Save Birdland Concert Jan. 24
A special virtual concert will be held tonight, Jan. 24 at 7:00 p.m. to benefit the legendary Birdland jazz club. The club, which has operated in New York City since December of 1949 hosts many greats of the music world. One only has to visit the Club on W. 44th Street to experience an extraordinary show along with the ambiance that only Birdland provides.
Save Birdland! is being presented to help the club survive the financial set backs due to the CoVid Pandemic. A GoFundMe account was set up the past few weeks to help in the efforts. This concert is part of those fundraising efforts.
Remarks from Producer Tom D’Angora
“Three weeks ago, thousands of us came together to save a beloved neighborhood café and theater. In what felt like a Christmas miracle, we did it! Together we raised enough awareness and money to save our beloved West Bank Café. It was not saved by some millionaire or the government, but by scores people who gave what they could… 5 dollars here… ten dollars there – proving the indomitable spirit of the arts community and exemplifying the extraordinary power of our unity.
Shortly after the community pulled off the West Bank miracle, my longtime friends, Jim Caruso and Susie Mosher, reached out and let me know that Birdland, was also in danger of closing its doors for good in just a few weeks if something isn’t done.
I thought about a New York without Birdland and I knew right away that we couldn’t let that happen. Live music is imperative to the spirit and energy of this city. I immediately told Michael D’Angora and Tim Guinee about the situation and they both agreed, that we need to launch a campaign to Save Birdland!
So here we are again asking the community to get onboard, by donating to and/or sharing this campaign. We can make sure Birdland stays open so we, as a community, can enjoy the greatest musicians in the world, doing what they do best, in one of the most iconic clubs in the world, right here in our beloved city.
We are so overwhelmed and proud to be a part of this generous and loving community. When we come together we can achieve anything! Let’s keep it going!”
Featured Appearances and Performances
As this article is published, this is the list of Featured Appearances and Performances:
Monty Alexander, Lucie Arnaz, Iain Armitage, Jacqueline Arnold, Kenneth Ascher, Colleen Ballinger, Erich Bergen, John Bucchino, Stephanie J. Block, Matthew Broderick, Scott Bradlee, Brenda Braxton, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ken Burns, Gunhild Carling & Her Darlings, Ron Carter, Jim Caruso, Desmond Child, Peter Cincotti, The Emmett Cohen Trio, George Coleman, Ravi Coltrane, Elvis Costello, Tom D’Angora, Michael D’Angora, Jeff Daniels, Django Festival Allstars, Clive Davis, Diana DeGarmo, Aisha De Haas, Natalie Douglas, Michelle Dowdy, Christine Ebersole, Kurt Elling, Kevin Eubanks, Giancarlo Esposito, Morgan Fairchild, Whoopi Goldberg, Mandy Gonzalez, Deidre Goodwin, Tim Guinee, Amanda Green, Julie Halston, John Heginbotham, Stephen Henderson, Sara Hickman, Perez Hilton, Clint Holmes, Sunny Holiday, Demetia Hopkins-Greene, Joe Iconis and Family, Sheila Jordan, Hilary Kole, Stacey Kent, Tory Kittles, Amy Hillner Larsen, Warren Leight, Amanda Lopez, Melissa Leo, Norm Lewis, Tzi Ma, The Manhattan Transfer, Wynton Marsalis, Lauren Marcus, Karen Mason, Marilyn Maye, Audra McDonald, Jane Monheit, Susie Mosher, Anson Mount, Bebe Neuwirth, Leslie Odom, Jr., Arturo O’Farrill Quintet, Mandy Patinkin, Christine Pedi, Wendell Pierce, John Pizzarelli, Martha Plimpton, Randy Rainbow, Chita Rivera, Justin “Squigs” Robertson, Mercedes Ruehl, Catherine Russell, Tom Seals, Victoria Shaw, Steve Smith, Dee Snider, Sting, NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer, Billy Stritch, Veronica Swift, Mary Testa, Steve Tyrell, Lillias White, Frank Wildhorn, Steve Wilson, Amra-Faye Wright, Ace Young, Karen Ziemba, Glenn Zaleski, along with Gianni Valenti, and remarks from President Bill Clinton.
*Subject to Change
How to Find the Concert
The website for this event is www.savebirdland.com Be sure to stop there to make your donation. The button for Click Here to Donate is easy to find as it is right on the top of the page. It will lead you to the GoFundMe page for the event.
The actual concert will broadcast on YouTube.com. A video link is also on the event page.
Let’s do this! Let’s Save Birdland!