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Pajama Cast Party!
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5/1/25
6/4/2015
It’s finally spring in New York City, and I’m happy to tell you that it’s already been a busy year! Not only is the Broadway at Birdland concert series that I present still going great guns in it’s 12th year, but Cast Party has been hotter than ever! What a joy it is to celebrate some of the most brilliant talent on the planet! Billy Stritch and I were thrilled to take Cast Party to London in March! The dazzling West End, jazz and cabaret performers helped sell out both nights at The Crazy Coqs, and we sure look forward to many more trips to that gorgeous and exciting city! We were also invited back to host Cast Party at the Dave Koz Lounge at Spaghettini in Los Angeles. SO many thanks to all of the incredible musical talent on the west coast. To have Jeffrey Osborne AND Melissa Manchester give impromptu performances was a rare delight! We’re really looking forward to taking Cast Party to Miami on March 28! Something tells me we’re going to meet and hear some amazing singers! It was a blustery April in Manhattan, but it sure was warm every Sunday at Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle Hotel! It’s our favorite glamor-gig, and Billy, Steve Doyle and I enjoy our nights crooning, swinging and taking requests into the wee hours! We’ll be back at Bemelmans every Sunday in June…so be there or be extremely square! It was a blast to take our “Bemelmans Show” to The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida, too. Talk about glamor…it’s like being in a Fred Astaire movie. And you know I’m a Fred-head from way back! |
Happy Holidays
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11/26/2013Happy Holidays, everyone! It's going to be a music-filled December, that's for sure! As always, I'm thrilled to host Cast Party every Monday, and to be presenting the weekly Broadway at Birdland concerts starring folks like Cheyenne Jackson, Victoria Shaw, Donna McKechnie (with Jerry Mitchell), Frank Wildhorn, and Cyndi Lauper with the cast of "Kinky Boots!" Billy Stritch, Klea Blackhurst and I will also be singing "A Swinging Birdland Christmas" for the 4th year in a row, from December 21 through December 25. We're so happy to announce that we're releasing a live recording of the show, too! Is that a perfect stocking-stuffer, or what?! The CD, and tickets for all of the above shows, are available at www.BirdlandJazz.com.
Billy Stritch and I can't wait to make our return to Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle Hotel. We'll be at our glamorous roost from 9 p.m. to Midnight every Sunday in December, swinging standards and a few holiday favorites! We're also over-the-moon to tell you that Cast Party will be part of the Lincoln Center American Songbook Series on March 7! We'll be "Going To The Movies," with a spectacular cast that will include Marilyn Maye, Jane Monheit, Christina Bianco, Justin Guarini, and Jeffrey Denman...with a few surprises thrown in! Go to http://americansongbook.org/events/jim-carusos-cast-party for more information and reservations! And now...it's time to adorn, deck, trim, gussy, spruce, brighten and festoon! Sure hope to see you SOON! Much love, JC |
Autumn in New York (and environs…!)
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10/14/2013
It was a joy to mentor and judge some of the most talented high school kids in the country for the second time at the Michael Feinstein Great American Songbook Competition in Carmel, Indiana! The winner was 15-year old Julia Goodwin, and it’s good to know that the future of great songs is in such talented hands!
It’s been fun writing an occasional entertainment piece for the Village Voice. They have given me free reign to pick and choose some of my favorite shows and performers to celebrate, and I look forward to being their ‘Man About Town’ many more times! For what must have been the 20th time, I got to host the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Flea Market Celebrity Table in Shubert Alley. This year, the table raised a record $21,855 from hundreds of fans who waited patiently to meet their favorite Broadway and TV stars. I’m thrilled to actually be in two Broadway at Birdland concerts coming up on October 14 and 21! We were thrilled that Lorna Luft decided to host two evenings benefitting the Phyllis Newman Womens Health Initiative for The Actors Fund, and I’ll be on the bill with folks like Liza Minnelli, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Norm Lewis, Liz and Ann Hampton Callaway, Kelly King, Nick Adams and Marcia Strassman. The shows sold out within three hours, but you know I’ll be posting a photo or two! Billy Stritch and I have been busy at Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle Hotel, loving each and every Sunday we get to croon for the fancy folks. We’ll be back Sundays in December, so join us after your Madison Avenue shopping sprees! We also had a ball at The Smith Center in Las Vegas – bringing Cast Party to the ridiculously talented folks on The Strip! Our next Cast Party On The Road will be at Spaghettini in Seal Beach, California, on November 22 and 23! LA folks – we want to see (and hear) you! Check out www.Spaghettini.com |
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To Auld Lang Syne
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1/08/2013Happy 2013, everyone!
