Some Enchanted Evening

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Jazz Talk Hosted by Joe Dimino: 6:30PM
Performance Begins: 7:30PM

Folly Theater welcomes Michael Feinstein in “Because of You” featuring the Carnegie Hall Big Band. Feinstein pays a heartfelt tribute to the legendary Tony Bennett, bringing his iconic songs to life.

A trio of fast-rising gifted artists, all veterans of the popular musical collective Postmodern Jukebox, are making plans to criss-cross the nation as part of a highly anticipated national tour with their all-new concert entitled Some Enchanted Evening.

Emmy® nominated trumpeter Benny Benack III and internet sensation vocalist Stella Cole share top-billing in Some Enchanted Evening, a jazz-steeped sojourn exploring a bevy of The Great American Songbook’s most enduring hits from the Golden Age of Broadway to today. The two exceptionally talented artists will be joined by tap dance phenom Jabu Graybeal as well as a five-piece band. The concert program includes selections from many shows from Broadway and the Silver Screen including The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music, Guys & Dolls, Hamilton, Oliver! and of course, South Pacific.

Some Enchanted Evening celebrates a century of music from Broadway favorites, seamlessly blending timeless music and dance, with jazzy takes on beloved classics (“Over the Rainbow,” “The Sound of Music”) to contemporary hits (“My Shot”). Some Enchanted Evening is more than a show. It’s an unforgettable experience that pays homage to the enduring legacy of Broadway, bringing together music and dance in a way that resonates with audiences of all ages.

Ahead of the anticipated tour, Benny Benack III states, “Our concert is the perfect marriage between the majesty of musical theatre, with the spontaneity of Swing! So many songs from the Golden Era of Broadway have become part of the jazz canon, so it’s a perfect fusion. Stella Cole is a modern-day starlet of stage and screen, and Jabu is the most exciting and show-stopping tap dancer in the world right now. Combining all of these talents together feels like we just assembled the Avengers of showbiz – get your popcorn ready!”

Stella Cole adds, “I’m excited to perform alongside Benny and Jabu because we’re all such different artists, and we’ll all have really different takes on this repertoire. It’s going to feel like a night out at an old school variety show, where they had lots of musicians, singers, and dancers. Seriously, I can’t wait!”

The band will also include Miki Yamanaka (Piano; October 2-20 & November 15), Liya Grigoryan (Piano; October 23-November 14 & November 16 & 17), Russell Hall (Bass), Joe Peri (Drums) and Jarien Jamanila (Saxophone).

Benny Benack III (Trumpet, Vocals, Music Director):

By age 31, Emmy-nominated trumpeter and singer Benny Benack III has proven to be that rarest of talents: a fiery trumpet player with a stirring command of the post-bop trumpet vernacular in the vein of Kenny Dorham and Freddie Hubbard, and a singer with a sly, mature, naturally expressive delivery in the post-Sinatra mold, performing standards and his own astute songs with a thrilling sense of showmanship. His dual talents were recognized by the 2022 Downbeat Critics Poll where he appeared as not only the #2 Rising Star Male Vocalist but a top Rising Star Trumpeter as well. Benny has performed internationally as an emcee/host for the YouTube sensation Postmodern Jukebox and achieved his own viral success amassing millions of views for his crooning alongside the Grammy-award-winning “8-Bit Big Band”.

Stella Cole (Vocals):

Beginning with an impromptu thirty-second a cappella clip of “Over the Rainbow,” Stella Cole has become a global viral sensation for simply doing what she has been passionate about her whole life – singing songs from the Great American Songbook. With a combined social media following of over 1.6 million, Stella has caught the attention of superstars David Foster, James Taylor, Michael Bublé, John Mayer, and Meghan Trainor. She has performed in venues like Madison Square Garden, Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Birdland, and the Cafe Carlyle. In 2023, she toured the United States, Australia, and New Zealand with Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox. Stella’s enduring influence as a viral artist and live performer lays a promising foundation for her highly anticipated self-titled debut album.

Jabu Graybeal (Tap Dance):

From Pittsboro, NC, award-winning artist Jabu Graybeal first studied with JUBA award winner Gene Medler. For nine years, he was a member of the North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble (NCYTE), one of the most renowned youth tap companies in the world. Jabu is a Jacob’s Pillow and YoungArts Foundation alumnus who has worked and performed with a diverse group of companies, such as Caleb Teicher & Company, Emmy Nominee Chloe Arnold’s Apartment 33, Michelle Dorrance, Riverdance, and American choreographer Justin Peck. He is featured in Apple TV’s movie musical Spirited with Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds. Jabu Graybeal is a touring star member of Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox and one half of the East Coast-based music duo “SUMMERZOVR”.

Liya Grigoryan (Piano)

Liya Grigoryan is an Armenian born pianist who started her music career at the very young age of 5. Already then, she was actively participating in music competitions and performing at major music festivals in Russia, Ukraine, and Europe. Liya won her first award when she was 7 in 1998 at the International Jazz Competition for young jazz musicians in St. Petersburg. At 9, Liya took part at the Len- expo (Russia) contest where she won the main prize – a brand new piano – that allowed her to continue her music studies. She was part of a young jazz collective that toured as part of a cultural exchange in Germany, France and Scotland, performing at various prestigious music venues.

