Two powerhouse acts are continuing a series of intimate Jazz shows scheduled this year and next at Martinis Above Fourth Table + Stage in San Diego, CA. Janis Segal of the Manhattan Transfer kicked off the year in high gear to an appreciative and packed house at MA4. The two upcoming acts are critically-acclaimed as well as audience favorites. On Thursday, August 21, Mark Winkler, platinum award-winning jazz vocalist/lyricist performs with Cheryl Bentyne, member of The Manhattan Transfer, and sparks fly. This duo is intent on proving how cool the West Coast Cool Jazz scene of the 50s still is. Together and separately they perform songs by Dave Brubeck, Chet Baker, Julie London and Bobby Troup (to name a few); all the while, weaving never before heard stories of the original cast of “West Coast Cool” throughout the evening. Betty Bryant, affectionately known as Cool Miss B, always connects with the material and with her audience as she performs blues, jazz and originals with a light swingy touch, torchy passion and elegantly whimsical good humor on Thursday, August 28. Tickets, available at www.martinisabovefourth.com, are priced at $20 for West Coast Cool and $25 for Premier Seating and $20 for Reserved Seating for Bryant.
Regarding the West Coast Cool show, prepare yourself for an audience full of swinging their stir sticks out of a dry martini or two, and plenty of great entertainment. This show is definitely a hit! The duo routinely performs throughout the country, where they are greeted with sold-out houses and standing ovations.
“The SHOW was off the charts! I can honestly say it was the best jazz show I have ever experienced. . .” – Chris Loudon, Jazz Times
CHERYL BENTYNE has been a member of the 9 time Grammy-winning group The Manhattan Transfer since 1979. Bentyne’s beautiful voice, wide range, versatility, and impressive stage presence made her a major asset for the popular vocal group from the start. Her recently released album, Let’s Misbehave: The Cole Porter Songbook, has been recognized by many as the jazz album of the year. Bentyne not only delivers the music of Cole Porter as no one else can, sprinkled throughout the show are love letters written by Cole Porter himself. The audiences are delighted as Bentyne receives standing ovations.
“Sharper than a shark skin suit lapel, and swinging harder than a hammer thrower, singers Cheryl (Manhattan Transfer) Bentyne and Mark Winkler delivered a red hot tribute to West Coast Cool… I dig” – George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly
MARK WINKLER has released 11 CDs in the US and is currently in the studio working on more CDs. His 11th CD, released in August 2011, was named as one of the top 5 jazz CDs of the year by Jazz Times magazine. It went high on the Jazz Week charts and got great reviews from over 26 critics including The Seattle Times, Don Heckman and All About Jazz. It featured a duet between him and vocalist supreme Barbara Morrison, as well as such A-list musicians as Billy Childs, Anthony Wilson, Bob Sheppard and Grant Geissman.
BETTY BRYANT has performed internationally in the Middle East and Brazil, and for many years was a popular regular attraction at the upscale Tableaux Lounge in Tokyo, Japan. She had a long-term engagement at celebrity chef Susan Feniger’s exciting new restaurant “Street” in Hollywood in 2009, and in 2012 she was a featured performer at the Boquete Jazz and Blues Festival in Boquete, Panama. The “Betty Bryant Birthday Bash” is a hugely popular annual event in Hollywood, and has been presented at the famed “Catalina’s Jazz Club.”
“Bryant’s steady, rolling, soulful musical sprees are always textured with ideal measures of torchy passion, elegantly whimsical good humor and traces of KC’s uncut, communicative blues sensibility.” – Jonny Whiteside, LA Weekly
The next offering in the Jazz Series at MA4 is Juno Award-nominated jazz piano/singing artist Carol Welsman in “Reflections of Peggy Lee” slated for Thursday, November 13 at 8:00 PM.
Martinis Above Fourth Table + Stage, San Diego’s premier live music venue and supperclub is located in the heart of Hillcrest at 3940 Fourth Avenue, Second Floor. MA4 is an eclectic contemporary restaurant, lounge and bar featuring award-winning martinis and casual fine dining. Voted #1 Martini Bar in San Diego from Sign On San Diego, MA4 features over 100 specialty handcrafted martinis, along with a wide selection of spirits, wine and beer, as well as a main stage with performers spanning the entire musical spectrum from jazz to cabaret to pop and everything in-between. Tickets are available at www.martinisabovefourth.com.