As always, the holidays left me slightly exhausted, but completely invigorated to make this brand new year a memorable one! The December run of "A Swinging Birdland Christmas" was a resounding success, with capacity crowds, much onstage merry-making and great music. Working with my friends Billy Stritch, Klea Blackhurst, and Aaron Weinstein along with the amazing Birdland musicians is a great way to usher in the festivities, and we look forward to doing it again next year! I'm excited to tell you that Billy and I will be back at our ultra-chic roost at Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle Hotel for four months in 2013! You can catch us swinging some standards on any old Sunday in March, June, September and December from 9pm - midnight! We also have big plans for some out-of-town Cast Party events, so watch this space, or feel free to sign up for the Cast Party Newsletter HERE! Here's to a wonderful year filled with fun, laughter, good health and great music! |
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Let's get our Swing On!
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12/15/2012
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Busy Summer,
Mentoring & SF! |
7/24/2012Welcome to the new and improved website! We hope you’re enjoying your time in Jim-ville! It’s been a busy summer, what with the weekly Broadway at Birdland concerts and always-amazing/amusing, historical/hysterical Cast Party nights.
This past June, it was a thrill to mentor ten extraordinarily talented high school kids in Carmel, Indiana at Michael Feinstein’s Great American Songbook Vocal Competition. There was a week of intense master classes, ending with a final performance at the new Palladium Concert Hall, along with Michael and my fellow-judges Sandi Patty, Sylvia McNair and LaTanya Hall. Many congrats to Nick Ziobro, who blew us all away with his terrific tenor voice and deep understanding of his material! I have to tell you, a real highlight of the year was the month-long Sunday night engagement at Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle Hotel, along with my pals Billy Stritch and Steve Doyle, and we’re looking forward to a return in October/November! Billy and I will also be making a return to the Dave Koz & Friends Jazz Cruise to the Mediterranean in September, along with folks like Michael Bolton, Jonathan Butler and Patti Austin. And San Francisco – get ready! Cast Party is finally coming your way on October 16 and November 6! |
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The Best of
Jim Caruso's Cast Party at Town Hall Feb. 23rd! |
4/3/2012It’s been a crazy few months taking Cast Party to Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Delray Beach and on the Dave Koz & Friends Jazz Cruise to Alaska! The second annual “Best of Jim Caruso’s Cast Party” at Town Hall was a smashing success (see below), and we were thrilled to be called “the best party in the universe” by the Australian Cabaret Confessional! In the beautiful new book, “Travel Secrets,” Tanya Rose and Martin Turner said, “It’s Monday night in New York and what to do? Jim Caruso presides over the great and near-great at Birdland with incredible dry wit and flair, at this open mic that attracts the crème de la crème of Broadway stars on their night off. It’s brilliantly entertaining and one of New York’s best kept secrets.”
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Jim Caruso's
Cast Party in Vegas August 24th & 25th! |
With the success of CAST PARTY, Caruso and musical director Billy Stritch, have been taking their “extreme open mic” on the road, celebrating the local talent in Los Angeles, Chicago, Austin, Orlando, and Pittsburgh. Showbiz legends like Liza Minnelli, Tony Bennett, Martin Short, Carol Channing, and Melissa Manchester have all grabbed the mic for a chance to entertain friends and fans.
