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Duke Ellington Sacred Concerts
Choral Music
Edward A Kliszus, Editor-in-Chief / Music and Arts Critic

Duke Ellington Sacred Concerts

For the first time in 35 years, Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concerts returned to the stage. Envisioned initially by Ellington as a “Festival of Grace,” provenance for Sacred Concerts is informed by a broad spectrum of jazz, classical and choral music, spirituals, dance, gospel, and blues. Ellington’s compositional product in this venue consisted of a triptych of 34 songs originally recorded in 1965, 1968, and 1973 respectively. It can be argued that an august Ellington facing his mortality considered his Sacred Concerts among his most significant works.

Ben Wendel Quartet at the Village Vanguard
Jazz
Edward A Kliszus, Editor-in-Chief / Music and Arts Critic

Ben Wendel Quartet at the Village Vanguard

Wendel’s songs are strikingly original, expressive, and extraordinarily inventive. His ideas and improvisations are freely chromatic, virtuosic, and organic, and he employed subtle be-bop idioms when it suited him. His facility is so commanding that he regularly reaches into the stratosphere of the tenor saxophone’s extended range. Notably, he can express ideas with the restraint of Lester Young while employing the pyrotechnics of Charlie Parker.

The Bill Charlap Trio at Birdland
Jazz
Edward A Kliszus, Editor-in-Chief / Music and Arts Critic

The Bill Charlap Trio at Birdland

Charlap is a virtuoso with full command of his musical voice on the piano who, with his fellow artists, lifted spirits and touched hearts. Fitting his artistic soul and imagination, Charlap played with passion, rich cinematic grace, and delicacy. His fiery offerings were an elegant, eloquent creative commentary that created energy and excitement.

Maurizio Spista Groove Jazz Funk Organ Trio
Jazz
Edward A Kliszus, Editor-in-Chief / Music and Arts Critic

Maurizio Spista Groove Jazz Funk Organ Trio

Tonight was not just a show; it was an authentic jam session of virtuoso artists guiding their listeners through time and continental travel, gospel, blues, jazz, cool, fusion, bossa, and funk.

Tony DeSare at Birdland
Cabaret
Edward A Kliszus, Editor-in-Chief / Music and Arts Critic

Tony DeSare at Birdland

Tony DeSare at Birdland introduced each song in an engaging and deeply personal way. His manner and charm in speaking were as crucial as his singing and playing. Audience members sighed when he spoke of his nine-year-old son and the romance and beauty of Paris. They nodded and smiled as he described the provenance of each musical gem.

Billy Valentine
Cabaret
Victoria L. Dammer

Billy Valentine

Every seat, including those at the in-theatre bar, was occupied with guests who were in for an outstanding presentation of Valentine’s gifts of vocals and his ability to perform music that crossed a broad genre of songs.

Eliane Elias
Jazz
Edward A Kliszus, Editor-in-Chief / Music and Arts Critic

Eliane Elias

Elias’ own warmth, smile, and gentle narratives of her homeland drew anticipation for the music we were about to experience. As she introduced each song, she frequently connected interesting anecdotes about the song’s setting, rhythm, composer, and lyrics. She inexorably drew the audience into the virtual world of each song, inspiring sentimental musings about the dance, beauty, charm, and romance of Brazil.

Marissa Licata at Birdland
Jazz
Edward A Kliszus, Editor-in-Chief / Music and Arts Critic

Marissa Licata at Birdland

Marisa Licata at Birdland shows she has it all: glamour, sheer talent, brilliance, and power, and is a blazing artist of her generation.

American Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall
Music
Edward A Kliszus, Editor-in-Chief / Music and Arts Critic

American Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall

This American Symphony Orchestra masterfully employed a sumptuous mix of 19th century symphonic intones and swing band idioms, commanding energetic themes, instrumental soloists as jazz tradition demands, rich tone colors, and moments of sublime beauty with lush strings, harp, flute, cello solos, and Ellington’s beautiful melodies.

Mia Pinero
Cabaret
Edward A Kliszus, Editor-in-Chief / Music and Arts Critic

Mia Pinero

Our rising star arrived on the stage with smiles and panache, an enthusiastic audience welcoming the charming young chanteuse. Pinero greeted and thanked her adoring fan base for attending, reflecting on the excitement of creating her debut album, and the challenges of remote recording. She shared personal thoughts about her life and segued into her opening number, Stand Tall by Donald Glover.

Duke Ellington Sacred Concerts

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