Lauren Scales, Mike Flanagan, and Chris Grasso Celebrate Their New Album, “Many Rivers”

Gerry Geddes
Jazz is no stranger to the stage at 54 Below but the hard-edged, hardcore jazz that was presented by singer Lauren Scales, saxophonist Mike Flanagan, and pianist Chris Grasso was not the usual bill of fare, so there was a special excitement in the room as the trio, aided in no small way by bassist...

Anaïs Reno Quartet: Selections from “Lady of the Lavender Mist” (plus more)

Mark Dundas Wood
When Anaïs Reno took to the stage at Dizzy’s on a recent late-summer evening, she seemed enveloped in an aura of grace and goodwill. She’s a mere 21, but she began singing jazz when she was single-digit age, so she’s been around for some time now. She won the Julie Wilson Award in 2020 and...

The Highliners Celebrate Ten Years of Their Soulful Sounds

Penelope Thomas
It’s a pleasure to hear ensemble energy on a cabaret stage. The Highliners are celebrating their tenth anniversary together, with roots going back to formative years at the Eastman School of Music. Based in jazz with influences from world and classical traditions, this is soulful, intelligent music for grownups, with voice and alto sax in...

“Come Fly with Jimmy Van Heusen”—the Latest in Deborah Grace Winer’s “Songbook Sundays” Series

Gerry Geddes
Edward Chester Babcock was raised in a strictly religious household so when he realized that he wanted to pursue a career in show business he felt compelled to change his name. Thanks to a catchy ad for men’s shirts he became Jimmy Van Heusen, ultimately becoming one of the shining stars of the Great American Songbook...

Karen Mason: “More SPF! The Summer Continues!”

Gerry Geddes
Reviewing Karen Mason’s wonderful new show, More SPF! The Summer Continues! at Don’t Tell Mama was a full-circle moment for me; I first reviewed her as half of the opening night of the venerable cabaret back in 1982; the other half of that evening was Nancy Lamott. Mason was incredible in ’82 and, if possible,...

Teri Wade Quintet

Mark Dundas Wood
Jazz vocalist Teri Wade took on the role of cooling, soothing zephyr at Pangea recently, on an intensely hot and humid Manhattan night. Her resonant and rather deep voice was suited to the no-nonsense approach she took with her musicians, her material, and her audience. There was not a lot of high drama in her...

Tammy McCann in “Legendary Ladies of Jazz—Ella, Sarah, Dinah, & Billie”

Gerry Geddes
Jazz/blues singer Tammy McCann paid a visit from her home in Chicago to 54 Below in NYC to celebrate The Legendary Ladies of Jazz—Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Dinah Washington. There was nothing edgy or adventurous about the choice of singers, or songs, but I suppose that was to be expected.  It did...

Storm Large — “Inside Voice”

Penelope Thomas
Get ready for gushing. Storm Large is good. Really good. It’s not the strength of her vocal abilities. It’s not the sexy chef vibes. It’s not her musical director and pianist James Beaton’s tasteful, innovative, and catchy arrangements. It’s not the well-considered setlist ranging from Kurt Weil to Ozzy Osbourne. It’s not her successful TV...

Amy Jo Jackson— “Laugh It Up”

Gerry Geddes
If one were to look up the meaning of the phrase “explosively talented,” one might very well find a picture of Amy Jo Jackson.  She is a blast of TNT talent in a genre often lacking in excitement and solid entertainment and laughs.  She not only raises the roof—she lowers the floor, she destroys the...

Ethan Mathias — “Outside the Lines”

Mark Dundas Wood
Considering that cabaret has a reputation for being an entertainment genre peopled with…let’s say seasoned performers and audiences, it’s always a terrific surprise when someone in the blush of youth shows up to take a dip in the talent pool. But when it’s someone who can navigate the cabaret stage with an abundance of energy,...