After graduating music school in 2009, Liya decided to continue her music education abroad and in 2010, moved to Amsterdam, Netherlands where she entered the Conservatorium van Amsterdam on a full scholarship and graduated in 2016 with a master’s in jazz performance. During her time there, Liya joined the East West Jazz Orchestra (based in Dortmund, Germany) touring all over Germany, Czech Republic, Belgium, Russia, and the Netherlands. Liya actively performed as a sideman and as a leader of her own project. She’s performed all over Europe in the most prestigious concert halls and venues such as Bimhuis (Netherlands), Concertgebouw Hall (Netherlands), Mariinsky Theatre Hall (St. Petersburg, Russia), Jazz Philharmonic Hall (Russia) to name a few. She’s also had the opportunity to perform and tour with internationally acclaimed artists such as Theo Crocker, Randy Brecker, Chad LB, Dick Oats, John Clayton, Justin Dicoccio, and others.

In 2014, Liya received an award at the Getxo Jazz (Bilbao,Spain) where she had the opportunity to open for jazz legend, Jack DeJohnette. In 2017 she released her first record as a leader, which received high acclaim in the jazz community and gave her opportunities to perform at numerous jazz festivals. In 2019, Liya was selected as of one the finalist of the prestigious Thelonius Monk Jazz Competition.

Russell Hall (Bass)

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Russell Hall began his journey as an actor from the tender age of 3. Performing in Jamaican adaptations of popular musicals to serious prose, he was destined to take the stage. Everything changed when he migrated to the United States in 2007. Under the tutelage of The Commodores, he discovered the bridge between the world of drama and the world of music. He progressed quickly from the electric bass to the double bass through the rigorous programs of The Dillard Center for the Arts and The Juilliard School. Now, he is revered as one of the most in demand artist in New York City, performing with some of the biggest names in music, dance and film. His work is featured on the Grammy nominated album “My Favorite Things” by Joey Alexander, “Motherless Brooklyn”, a film by Edward Norton which was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Score, and HBO’s “Masterclass Series” which feature Wynton Marsalis as a master teacher which was nominated for an Emmy. Russell’s own work has been acknowledged with prestige in some of the most renowned venues and festivals around the world such as The Appel Room, The St. Lucia Jazz Festival, The Apollo, The Marciac Jazz Festival and many more. His most recent album, “Deep Blue Sea”, is available on all platforms with the band he fronts Bessie and the Rainbowkids.

Joe Peri (Drums)

Drummer, percussionist, and educator Joe Peri is primarily known as a jazz drummer, but he has played with a diverse range of bands and performers all around the world since arriving in New York City in 2009. Joe performs regularly in New York City’s most renowned jazz clubs such as Smalls, Dizzy’s, the Jazz Gallery, Cellar Dog, Zinc Bar, and Birdland to name a few. Since graduating from the Manhattan School of Music in 2015, Joe has collaborated with numerous notable jazz artists like Kurt Rosenwinkel, Seamus Blake, Ed Cherry, Peter Bernstein, Dave Kikoski, and Aaron Goldberg among many others. In 2018, Joe recorded with Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga on their Grammy Award-winning album “Love For Sale” released in October of 2021. The album, a tribute to Cole Porter, was Bennett’s final studio recording. Joe also performs regularly as the percussionist in the band of fashion designer and personality Isaac Mizrahi. Joe has significant ties to Finland, having lived in Helsinki for the years 2020 and 2021. He is married to Finnish jazz bassist, Kaisa Mäensivu, and has played in her band “Kaisa’s Machine” since 2021. They currently reside in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan.

As a passionate proponent of jazz education, Joe has maintained a highly sought-after private lesson studio in Manhattan, and he is currently the private instructor of Jazz Drum Set at the prestigious Manhattan School of Music Pre-College Division. A two-time graduate of the Manhattan School of Music (BM ’13 & MM ’15), Joe studied under the watchful eye of master drummer John Riley of the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. Joe’s first album as a leader, “Perillä”, was released February 24th, 2023 on the Turku, Finland-based label Flame Jazz Records.

Jarien Jamanila (Saxophone)

Jarien Jamanila is a musician born and raised in San Diego, California. He resided there until he moved to pursue a bachelor’s degree at the Juilliard School. He settled in New York City after graduating in 2021 and has been freelancing since then. His musical voice ranges from all the common saxophones, clarinets, and flutes. Some of his key influences include Thelonious Monk, Johnny Hodges, and Sarah Vaughan. He stays very consistent in his daily life regarding expanding his craft, his health, and his philosophy. The past few years he’s developed an extreme affinity for reading. Some of the books that have recently shaped his thoughts include Marcus Aurelius’ “Meditations”, Langston Hughes’ “Selected Poems”, and the Book of Psalms. His faith in God is a constant source of peace in his life. These attributes are fundamental in perpetuating his creativity.