April Varner

Sunday, December 21, 2025, 2:00 PM

April Varner

 

“I am  music” was one of April’s first proclamations as a very young child and it holds true to this day. Since singing her first notes as a four-year-old, inspired by none other than the Disney Princess movies, her journey toward growing as a musician began. In fact, April has spent the majority of her life performing and competing in the arts.

NYC-based jazz vocalist with the curly red hair from Toledo, Ohio, April Varner is a name you won’t soon forget. She began taking voice lessons at the University of Toledo as a classical vocalist at age 8 and began studying piano from her grandmother at age 6. No stranger to the stage, April began displaying vocal, musical theatre, drama, and piano talents at the local, regional, national, and international levels at a young age. This includes being a guest vocalist at the Toledo Symphony Orchestra Pops Concert, a 2-time All-National Honors Ensemble member in Nashville, TN, and a National Finalist at the Michael Feinstein Great American Songbook Academy in Carmel, IN. By age 16, April had made her Carnegie Hall debut in Weill Hall following a first-place award by the American Protégé International Vocal Competition, and had traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland as part of a drama group to share the stage with world actors at the renowned Edinburgh Arts Fringe Festival.

April began her musical transition into jazz after discovering a deep passion for it following her freshman year at Indiana University. April soon after became the director of the Vocal Jazz Ensemble, ResoluSHion, within the Grammy-nominated show choir, The Singing Hoosiers. During her final semester at IU, April was the vocalist in the Du Vido Septet, a Brazilian Jazz Ensemble led by Brazilian composer, arranger and pianist, Guilherme Ribeiro. The group was chosen as one of three finalists within the famed Detroit Jazz Festival’s Collegiate Combo Competition. In the spring of 2020, April graduated with her undergraduate degree in Jazz Studies (Voice).

At the age of 27, April has immersed herself deeply into the jazz tradition and has performed/studied with a multitude of legendary artists and jazz luminaries such as Tierney Sutton, Russell Malone, Sachal Vasandani, Jane Monheit, Kurt Elling, Walter Smith III and others.

April has performed/will be performing at some of the most notable venues in the Northeast, such as Chris’s Jazz Cafe (Philadelphia), Blues Alley (Washington D.C), Con Alma (Pittsburgh), 54 Below (NYC), Birdland Jazz Club (NYC, sold out debut show), and Mezzrow Jazz Club (NYC, sold out debut show). She also recently made her International Debut, headlining the Longjumeau Jazz Festival (Longjumeau, France) in celebration of the great Ella Fitzgerald, along with two full shows at Sunset Sunside in Paris. In October, April will be an invited featured artist in the Jazz For All Ages Festival (Hilton Head, SC), alongside some of the most notable figures in jazz, such as Kurt Elling, Catherine Russell, John Pizzarelli and Emmet Cohen.

April graduated in May of 2022 with her Master’s degree in Jazz Voice Performance from the Manhattan School of Music under the guidance of 2-time Grammy© nominated vocalist and teacher Theo Bleckmann. Soon after, she released her first EP, entitled “Hummingbird”, featuring both original compositions and original vocaleses. It can be found on all streaming services.

She was awarded the 2023 Winner of the International Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Vocal Competition and most recently received a 2024 Honorable Mention Award in the ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers Competition. She excitedly just released her debut full-length album, entitled “April by April Varner”, on Cellar Live Record Label. This genre-busting collection of all April-titled songs was produced by Grammy-Award winning drummer, producer and educator, Ulysses Owens Jr.

View full calendar

Ben Sher

View full calendar

Ben Sher
Saturday, December 20, 2025 7:30pm, $10.00

Bio

Ben is a unique jazz guitarist. Fluent in the classic jazz tradition of Wes Montgomery, Kenny Burrell, and George Benson, Ben also draws from the rich Brazilian guitar tradition of Baden Powell, Raphael Rabello and  Joao Gilberto.   Ben combines standard jazz plectrum technique, with classical fingerstyle, to create a wide range of sounds and textures.

@winniesjazzbar

.

Make a Table Reservation

Danny Tobias’ Hot Seven

View full calendar

Danny Tobias’ Hot Seven
Friday, December 19, 2025, 7:30pm, $25.00

Bio

Trumpet player, band leader, composer, teacher

Trumpeter Danny Tobias brings beautiful swing and individuality to his jazz performances.

