The series kicks off Sept. 12 with Strings Attached, a benefit for the New York City Police Foundation that is being presented by Jamie deRoy & Friends. The concert is set to include performances by Ann Crumb, Leenya Rideout, Demetri Martin, Todd Sullivan, Randi Driscoll and Margaret Dorn. Barry Kleinbort directs with musical direction by Lanny Meyers.
Sept. 19 will feature The Johnny Rodgers Band, who will be celebrating the release of the new CD "Box of Photographs," which is available on the PS Classics label. The band features Joe Ravo on guitar, Danny Mallon on drums and Brian Glassman on bass.
An evening of jazz and blues — with Caroline, or Change's Capathia Jenkins and composer Louis Rosen — is set for Sept. 26. The evening will include "12 Songs on Poems by Maya Angelou" as well as songs from Dream Suite and South Side Stories. David Loud will be featured on piano.
Avenue Q Swings!, which premiered earlier this year, will be reprised Oct. 13 at Birdland. Featuring jazz, classical and other surprising arrangements of Avenue Q tunes, the cast is set to include Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Karen Mason, Sally Mayes and Christine Pedi under the musical direction of Mary Ann McSweeney.
Randi Driscoll, Jason & DeMarco and other guests to be announced shortly will take part in A Night of Music Celebrating the Matthew Shepard Foundation on Oct. 10, and Amanda Green & Tom Kitt Play With Themselves is set for Oct. 17. On Oct. 24 Michael Arden, Judy Blazer, Liz Callaway, Darius De Haas, Michael Gruber, Terry Klausner, Alix Korey, Rebecca Luker, Ric Ryder and Michael Winther will sing the tunes of Steve Marzullo in an evening simply titled And Then I Wrote — The Songs of Steve Marzullo.
The Third Season will conclude Oct. 31 with Christine Lavin in FolkZinger. Lavin will celebrate the release of her new CD with special guests The Accidentals, Ervin Drake, Julie Gold, Brian Bauers and Julie Garnye.
Birdland is located in Manhattan at 315 West 44th Street. There is a $25 cover charge for all events as well as a $10 food/drink minimum. (For the Oct. 10 benefit, $50 and $100 VIP tickets are also available.) For tickets, call (212) 581-3080 or visit www.instantseats.com/birdland. All shows are at 7 PM.
