Beka Gochiashvili, the youngest winner of the Montreux Jazz Piano Competition, the first and the only student in the pre-college jazz division of the Juilliard School will perform his first New York City concert at Birdland on Monday, March 22 at 7pm.

Beka, born in Tbilisi, Georgia on March 11, 1996, was just two and a half years old when Valeri, his father told him he would give him back his pacifier if he could play some of Scott Joplin’s Ragtime tunes.  Beka’s response was a sad and confused look in return.  Valeri took the pacifier and went into another room to run some errands.  Just minutes later, he heard the sounds of the requested tunes being played on the piano.  Valeri ran back to the room, and he could not believe what was happening.  Remarkably, it was Beka, who then got his pacifier back as a reward.  A few months later, his rubber pacifier was quickly replaced by a much more calming toy for him, a piano.

Beka was three years old when he watched Standards II by Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette - the video recording that triggered his devotion and passion for this sophisticated trio and their performance style.  By age four, Beka was playing several piano compositions.  In 2002 Valeri took him to Zurab Ramishvili, the most prominent jazz piano professor in Georgia.  The child’s ability to play a few complicated jazz compositions impressed him.  He advised them to enroll Beka in classical music classes at a school headed by Tengiz Chitaishvili.  By age eight, Beka had won a competition at the Schwaigern Classical Music Festival in Germany, where he performed pieces by Ravel, Mozart and Handel.  By age nine, Beka began jazz studies under the direction of Zurab Ramishvili.  A year later, he was already playing at various jazz clubs in Tbilisi.  In 2007, Beka participated in Saulkrasti Jazz Festival in Latvia where his performance skills were highly assessed by Lenny White and Victor Bailey.  In the same year he played at the 10th International Festival “Georgians Play Jazz” held in the great hall of Tbilisi State Conservatory.  In April 2008, the US Embassy in Tbilisi hosted two State Department sponsored cultural envoys – jazz pianist Dan Tepfer and Joel Harrison, Artistic Director, President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Pianists Association, who performed with Beka.  Both of them highly praised Beka’s unique talent.

“Beka is one of the best jazz pianists I’ve heard anywhere,” said Condoleezza Rice, then Secretary of State and an accomplished pianist herself, in her remarks at the conclusion of her visit to Georgia in July 2008.

By the efforts of Ms. Rice, Mr. Harrison and John Teft, former US Ambassador in Georgia, Beka and Mr. Ramishvili travelled to New York in 2008 to participate in auditions at the Juilliard School and at the Manhattan School of Music. Not surprisingly, he was accepted in both schools.  In July 2009, Beka became the youngest winner of the Montreux Jazz Piano Competition, Switzerland.  Numerous diplomas were awarded to Beka including diploma for participation in Georgian-German Festival for Young Musicians-Performers Tbilisi-2003, diploma for participation in a concert (Children’s Album) dedicated to 165th anniversary of Pyotr Tchaikovsky, diploma for participation in an international festival held in Germany in 2004.  In 2009, the Development and Reforms Fund of Georgia awarded Beka a full scholarship for studies at the pre-college division of the Juilliard School, where he takes jazz piano classes with Frank Kimbrough and classical piano classes with Victoria Mushkatkol.  Concurrently he attends the Professional Performing Arts School in New York, NY.

BEKA GOCHIASHVILI

WHEN: Monday, March 22 at 7pm
WHERE: Birdland, 315 West 44 Street, NYC
TICKETS: $30 with $10 food/drink minimum
RESERVATIONS: 212.581.3080 or BirdlandJazz.com

KLEA BLACKHURST’S “EVERYTHING THE TRAFFIC WILL ALLOW – The Songs and Sass of Ethel Merman” BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!! – Klea Blackhurst's acclaimed tribute to Ethel Merman, "Everything the Traffic Will Allow," at The Snapple Theater Center! This knockout show continues to take NY by storm and features many of Merman’s signature songs such as “I Got Rhythm,” “Blow, Gabriel Blow,” and “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” as well as rarely performed obscurities including “Just A Moment Ago,” “I’ve Still Got My Health,” and “World Take Me Back.” “Trust us – this is one show you just can’t miss.” – Time Out New York. "The kid of show I could see every week because it's better than sex or drugs." - David Hurst, Next Magazine/Cabaret Scenes. PERFORMANCES EVERY SATURDAY AT 5:00 PM, SNAPPLE THEATER CENTER, 210 W 50th St. (at Broadway).TICKETS: 212-921-7862 or www.ticketmaster.com

MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL. Join our vibrant new community to connect with theatre practitioners and fans from around the world. Share advice, photos, videos, sets, props, costumes and a whole lot more to bring your next production to life. Visit MTI ShowSpace by clicking: www.mtishowspace.com.

