnotti, as well as some surprises you’ll have to see to enjoy. The event will be directed by Barry Kleinbort and musical directed by Ron Abel. This colorful cabaret series has been thrilling New York audiences for the past 30+ years and serves as the basis for deRoy’s award-winning cable television show, which highlights Broadway, Off-Broadway, and cabaret, showcasing talented performers appearing around town.
$90 VIP tables / $50 tables / $25 bar + $20 food/drink minimum
Monthly Engagements:
March 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25 (Mondays and Tuesdays) 5:30 & 8:30 PM – Birdland Theater
Vince Giordano & The Nighthawks
Catch Vince Giordano & The Nighthawks every Monday and Tuesday evening in March at Birdland Theater! Giordano, the recipient of a GRAMMY Award for his work scoring the HBO show Boardwalk Empire, is a master composer and arranger whose 11-piece band, The Nighthawks, recreate the jubilant 1920s jazz sound with amazing definition, using violins, tubas, banjos, and collector’s item drum sets. The band has provided soundtracks for film and television productions including The Cotton Club, The Aviator, Finding Forrester, Revolutionary Road, Cafe Society, Boardwalk Empire, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and many more. Not to be missed!
$40 tables / $30 bar / $20 partial view table seating + $20 food/drink minimum
March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 (Mondays) 9:30 PM – Birdland Jazz Club
Jim Caruso’s Cast Party
Step into the glittering world of Jim Caruso’s Cast Party, the legendary weekly open mic night that turns Birdland into the ultimate showbiz playground! Every Monday, the iconic venue transforms into a raucous, star-studded celebration of music, comedy, and jaw-dropping talent, where seasoned pros and up-and-coming performers share the stage in an unforgettable, high-energy variety show. Leading the charge is the ever-dapper Jim Caruso. With his signature charm and boundless enthusiasm, Caruso keeps the night moving at a thrilling pace, welcoming Broadway belters, jazz virtuosos, master tappers, and the occasional surprise megastar drop-in! Fueling the musical magic is the incomparable trio of powerhouse musicians: the dazzling Billy Stritch at the piano, the rock-solid Steve Doyle on bass, and the dynamic Daniel Glass on drums. Together, they create a swinging, electrifying sound that transforms every performance into a showstopping moment. From Tony and Oscar winners to hopeful newcomers, Cast Party is where talent shines, friendships are forged, and the spirit of live performance is alive and thriving. Whether you’re gracing the stage or cheering from the audience, one thing’s for sure—you never know who might take the mic next! Join the party every Monday night at Birdland and witness why Jim Caruso’s Cast Party remains a can’t-miss New York City tradition.
$35 tables / $25 bar + $20 food/drink minimum
March 5, 12, 19, 26 (Wednesdays) 5:30 PM – Birdland Theater
David Ostwald’s Louis Armstrong Eternity Band
Inspired by the noble jazz pioneers Louis Armstrong, Bix Beiderbecke, Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton and their colleagues, David Ostwald’s Louis Armstrong Eternity Band breathes life and passion into America’s own great art form. Now in its 19th year of residency at Birdland, the weekly post-workday engagement is the city’s best musical bargain! Tuba player David Ostwald leads a rotating lineup that features talents such as clarinetist Anat Cohen, trombonist/vocalist Wycliffe Gordon, pianist Ehud Asherie, drummer Marion Felder and more!
$40 tables / $30 bar + $20 food/drink minimum
March 5, 12, 19, 26 (Wednesdays) 8:30 PM – Birdland Theater
Frank Vignola’s Guitar Night
It’s the best jazz guitar lover’s show in the world. Frank Vignola’s virtuosity has made him the guitarist of choice for many of the world’s top musicians, including Ringo Starr, Madonna, Donald Fagen, Les Paul, the Boston and New York Pops, and more. Every Wednesday at 8:30pm in the Birdland Theater, Frank leads “Frank Vignola’s Guitar Night at Birdland.” Inspired by journeyman jazz guitarist John Pisano’s now famous Los Angeles Guitar Night, the Frank Vignola Quartet, featuring pianist Ted Rosenthal, bassist Gary Mazzaroppi, and drummer Alex Raderman, perform tunes from the standard repertoire, bringing in special guests weekly. In March, catch Pasquale Grasso (guitar 3/5); Joscho Stephan and John Jorgensen (guitars, 3/12) *part of Django Celebration 3/12-16; Sheryl Bailey (guitar, 3/19) and John Pizzarelli (guitar, 3/26).
