Steve Bakunas, Anita Gillette, Linda Lavin Set for Birdland in September
(© David Gordon)
Actor/director/painter Steve Bakunas will begin a new Broadway at Birdland series entitled Portrait of an Artist, in which he interviews musical and theatrical icons while painting their portrait before the audience’s eyes. His first guest, on Sunday, September 16 at 1pm, will be his wife, stage and screen star Linda Lavin.
Broadway at Birdland will also present Tony nominee Anita Gillette in her show After All, on Mondays, September 24 and October 1 at 7pm, as well as YouTube sensation “Miranda Sings” on Thursday, September 27 at 6pm.
Additional acts at Birdland in the month of September will include Grace Kelly Quintet (September 3); Oregon featuring Ralph Towner (September 4-8); Michael Pedecin Quintet (September 6); Dave Liebman Group (September 11-15); Michael Feinberg (September 13); “Coltrane Revisited” Featuring Steve Kuhn (piano) Tom Harrell (trumpet) Eric Alexander (tenor saxophone) Andrew Cyrille (drums) Lonnie Plaxico (bass) (September 18-22); Andy Ezrin Quartet (September 20); Bouncin’ with Bud: Music of Bud Powell featuring Tim Hagans (trumpet) Greg Osby (alto sax) Matt Wilson (drums) Dan Tepfer (piano) Lonnie Plaxico (bass) (September 25-29); and “Urban Dreams” An All-Star Tribute to Pepper Adams featuring Arturo O’Farrill & Lew Tabackin Quartet + George Mraz and Gary Smulyan with String Quartet arranged by Bevan Manson & David Amram (September 30).
Regular September monthly engagements include The Birdland Jazz Party hosted by vocalist Cyrille Aimée (Sundays at 6pm, with the September 2 installment guest hosted by Natalie Douglas); Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra (Sundays at 9pm & 11pm); Jim Caruso’s Cast Party (Mondays at 9:30pm), David Ostwald’s Louis Armstrong Centennial Band (Wednesdays at 5:30pm), and The Birdland Big Band (Fridays at 5pm).