Danny has enjoyed performing and recording with artists such as Warren Vaché, Scott Robinson, Rossano Sportiello, Mark Shane, Vince Giordano, David Ostwald, Gordon Webster, Terry Waldo, Jon-Erik Kellso, Kevin Dorn, the Midiri Brothers, and Marty Grosz. He can be seen performing at Birdland, Mezzrow, the Ear Inn, and Zinc Bar, and at jazz festivals/parties across the USA and Canada.

Danny has recorded a number of albums as a leader. His most recent album “Silver Linings” was recorded on Ride Symbol Records.

Danny also mentors musicians of all ages in person, or remotely.

www.DannyTobias.com

@winniesjazzbar

 

Make a Table Reservation

Pete Caldera

View full calendar

Pete Caldera

Thursday, December 18, 2025, 7:30pm, $10.00

Bio

Pete Caldera sings standards, mainly at New York’s Carnegie Club. He performs there monthly and is the primary sub for the long-running ‘Sinatra Saturday’ show with the 11-piece Stan Rubin Orchestra.

 

Away from the stage, Pete writes for the Bergen Record and the USA Today network, covering the Yankees. He is a past chairman of the New York Chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. 

@winniesjazzbar

 

Make a Table Reservation

Tobias Gebb & Trio West

View full calendar

Tobias Gebb & Trio West

Wednesday, December 17, 2025 7:30pm, $10.00

Bio

Tobias Gebb is a drummer, composer and educator based in New York City. Over the years he has shared the stage or recording studio with a wide variety of artists. From Blue Note jazz guitarist Peter Burnstein to Donald Fegan of Steely Dan. From the famed west coast jazz pianist Smith Dobson to the famed rocker Lenny Kravits. He has a BA in composition from Berklee College of Music, an MA from Manhattan School of Music and a dual MSE in general and special education from The Bank Street School. His album Free At Last was in the Top10 on American jazz radio charts and through his licensing business his group Trio West has been heard on shows such as Dexter, Madam Secretary, Key and Peele and others.

  Tobias began studying the violin at age 6, switched to classical piano studies at 8 and finally switched to the drum set when he was 16. He began studying drums at the Drummers Collective in New York City with Ricky Sebastian, Mike Clark and Kim Plainfield. At Berklee College of Music he studied with Jon Hazilla and JohnRamsey, along with famed Boston drummer Gary Chaffee. Back in New York at Manhattan School of Music he studied with John Riley and Justin DiCioccio.  Additionally, he occasionally meets for private lessons with great New York City-based drummers like Ben Perowsky and Ari Hoenig.

@winniesjazzbar

 

Make a Table Reservation

Amos Rose Trio

Tuesday, December 16, 2025, 7:30 PM, $10.00

 

AMOS ROSE is a guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist based in New York City. He is a founding member of Mama Juke, a roots rock and country blues band. He also performs hot jazz and Brazilian music under his own name and as a sideman with numerous bands around the city.

Amos has performed in various renowned venues, such as Jazz at Lincoln Center, Blue Note Jazz Festival, B.B. King’s Blues Club, the Iridium Jazz Club, the 92nd Street YMCA, the New York Public Library, the Smithsonian Museum, Rockwood Music Hall, Webster Hall, the Manderley Bar at the McKittrick Hotel, The Gansevoort Park Ave Rooftop, the St. Regis Hotel., and many more.

Amos Rose has had the pleasure of collaborating with Tatiana Eva-Marie, Cyrille Aimee, Sasha Masakowski, Keita Ogawa, Clarice Assad, Dominic Farinacci, Matt Munisteri, Sam Dillon, Bernard Purdie, Christine Cherry, Spiral Jetty Club, the Ben Kogan Band, Joanna Sternberg, Megg Farrell, and Adrian DiMatteo.

 

View full calendar

John Lang

View full calendar

John Lang Trio

Monday, December 15, 2025 7:30pm, $10.00

Bio

Bassist John Lang offers a distinguished resume in performance, arranging and composition. Lang is most recognized in New York as a straight-ahead bassist. He hosted the Burgundy Wine Jazz Duets Series for 8 years in the early 2000s, featuring such modern-days stars as Saul Rubin, Ehud Asherie, Kris Kaiser, Yotam Silberstein, Jeremy Manasia, Nat Harris, Vito Dieterle, Larry Ham, Tardo Hammer, Michael Moore and Randy Napolean. Lang’s quintet has performed at Smalls, The Jazz Forum, Fat Cat, Little Branch, Times Square Café, The Hawaiian Tropic Room and Toons.