**Guitar night streams live every week at: YouTube.com/RadioFreeBirdland
$40 tables / $30 bar + $20 food/drink minimum
March 6, 13, 20, 27 (Thursdays) 5:30 PM (3/6, 3/13, 3/20, 3/27) & 8:30PM (3/6, 3/20, 3/27) – Birdland Theater
The High Society New Orleans Jazz Band
Led by veteran trumpeter Simon Wettenhall and Grammy winning pianist Conal Fowkes, The High Society New Orleans Jazz Band is a New Orleans-style group which for decades has served as Woody Allen’s band of choice in his movies, concert tours and other performances—including, on the silver screen, the celebrated Wild Man Blues, Sweet and Lowdown, Midnight in Paris, Blue Jasmine, Cafe Society, Magic In The Moonlight, and A Rainy Day In New York. Appearing on all the premiere concert stages of Europe and the United States, the group features Conal Fowkes (piano/vocals co-leader), Simon Wettenhall (trumpet/vocals co-leader), Tom Abbott (clarinet), Harvey Tibbs (trombone), Josh Dunn (banjo), Brian Nalepka (bass/vocals), and Kevin Dorn (drums). Catch them each Thursday at Birdland Theater.
$40 tables / $30 bar + $20 food/drink minimum
March 7, 14, 21, 28 (Fridays) 5:30 PM – Birdland Jazz Club
The Birdland Big Band
Every Friday, and for two headlining weeks a year, the “BBB” roars into action playing a thrilling and original mix of jazz, funk, Brazilian, Latin and world music for sold-out audiences. Featured weekly guest artists drop in from television bands (David Letterman, Saturday Night Live) and pop music touring bands (Rob Thomas, Rod Stewart). Come see for yourself why Time Out New York called the BBB “A completely unique experience… there isn’t another band like this anywhere,” and why yelp.com proclaims, “If you hear one band in NYC make sure this is it… and prepare to be blown away!”
$40 tables / $30 bar + $20 food/drink minimum
March 1, 8, 15, 22 (Saturdays except 3/29) 5:30 PM – Birdland Jazz Club
Gabrielle Stravelli
Award-winning vocalist Gabrielle Stravelli takes over the Saturday early set at Birdland Theater in December with her trademark vocal style and her trio featuring Pat O’Leary (bass) and a rotation of New York’s most captivating pianists: Adam Birnbaum (3/1), Michael Kanan (3/8), Miki Yamanaka (3/15), and Joshua Richman (3/22). Stravelli’s clear tone, gutsy rhythm, impeccable scat-singing and contagious joy have delighted audiences the world over; honors include the Bistro Award for Outstanding Recording (2020); the Broadway World Cabaret Award for Best Jazz Vocalist (2019); the MAC Award for Best Female Vocalist (2015); and the Bistro Award as a Jazz Vocalist (2015). She regularly leads her quartet in performances at the country’s finest jazz clubs and performing arts centers and has headlined domestic and international jazz festivals including the 2024 & 2023 Delaware Water Gap COTA Festival; 2023 Cape Cod Jazz Festival; 2023 Cayman Arts Festival; ’24, ’21 & ’18 WBGO Jazz on the Mountain Festivals; 2019 Providencia Jazz Festival in Chile; 2016 Eleuthera Jazz Festival, Bahamas; and the 2014 Maree Sonore Festival in Venice, Italy. Stravelli has debuted song cycles by world-renowned jazz pianist Fred Hersch and toured the U.S. premiering “Abyssinian” with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Beautiful Moons Ago, her latest release, was the first to feature her trio with pianist Michael Kanan and bassist Pat O’Leary.
$35 tables / $25 bar + $20 food/drink minimum
March 29 (Saturday) 5:30 PM – Birdland Jazz Club
Hilary Kole Quartet
The wonderful Hilary Kole is proud to be making her return to Birdland, where she led many jazz parties and performed for many years. A singer, composer, and arranger who has headlined in the United States and around the world at the Umbria Jazz Festival, The Montreal Jazz Festival, Town Hall, The Blue Note, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops, and throughout Japan and Europe, Kole has recorded with music legends David Brubeck, Oscar Peterson, Michel LeGrand, Hank Jones, John Pizzarelli, Monty Alexander, Kenny Barron, and Freddy Cole, the Indianapolis Symphony, and The Colorado Symphony, among others. Her debut recording, “Haunted Heart,” was released to critical acclaim in 2009, winning the Gold Disc Award in Japan and receiving a 4-star review in Downbeat. Her sophomore recording, “You Are There,” was named as “Record Of The Year” in USA Today, as well as receiving the 2010 Bistro Award for “Record of the Year.” Kole’s third release, “A Self- Portrait,” earned a place on a USA Today top 10 list. She is also a Delius Award-winning composer and a 3-time award-winner with the National Federation of Music for her compositions.
$35 tables / $25 bar + $20 food/drink minimum
March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 (Sundays) 8:30 & 10:30 PM – Birdland Jazz Club
The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra
The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra (ALJO) brings together the drama of big band jazz, the culture of Latin music, and the virtuosity of eighteen of the world’s most accomplished solo musicians. Thirteen years of critically-acclaimed performances internationally have firmly established the ALJO as the standard-bearer for creative interpretation of Latin jazz greats such as Tito Puente, Frank “Machito” Grillo, and Chico O’Farrill, as well as the driving force behind new commissions from Latin music’s most talented composers and arrangers.
$40 tables / $30 bar + $20 food/drink minimum