IN 1987 ON THE SUNSET STRIP, A SMALL TOWN GIRL MET A BIG CITY ROCKER and in LA’s most legendary rock club, they fell in love to the greatest songs of the ‘80s. ROCK OF AGES is an arena-rock love story told through the mind-blowing, face-melting hits of Journey, Bon Jovi, Styx, Reo Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Poison, Asia, Whitesnake and many more. Don’t miss this awesomely good time about dreaming big, playing loud and partying on.

JIM CARUSO…THE PARTY CONTINUES ON CD: Caruso: Live and In Person, with Billy Stritch on piano. "Jim is funny, facile and fabulous! He performs with charm, wit and style, and is vastly entertaining." -- Michael Feinstein. "A cabaret-lover's dream!" -- Chip Deffaa, New York Post. "An unbeatable act of jazz, pop, comedy and conversation that is different from anything else in town." -- Rex Reed, New York Observer. "This impish, twinkling-eyed performer exudes the buoyant spirits of a conetmporary vaudevillian…with an extremely tart lemon tucked firmly in his cheek." -- Stephen Holden, New York Times.

STEVE DOYLE, THE CAST PARTY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA BASS PLAYER, has been an active part of the jazz and cabaret scene in New York for the past 18 years, performing with many internationally renowned artists including Bucky Pizzarelli, Billy Stritch, Tony Desare, Rigmor Gustafssen, Klea Blackhurst, Hilary Kole, Dave Stryker, Steve Slagle, Christine Ebersole, Pekka Pylkannen, Stephanie Block, K.T. Sullivan, Emily Skinner, Freddie Bryant, Marilyn Maye, Lari White and many others. Get the full scoop and check out his 1997 CD, Presence, at www.stevedoyle.com.

TEDD FIRTH, OF THE CAST PARTY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, is a New York City based accompanist, jazz pianist and arranger. He has accompanied many renowned artists, including Lee Ann Womack, Faith Prince, Tom Wopat, Margaret Whiting, Maureen McGovern and Marilyn Maye. Among the jazz musicians he has worked with are John Pizzarelli, Houston Person, Benny Golson and Joe Morello. Mr. Firth's New York appearances include the Blue Note, Birdland, the Iridium, the Algonquin, the Rainbow Room, Carnegie Hall, and the Russian Tea Room. Tedd's arrangements have been performed by the Philadelphia Pops and the Ocean City Pops. Find him on MySpace Music at www.myspace.com/teddfirth.

BILLY STRITCH'S WATERS OF MARCH: THE BRAZILIAN ALBUM: "...Stritch imaginatively captures the magic of the bossa nova rhythm on some terrific cuts, including three by Brazilian music icon Antonio Carlos Jobim. Of these, probably the most memorable is "Someone to Light Up My Life," which most Americans first heard on Sarah Vaughan's legendary Brazilian album. Here Stritch captures the simple sensitivity and all the yearning poignancy the composer had in mind when he first penned it. Sergio Mendez's "So Many Stars" takes you on an indolent, dreamy, and gentle journey...[Stritch's] phrasings and delicate nuances are so insightful that the album becomes a powerful musical statement with many subtle, yet potent, moments." -- John Hoglund, Backstage. The CD and all things Billy Stritch are at www.billystritch.com.

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KEN KLEIBER'S OFFERING VIDEOGRAPHY SERVICES. You have the talent, you booked the room and the crowds came. But what about that sought-after agent who was escorting his star client to a premiere? Or that family member who got stuck out-of-town due to inclement weather? Or that best friend who got the 24-hour flu? They can all re-live your shining performance through the magic of digital video. Videographer Ken Kleiber (host of TV, internet & radio’s "That’s Kentertainment!") not only interviews the stars, he films them too. With over 6 years of videotaping experience, Ken has filmed hundreds of hours of cabarets, concerts, live theatre, dance recitals, comedy sets, interviews, on-tape auditions, parties and more. For more information on Ken’s videotaping, copying and transferring services, please contact Ken at kentertain@yahoo.com. Don’t let that once-in-a-lifetime moment be…just once!

SQUIGS DRAWS THE STARS. Justin 'Squigs' Robertson is quickly becoming known far and wide for capturing show biz folk in pen and ink. He loves sushi. His favorite song is 'It's Only A Paper Moon'. And he genuflects upon merely hearing the name of Al Hirschfeld. His whimsical illustration and design is aided and abetted by his parallel career onstage. Squigs is currently posting a fresh weekly sketch or two celebrating the American theatre on his Facebook page, 'Squigs Knows His Lines.' Drop by and become a fan. You can also visit Squigs' website for a look at his take on such talented friends of Cast Party as Jeff Blumenkrantz, Julia Murney, Christine Ebersole, Victoria Clark, Kelli O'Hara, Bob Martin and Liza Minnelli. www.squigsink.com. Visit Squigs on Facebook, too!

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