Admiral Theatre Recommendation: If you like Postmodern Jukebox, you’ll love Some Enchanted Evening featuring Benny Benack III, Stella Katherine Cole, and Jabu Graybeal.
Some Enchanted Evening
Featuring Benny Benack III, Stella Cole, and Jabu Graybeal
Thursday, October 3, 2024
Doors 6:30 p.m. | Show 7:30 p.m.
Tickets start at $19 (incl. fees)
Upper Balcony $19
Balcony $34
Loge $49
Main Floor $64
This show is included in 2024-2025 full season tickets, half season package B, and the Spotlight Series. No dinner service at this show. Concessions and the bars will be open. All Ages. Bars for 21+.
Led by Emmy-nominated crooner Benny Benack III and singer and social media sensation Stella Katherine Cole, Some Enchanted Evening leads audiences on a jazz-inspired journey through Broadway’s greatest hits from the Golden Age of yesterday to the freshest hits of today. From Hammerstein to “Hamilton” and everything in between, this multi-disciplinary musical mashup also showcases Jabu Graybeal, a one-of-a-kind talent and tap-dancing star.
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: not only a fiery trumpet player with a stirring command of the post-bop trumpet vernacular in the vein of Kenny Dorham and Freddie Hubbard, but also 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. This duel-threat ability was 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. His superb intonation and bracing virtuosity enable him to handle astounding feats of originally composed vocalese (complex solos with written lyrics). On top of it all, he’s a highly capable pianist 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”. In early 2020 he released A Lot of Livin’ to Do, the follow-up to his well-received 2017 debut One of a Kind. This sophomore effort, richly varied in mood and brimming with bop inflection, features bassist extraordinaire and jazz ambassador Christian McBride (whose Grammy-award winning Big Band frequently calls upon Benny in the trumpet section) and drummer/producer Ulysses Owens, Jr., as well as the radiant Takeshi Ohbayashi on piano and Rhodes. His vocalese duet on “Social Call” from this album alongside fellow young star vocalist Veronica Swift became an instant smash hit single, being transcribed and learned by jazz vocalists around the world.
Alongside his global touring as a straight-ahead/contemporary bandleader, Benny has appeared as a trumpet soloist in more commercial circles alongside Josh Groban, Ben Folds, fashion icon Isaac Mizrahi, Ann Hampton Callaway and more. He’s been featured at Birdland, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Mezzrow, Bemelmans Bar at the Carlyle and other leading New York venues and has also been a special guest with the Pittsburgh Symphony Pops Orchestra, the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, and the Minsk Philharmonic Orchestra. He made his television debut in NBC’s short-lived, SNL-inspired variety show “Maya & Marty” playing in the in-studio band led by acclaimed bassist & Broadway arranger Charlie Rosen. His global recognition has been bolstered by recent live-streaming concerts at Smalls Jazz Club, where he maintains a weekly residency, as well as frequent appearances on fellow young lion Emmet Cohen’s “Emmet’s Place” weekly show.
Third in a generational line of Pittsburgh jazz notables, Benny follows in the footsteps of his trumpeter/bandleader grandfather, Benny Benack, Sr. (1921-86), and his father Benny Benack, Jr., a saxophonist/clarinetist who gave the young Benny his first professional experience. Benny, Sr. hailed from a Pittsburgh lineage that also produced Roy Eldridge, Earl Hines, Art Blakey, Billy Strayhorn and so many more. He recorded the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 1960 theme song “Beat ’Em Bucs” and toured with Tommy Dorsey and Raymond Scott, among others. Benny III returns to Pittsburgh often to perform, saluting his family forebears and the jazz heritage as a whole, nonetheless staking his bold and highly individual artistic claim. He is an endorsing artist with Torpedo Bags cases, CarolBrass flugelhorns, as well as various menswear fashion lines including X-Suit, Alain Dupetit, Proper Cloth & Vittone.
To watch Stella Cole perform is to be transported back in time. Her sense of joy and wonder is infectious – one look at her massive social media following makes this clear. Take a quick scroll through the comments of any of her many viral videos and you'll see not only her irresistible charm, but an ability to expose fans of all ages to the wonders of the Great American Songbook, especially when these timeless stories are told honestly by an artist with an uncanny ability to transcend generations.