Caruso is the complete entertainer and host extraordinaire, and was recently seen singing and dancing on Broadway in the Tony-winning “Liza’s At The Palace.” Billy Stritch is a Grammy-winning composer, arranger and has traveled the world as musical director for Minnelli, Charles Aznavour and many more. Together they’re show business magic. Tickets are on sale now at www.brownpapertickets.com or 1-800-838-3006, 24 hours, 7 days. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door.Performers wishing to sing should email [email protected], and plan to arrive at 9:00pm. Doors open at 9:00 pm, Cast Party is from 10:00 pm until 1:00 am, and guests are welcome to continue partying until 2:00 am. In a departure from most other entertainment events in Las Vegas, a late supper menu will be offered and, of course, all of your favorite beverages will be served at your table. It’s a party with full service. For additional information, please call (323) 791-1585. Cast Party is a Dennis Ritz Presents entertainment event. |
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The Best of
Jim Caruso's Cast Party Feb 17th 2011 |
1/5/2011
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Jim Caruso's
"The Swing Set" Released on Jan. 11th |
12/1/2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
YELLOW SOUND LABEL TO RELEASE JIM CARUSO'S 'THE SWING SET' On January 11 Guest Artists Include Stephanie J. Block, Michael Feinstein, Bucky Pizzarelli & Billy Stritch Produced by Michael Croiter and Aaron Weinstein Musical Director/Arrangements by Aaron Weinstein The Swing Set, a new album from six-time MAC Award winner Jim Caruso, is due out January 11th, marking the singer’s first release on the Yellow Sound Label. Caruso, known to most as New York’s master party giver, is bringing his bash to listeners everywhere with The Swing Set, a collection of wryly re-imagined standards and eye-popping new tunes, featuring some of the biggest names in jazz and theater. The urbane baritone is joined by Michael Feinstein (“Gotta Be This Or That”), guitar legend Bucky Pizzarelli (“If I Only Had A Brain”), pianist/singer Billy Stritch (“Avalon” and “Heart’s Desire”), jazz vocalist Hilary Kole (“Avalon”), Broadway leading lady Stephanie J. Block (“The Doodlin’ Song”), jazz violinist Aaron Weinstein (“l Love A Violin”), and others in a smart, sophisticated romp through the Great American Songbook. The recording has been produced by Michael Croiter and Aaron Weinstein, with musical direction and arrangements by Mr. Weinstein. Jim Caruso made his Broadway debut alongside Liza Minnelli in the Tony Award-winning smash hit Liza’s At The Palace!, singing, dancing and celebrating the music and arrangements of the late, great Kay Thompson and the Williams Brothers. For his nightclub work, Caruso has won six MAC and two BackStage Bistro Awards for his sold-out New York shows at Birdland, the Algonquin Hotel, and Arci’s Place; as well as runs in Los Angeles, Chicago, Austin, Atlanta, Palm Beach and London. He sang with the New York Pops in an all-star tribute to Kander & Ebb at Carnegie Hall, and returned to “The Hall” in a tribute to Bob Hope and Bing Crosby, hosted by Michael Feinstein. Jim and his vocal trio, Wiseguys, were invited to sing at President Clinton’s First State Dinner at the White House, and celebrated Bing Crosby in concert at Carnegie Hall with Rosemary Clooney. He guest-hosted "Broadway On Broadway 2000" in Times Square for a crowd of 100,000 theater fans, hosted the 2000 MAC Awards at Town Hall in Manhattan and has co-hosted the Drama Desk Awards webcasts for four years. For the past eight years, he has hosted a Monday night showbiz bash called "Jim Caruso’s Cast Party," which was honored with a New York Nightlife Award, as was his continuing Broadway at Birdland concert series. Yellow Sound Label is a cutting-edge record label that produces both established performers and up-and-coming artists. As a boutique label, the award-winning team take a hands-on approach in nurturing and producing their artists. In addition to Caruso's “The Swing Set,” Yellow Sound Label has produced albums for such notable artists as Alan Cumming, Chita Rivera, Christopher Jackson, Marcy and Zina, Lance Horne and many more. For more information, please visit yellowsoundlabel.com |
