By Kenneth Jones
21 Jan 2013

	Wallem on "Nurse Jackie."
	Showtime

"It was a perfect excuse to do it again and to expand it," Wallem says, adding that bass and percussion will be heard this time around, with Menzie at the piano.

Why Schwartz?

"As a singer, his music is such a dream to perform for so many reasons," Wallem explains. "I'm especially a fan of his story songs. I don't think anybody writes a complete story the way that he does. And his accompaniment, even in the basic vocal selections, is always so specific and lush. It feels like he automatically writes the piano to be a full orchestra underneath the singer. I love that."

The Birdland audience can expect a five-minute mashup of Schwartz hits, touching on "about 20 songs," followed by some of the composer-lyricist's lesser-known gems — songs from Rags and Personals and "Prince of Egypt," anyone?

Some surprise guests will pop up for the show, too, but don't expect "Nurse Jackie" star Edie Falco to sing (although they did collaborate on a 2011 cabaret show, The Other Steve and Edie, at the Laurie Beechman Theatre); she's currently in rehearsal for Manhattan Theatre Club's The Madrid.

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Schwartz and All: Stephen Wallem Sings Stephen Schwartz plays 7 PM Jan. 21 at Birdland at 315 W. 44th Street. Tony Humrichouser directs. It's part of the Broadway at Birdland series. There is a $25 cover and a $10 food/drink minimum.

For reservations call (212) 581-3080 or visit BirdlandJazz.com.