Mary Foster Conklin

Mary Foster Conklin — Mirrors Revisited (50th Anniversary)

December 12, 2025

Mary Foster Conklin’s Mirrors Revisited stripped Peggy Lee’s 1975 art-album down to its core. With a tightly aligned ensemble led by John DiMartino, Yoshi Waki’s bass, Vince Cherico’s percussion and luminous violin from Sara Caswell, the performance revealed the cycle’s psychological through-lines and affirmed Sue Matsuki’s thoughtful curatorial vision for Winter Rhythms. [more]

Sue Matsuki and the Heartbeat of Winter Rhythms

November 17, 2025

At Winter Rhythms, the lights warm, the lobby hums, and Sue Matsuki runs Urban Stages with the grace of a mentor and the stamina of a producer who loves every beat of the work. More than 150 artists gather for 11 nights of music, community, cookies, and the unmistakable generosity that defines this festival. [more]

Cabaret Spotlight: Two Good To Be True

July 17, 2016

If you're stuck in the city in the hot summer, there's good reason to come to the cabaret. All the Manhattan clubs have impressive lineups for the summer months. Some of the most entertaining and musically refined engagements can be found at Feinstein's/54 Below as they offer rosters that are hard to top. Two recent engagements stand out. [more]

Saloons: Some Enchanted Evenings

May 14, 2016

Cabaret has always been a mixed bag. The golden age is gone. However, in today's schizo world of nightclubs, things are looking pretty good. It is a milieu unique in the entertainment industry. And, it continues to reinvent itself. The late cabaret critic Martin Schaeffer wrote in Back Stage in 1993,“There cannot be a better night of classic American music than a Bobby Short gig at The Carlyle.” He was right; especially if you're a purist of the Great American Songbook. [more]