On her highly anticipated debut recording, Stella is presented performing interpreting a collection of classics in a variety of settings, including many featuring an orchestra arranged by multiple Grammy-winner Alan Broadbent. Featuring songs made famous by everyone from Barbra Streisand (“When the Sun Comes Out”) and Judy Garland (“The Boy Next Door” and a classic re-interpretation of “Over the Rainbow”) to Billie Eilish (“My Future”) and Audrey Hepburn (“Moon River” of course!), it is sure to be one of the most impressive vocal recordings of 2024.
Upon first hearing Stella Cole, one is immediately struck by her rich tone and extraordinary vocal control. However, what is particularly rare is her ability to interpret songs that were initially intended for actors in character in a direct, personally vulnerable way that connects to something within herself, placing her in the lineage of the greatest interpreters of the repertoire. Perhaps most exciting, to her many young fans, who have never heard these songs before, these are Stella Cole songs, which clearly makes her one of the most exciting artists of her generation.
From Pittsboro, NC, award winning artist Jabu Graybeal first studied with JUBA award winner Gene Medler and was a member for 9 years 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 alumni 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 music “Spirited with Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds. He was the first tap dancer to be accepted into the Berklee Global Jazz Institute Workshop at the Newport Jazz Festival and was included, under a nomination from Michelle Dorrance, in the December 2017 issue of Dance Spirit magazine as one of the dancers to look for in the next generation of tap dance. Jabu Graybeal is a touring star member of Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox and 1/2 of East Coast based music duo “SUMMERZOVR”.
33-year-old Japanese-born pianist Miki Yamanaka has called New York City home since 2012 and in the past decade has wasted no time establishing herself as one of the leading personalities of her generation on the piano and beyond. Critics laud her “light, expressive touch and solidly crafted, mainstream approach” - Mike Jurkovic (All About Jazz), while audiences delight in not only her playing, but her vibrant personality as well. Yamanaka has gained international recognition from her albums as a leader; her most recent and most intimate release, “Stairway to the Stars” (Outside In Music), features jazz masters Mark Turner and Orlando le Fleming. Additionally, Miki has emerged as a leader of the “New York Scene” via her notable residencies at mainstay West Village sister clubs Smalls and Mezzrow. During the pandemic, she developed a successful in-home live-streaming weekly concert series cleverly titled “Miki’s Mood” where she features a veritable who’s who of NYC talent (including her husband and frequent collaborator/drummer, Jimmy Macbride). The series showcases her vast knowledge of jazz standards and tunes, often featuring themed offerings of various composers from both the Great American Songbook as well as iconic jazz composers.
As a sideman, Yamanaka has worked with jazz luminaries such as alto saxophonist Antonio Hart who posits “Miki will be recognized as one of the most exceptional artists of her generation, as she is already one of the most talented and dedicated musicians from Japan.” Other notable bands she currently works in include the Philip Harper Quintet and the Roxy Coss Quintet. One of her most respected mentors on piano and organ (Yamanaka also performs on organ frequently), Larry Goldings, once mused, “If only I could have Miki Yamanaka comp behind me!” - a compliment of the highest order from one master pianist to another. She has a myriad of glowing reviews from her recorded work and the iconic Downbeat Jazz magazine has repeatedly awarded her albums high marks.
On top of her exciting work as a bandleader in New York and abroad, Miki can often be found out and about most nights, where her infectious smile and gregarious nature engender fast friends in every audience she encounters. She has many hobbies, including cooking, knitting, and perhaps most visibly, her penchant for wearing her vast collection of kimonos on her gigs, proudly representing her heritage and culture night after night as she dazzles audiences around the world.
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.
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 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.
Thank you to all of our 2024-2025 season, series and show sponsors! Sponsorships available. For details, contact Development Director Nita Hartley at 360.932.3051 or nita@admiraltheatre.org
Season Sponsors:
GEICO Local Office - Kevin & Janice Krieger
Cascade PBS
Kitsap Bank
West Hills Auto Plex
Spotlight Series Sponsors: available
Show Sponsors: Mike & Paula Bessler, Wayne & Melissa Lassiter (two sponsor spots available)