Interludes

VIEWPOINTS – The Great White Way may be a ghost town on Mondays, but things are hoppin’ late into the night at BIRDLAND

• By drediman
• August 15, 2023
• No Comments

The Great White Way may be dark on Mondays, but not at Birdland Jazz Club, where Broadway and nightlife entertainers make sure things are hoppin’ late into the school night (other nights of the week at the famed theater district jazz club tend to trend more towards jazz performances). Here are my thoughts on this week’s Monday doubleheader.

LUKE HAWKINS & MATT BAKER: THE BUDDY BOYS TAKE BIRDLAND
Birdland Jazz Club

The evening began with a 7pm show headlined by Broadway hoofer Luke Hawkins and jazz pianist Matt Baker, who together call themselves “The Buddy Boys”. For their one-night-only collaboration, these Buddy Boys hosted a variety show featuring a slew of Birdland regulars entitled The Buddy Boys Take Birdland (RECOMMENDED). In summary, it was an amusing, eclectic evening of good wholesome fun (I even spotted a couple of families in the audience). Highlights of the evening included a show-stopping dance-off between Hawkins and the young Addalie Burns set to “Bare Necessities” from The Jungle Book, Baker’s gorgeous re-casting of the Gershwin classics “Summertime” and “Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me”, Izze Stein’s “new” hit song “Sunshine Love”, and Jelani Remy’s sensational rendition of “Valerie”. Given that the program intersected elements of Broadway, pop entertainment, and jazz, there’s little doubt that there was something for everyone to enjoy. As for the hosts themselves, they proved to be top-notch talents individually and together a wonderfully charismatic duo. I hope to see more of them.

JIM CARUSO’S CAST PARTY
Birdland Jazz Club

Then later that evening at 9:30pm host Jim Caruso and music director Billy Stritch – wonderfully backed by musicians Steve Doyle on bass and Daniel Glass on drums – stepped into the spotlight and launched into their legendary cabaret open mic Jim Caruso’s Cast Party (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED). Although the talent drawn to the weekly happening may be understandably all over the map, it’s always astonishing to witness how masterfully each brave soul is supported and framed, both in terms of cheeky moral support and musical accompaniment. Throughout the rollicking and unpredictable evening, Caruso and Stritch’s banter proved priceless (as always) – witty, often hilarious, but all in goodwill. Indeed, after two decades of hosting the weekly open mic, they’ve become indisputable, consummate pros, and it showed in their impeccable comic timing and ability to be present and think on the fly. Be forewarned, however, spectators hoping to stick it out until Cast Party’s bitter end are in for a long night of ups and downs that goes on well past most people’s Monday night bedtimes. But rest assured, if you decide to do so, you’ll be in the good hands of the best in the business.