Clintonville resident and award winning professional actress/singer Eileen Howard will perform her new blues cabaret show at the Garden Theater in Short North Stage’s Cabaret Series, April 13 and 14 at 8:00 pm each evening. Entitled Stormy Weather: Sassy Blues, Steamy Ballads, the show will feature “wicked” blues songs, soulful torch songs and lots of humor. Howard’s previous blues show, Winter Blues was a critically acclaimed sellout. Tickets can be purchased online at www.shortnorthstage.org and are $12 in advance or $15 at the door. Performances will be at The Garden Theater Green Room, 1187 North Nigh Street, Columbus OH 43201, or call 614-725-4042.
Short North Stage, a new professional theater company in Columbus, featured Howard as Hattie in the Company’s first full production last fall. Howard also performed in Short North Stage’s Songs of the Season shows in December.
“When we saw Eileen’s talent in Follies, and learned she was a jazz and blues singer, we knew we had to have her back for our more intimate Cabaret series in our Green Room performance space here at Short North Stage”, said Peter Yockel, Board President. “Her concerts in February really “wowed” everyone, so we booked her again right away for April.”
“I’m very excited about again working with Short North Stage on this concert,” said Howard. “My cabarets in February were the best shows of my career and gave me an opportunity to expand my repertoire with some edgier blues songs. In fact, I had so much fun that we decided to do a live recording of the Saturday night show for a new CD release. And, we’ve added some fun new songs and stories this time around.”
Howard will again feature her talented blues band, with Ed Moed on keys, Chris Ciampa on bass, David Bennett on Guitar and The Governor (Gregg Pierson) on drums. Friday night’s concert will feature Milo Mannino on trumpet, and Saturday night’s concert will feature Randy Mather on Sax.
Howard is a recording artist and composer, who has released two critically acclaimed jazz CD’s, and, more recently, an eclectic CD of spiritual tunes of her own composition. Fritz the Night Owl, former Deejay for WJZA and jazz reviewer for The Short North Gazette dubbed her “one of the most creative and swingin’ singers ever to vocalize on the local jazz scene.” Howard has received awards and critical acclaim as an actress and singer, with nods from The Central Ohio Theatre Round Table, The Columbus Dispatch, Columbus Alive Magazine, and The Other Paper.
Eileen Howard
For over 20 years Eileen Howard’s performances with jazz groups, big bands, and on the stage have delighted audiences.
Mentored by Toledo veterans Clifford Murphy and Claude Brown, she cut her teeth sitting-in at Murphy’s Jazz Club and studying with Maryanne Russo, a prominent jazz vocalist and former singer with the Nelson Riddell Orchestra. She was lead singer for Satin and Brass and performed with The Murphy’s and the Jack Runyon Orchestra.
After moving to Columbus, Eileen became lead singer for the Jim Johnson Orchestra, The Classmen, and Trombones Plus. Her own band was featured at the Jazz and Ribs Fest and Short North Sunday Jazz series, and has performed at the Columbus Arts Festival, the Upper Arlington Music and Arts Festival, the Westerville Music and Arts Festival, the North Market Food and Wine Festival, and numerous other concerts, clubs and events.
When Eileen released her first CD, All Kinds of Weather, in January 2002, Smooth Jazz Radio DJ Fritz the Night Owl described her as having, “a terrific voice, fresh interpretations of well-known lyrics, and solid jazz sensibilities”. In 2007, she released her second CD, Street of Dreams. Jazzreview.com said, “A very impressive vocal performance from Eileen Howard and stellar musical support make Street of Dreams a compelling album and musical treat.” Fritz dubbed her “One of the most creative and swingin’ singers ever to vocalize on the jazz scene”.
Also known as an award-winning actor and director, Eileen appeared in New York in the International Fringe Festival as the lead in the musical Ha! Ha! Club. While there she sang twice at The Iridium jazz club and at Smoke, another Broadway jazz club. She’s received critical acclaim for her performances in Jerry’s Girls, My Way: A Tribute to Frank Sinatra, Merry Wives of Windsor, and at 2Co’s Cabaret, among others.
David Bennet – Guitar, Vocals
For over forty years David has been playing guitar, bass and keyboards in local bands “Snow”, “Bodacious” and “Trans-Atlantic Railway” as well as backing up Turkey Buzzard (Rolling Stones produced), Trapeze (Glenn Hughes, bassist for Deep Purple), Flash, Wishbone Ash, John Hartford, The Godz, Muff Brothers, Rashaud, and Roland Kirk.
Christopher Ciampa – Bass, Vocals
Chris plays bass, guitar, and keyboard, among many other instruments. He obtained his BME from Otterbein College and has over 25 years of professional music experience. Former leader of the “Downtown DFN” house band at 2Co’s Cabaret, he now leads his own band the “Mad Funk 8”. He is a writer and arranger.
The Governor – Percussion
A graduate of CapitalUniversity in music education, Gregg taught in Columbus at CentralHigh School. He has played with the late great Hank Marr, Bobby Floyd, Vince Andrews, Gene Walker, Geoff Tyus, and Jeanette Williams. He led his own band called “The Governor” for over 12 years and spent five years playing in the show band and jazz trio on Carnival Cruise ships. Gregg has also developed band and percussion youth groups in the public schools and at the YWCA.
Ed Moed – Keyboard
With roots in blues, jazz and world music, Ed has played in 25 states and in the Caribbean, including the Kennedy Center, Northwestern University, and OSU. Jazz Festivals include Atlanta, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, St. Lucia, Litchfield, Hartford, and Annapolis, the Erie Blues Festival, and the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival. He has played with artists like Afro-Rican Ensemble, Joe Diamond, Don Hales, Gene Walker, Charlie Cook, Eileen Howard, “The Governor” and “Just Jazz”.
On Friday: Special guest Milo Mannino – Trumpet
Born and raised in New Orleans, and now relocated to Columbus, Milo’s Crescent River Big Band performed with Ray Charles, Four Tops, Temptations, Frank Sinatra Jr., Smoky Robinson, Frankie Avalon, Bobby Vinton, Keely Smith (wife and sidekick of Louis Prima), among many others. Recent musical performances include the Upper Arlington Music in the Parks concert series and the London Ribs and Jazz Festival showcasing vocalist Dick Mackey.
On Saturday: Special guest: Randy Mather – Sax
Randy began playing sax at age eleven and toured with the Woody Herman Orchestra, the Guy Lombardo Orchestra, Kim Pensyl, and Aretha Franklin. He can frequently be heard at Dick’s Den and other jazz venues in town.
For tickets: www.shortnorthstage.org or call 614-725-4042.
For more information about Eileen, visit www.singouteileen.com or http://www.facebook.com/eileenhowardvocalist on Facebook.
Email: singouteileen@yahoo.com
Eileen Howard 614-214-4030
About Short North Stage: Short North Stage is Columbus’s new professional theater company, based in the Garden Theater at 1187 N High Street. With an emphasis on musicals, it also features regular cabaret performances in the new Green Room. For tickets, visit www.shortnorthstage.org. More information and updates also available via Short North Stage on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/ShortNorthStage, or contact Peter Yockel at newzoar@gmail.com or (954) 401-6274.