Lang founded La Onda Va Bien, the Latin jazz ensemble that recorded 2003’s “La Vuelta,” featuring 10 of his original songs. His second CD, “Lend Me Your Ears,” premiered at Smalls in 2009 and was called “a rare collection of swing and modernity” by reviewer Scott Yanow. Lang is a member of the Kolotov Mocktails, a modern jazz band comprised of stellar jazz musicians from across the United States. The band’s 2020 debut recording “Ivy Hall,” is enjoying radio play and positive reviews from fans and critics alike. He released “Now Ear This,” his first electric project, to rave reviews in 2021. “NET” features 9 original songs as well as fresh arrangements of “Pusherman” and “Four on Six” and was produced by jazz legend John Patitucci. Modern drumming powerhouse Richie Morales noted the album’s “clear arrangements, great solos and tight ensemble work. Take a listen!” Lang is currently a member of the Kolotov Mocktails, a new American jazz band. Their debut recording, “Ivy Hall” is enjoying radio play and critical acclaim in America and Europe.

Lang has recorded and arranged for many Broadway singers including Natalie Toro and Rita Harvey, as well as for the cast recordings of Fat Camp and the Adventures of Flat Stanley. His big band arrangements were featured in the 2006 production of “Little Jack Frost,” a recreation of a 1940s radio show, and he has toured internationally with the Jack Cassidy and Adrienne Hindmarsh trios.

Lang also doubles on electric bass and in that capacity has performed and recorded with Kinny Landrum and the Gumbo Roux, Cady Huffman, Mary Ann Renza, Rocksteady, Stolen Moments, and Sis Boom Bah.

He has served on the faculty of the Music Conservatory of Westchester since 2014, and maintains a healthy roster of private students. In the fall 2020 he began studies as SUNY Purchase for a master’s in jazz performance under bassist Doug Weiss. Lang resides in the Hudson River Valley, just north of New York City, with his wife Damaris and son Milo.

@winniesjazzbar

 

Make a Table Reservation

The Juliet Set (Juliet Ewing)

View full calendar

The Juliet Set 

Saturday, December 13, 2025 7:30 pm, $10.00

Bio

Ron Drotos on piano
Yoshi Waki on bass

“The Juliet Set”-Juliet Ewing is a NYC jazz vocalist who expertly
sings “vintage tunes for the modern age” revisiting the great jazz
standards and American Songbook favorites with fresh
interpretations. Juliet has a crush on all things “Gershwin” with a
special set of famous tunes and rare gems from the George and Ira
Gershwin songbook.
Juliet has appeared NYC Clubs and jazz spots such as Joe's Pub,
54 Below, Birdland Jazz, Tavern on the Green, Winnie’s
Jazz Bar, Prohibition and the Triad Theater. She had sold out
shows at the Laurie Beechman Theater in NYC and with Ron
Drotos sold out the Jazz on Main club in Westchester. Juliet and
Ron’s jazz and pop recordings can be heard regularly on WERB
global radio on the jazz program. Juliet has appeared on Broadway,
in tours across the US and Europe in leading roles in Broadway
musicals. www.julietewing.com Facebook/Instagram: thejulietset

@winniesjazzbar

 

Make a Table Reservation

Michael Aranella & His Dreamland Orchestra

View full calendar

Michael Aranella & His Dreamland Orchestra

Friday, December 12, 2025 7:30pm, $25.00

Bio

Michael Arenella & His Dreamland Orchestra is the world’s premier Jazz-Age dance orchestra, steeped in the hot-dance band tradition of the 1920s and early 1930s. Their size ranges from a full dance orchestra to smaller incarnations. They play their “Hot-and-Sweet” music anywhere that fine and eclectic tastes meet.

@winniesjazzbar

 

Make a Table Reservation

JJ Sansaverino

View full calendar

 

JJ Sansaverino

Wednesday, December 10, 2025 7:30PM, $10.00

Bio

With multiple Billboard-charting singles, including a BIllboard #1 smash hit with “Style and Elegance”, and four highly acclaimed albums, New York guitarist JJ Sansaverino has reached millions touring the world with his “Benson meets Santana” musical style. An extraordinary performer, JJ has a “take no prisoners” performance attitude, gracing the stage night after night touring on his own or with reggae legend Maxi Priest and bringing his vibe of Smooth Jazz, R&B, and Reggae. A Berklee School of Music graduate and award winner, he has shared the stage with the likes of Maceo Parker, Victor Bailey, Gerald Albright, Randy Brecker, Shaggy, Ricky Lawson, Sean Paul, Rick Braun, the Marley Family, and even performed for Sir Paul McCartney’s wedding in 2002.

@winniesjazzbar

 

Make a Table Reservation