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Holiday Swinging at Birdland
A Swinging Birdland Christmas with Hilary Kole, Jim Caruso, Billy Stritch & Aaron Weinstein
Monday’s at Birdland have become a staple to all performing arts enthusiasts (if it hasn’t make it one). This Monday is no different when Jim Caruso and friends Billy Stritch, Hilary Kole and Adam Weinstein swing in the holiday season.
One of the busiest men in show biz is Mr. Caruso yet Encore was able to slow him down enough to ask him about his upcoming event.
Encore: How did this concert idea come about?
Jim Caruso: We decided we’d celebrate the holidays with a Christmas Special, just like the ones we used to know! We’re all big fans of the variety shows of the 60′s and 70′s, so this will no doubt have that feel!
E: Oh, we love those shows. It seems there’s alot of chemistry with all of you. Have you known these performers long?
JC: Billy, Hilary, Aaron and I are all very close friends! What better way to spend the holidays than making music with folks you love to be with?! I’ve known Billy for 30 years, which is terrifying to both of us. We have done so many concerts together, toured the world with Liza Minnelli, and he’s been a constant at our weekly Cast Party open mic at Birdland. Hilary is actually the reason we took Cast Party to Birdland in the first place, so we have her to thank for that.
E: Aaron seems to be the newest member of the group?
JC: Aaron came into our lives last year, when we heard him swinging away in the John Pizzarelli concerts. He’s young, and completely brilliant. Not only does he play jazz violin like nobody else, but his knowledge of material and performers is shocking.
E: Can you let is in on the material you might be singing?
JC: We’re excited to sing some completely original arrangements of songs like Kay Thompson’s The Holiday Season, a crazy Jingle Bells mashup that Aaron created, an absolutely gorgeous Silent Night and A Child Is Born that Hilary and Aaron are doing, an instrumental of Sleigh Ride, a Billy and Hilary duet of Christmas Waltz, with some very special lyrics by Sharon Douglas, a Jim and Hilary swingin’ duet of I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm, a plaintive What Are You Doin’ New Year’s Eve by Billy and a very boisterous vocal trio of I Love A Violin, which will be on my upcoming cd!
E: Any mention of other musicians or special guests?
JC: We’re so happy that Paul Gill will be joining us on bass and Tony Tedesco will be on drums. There’s going to be some special guests each night – including Broadway’s Stephanie J. Block and our favorite neo-Merman, Klea Blackhurst!
For more event info here.