September Songs

The country’s cabarets and clubs are back in full force, with so many dazzling options that there’s simply not enough time in the month to take advantage of them all.

At Feinstein’s at the Loews Regency, the club kicks off its season with a special appearance from namesake Michael Feinstein and his Sinatra Project, featuring a 17-piece big band (September 2-6). He’s followed by the super-popular R&B duo Ashford and Simpson (September 9-20), the beautiful soprano Anna Bergman and special guest, Broadway star Brent Barrett, in a tribute to Rodgers & Hart (September 14-15 and 21), and the cabaret debut of Nikki Blonsky, star of the film Hairspray (September 23-October 4).

The Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel gets back in the swing with two of its most beloved performers: Grammy Award winner Jack Jones (September 9-20) and chanteuse KT Sullivan (September 23-October 11); while the swanky Café Carlyle welcomes back the first couple of cabaret, John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey for a two-month run (September 9-November 1).

The always exciting Broadway at Birdland dazzles with the fantastic songwriter Jeff Blumenkrantz (September 8), jazz artist Laurel Masse, a founding member of the Manhattan Transfer (September 15), Broadway and television legend Michele Lee in a benefit concert for the Actors’ Fund (September 22), the one-and-only Betty Buckley (September 23-27), and musical theater star Alexander Gemignani (September 29).

Joe’s Pub pulls out all the stops as it begins its year-long 10th anniversary celebration. The must-see list includes Carl Hancock Rux (September 1), Oscar nominee Terrence Howard (September 4), Broadway Loves the 80s, Vol. 4, hosted by Mo Rocca (September 7), a tribute to Michael John LaChiusa with an amazing roster of Broadway talent including Alice Ripley, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Matthew Morrison, and Kate Shindle (September 8), troubadour Steve Forbert (September 12), Lauren Pritchard (September 15), Raul Midon (September 17), Gilberto Gil (September 22-23), Tastiskank (September 22), and The Plastic People of the Universe (September 24).

The ever-eclectic Zipper Factory will showcase burlesque group The Peach Tartes (September 5), songstress Maddy Wyatt (September 10), rocker Scott Matthew (September 12), Dean and Britta (September 20), the Lascivious Biddies (September 22), and vocalist Nomi (September 30), among other acts.

The Metropolitan Room is the place to be for diva worshippers this month, with engagements by British sensation Barb Jungr (September 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20), the astounding Marilyn Maye (September 6, 7, 8, 14, 15, 16), Patti Wicks (September 18-19), Cynthia Crane (September 21, 29), Francesca Amari (September 22, 29), Tony Award winner Tammy Grimes (September 22-24), Yvonne Constant (September 25, 28), Judith Owen (September 26-27), and MAC Award winner Julie Reyburn (September 28)

The Laurie Beechman Theatre hosts songwriter Steven Lutvak (September 7), former Tony Award nominee Barbara Walsh (September 8), MAC Award winner Brandon Cutrell (September 14), Broadway star Christine Andreas (September 15), cabaret favorite Scot Albertson (September 17), Little Mermaid star John Treacy Egan (September 22), MAC Award winner Laurie Krauz (September 26), singer-songwriter Joe Iconis (September 28), andGypsy star Alison Fraser (September 29), among other acts.

Elsewhere around town: The hilarious Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words returns to The Triad for a series of every-Monday-night runs on September 8 with such stars as Rachel Dratch, Kristen Johnston, Richard Kind, Claudia Shear, and Sherri Shepherd; Wayne Brady checks into B.B. Kings (September 11); the sultry Dana Fuchs hits the Highline Ballroom (September 13); the ageless Keely Smith returns to the Tribeca Performing Arts Center (September 18); Barbara Fasano and Eric Comstock play the Neue Galerie’s Cafe Sabarsky (September 25); and the singular Lea DeLaria celebrates her new CD at Smoke (September 29).

Outside of the Big Apple, MAC Award winner Jeanna MacDonald offers her tribute to Peggy Lee at the Bradstan Country Hotel in White Lake, New York; Morgan’s Cabaret at the Prince Music Theatre in Philadelphia brings back the sublime Andrea Marcovicci in her tribute to Rodgers & Hart (September 17-28); and the Rrazz Room at San Francisco’s Nikko Hotel serves up the extraordinary Cleo Laine and John Dankworth (September 2-14), Tim Hockenberry (September 8, 22), Melanie Stace (September 15-17), the hilarious Kate Clinton (September 18-20), and the peerless Chita Rivera (September 23-30).