Jim Caruso's Cast Party with Billy Stritch
Birdland315 West 44th Street, New York 10036
Jim Caruso hosts Cast Party at Birdland, joined by Billy Stritch on piano, Steve Doyle on bass and Daniel Glass on drums. Running at Birdland every Monday since 1993, this is an impromptu open-mic variety show rather than a fixed-concert format: established show-business guests and emerging performers take turns, and audience members can step up to the grand piano as well. Expect a changing lineup shaped in the room, with the house trio backing the singers and Caruso keeping the proceedings moving.
New York-based Cast Party has built its name on that spontaneous mix of Broadway-connected performers and first-time discoveries, and has also travelled to London for special performances. The show has received BroadwayWorld, MAC, Bistro and Nightlife awards. Its regular collaborators are Caruso and the Birdland trio, especially Stritch, whose piano anchors the evening’s rotating performers. London Jazz News called Caruso and Stritch “totally polished, audience-focussed, feel-good” and “at the absolute top of their game.” The New York Times described their approach as “old-fashioned vaudeville-descended entertainment,” a useful frame for a night that makes room for both songs and spontaneous turns.
Birdland offers a refined jazz experience in a room where the audience sits at tables close to the stage, allowing every note to reach you clearly. The venue features a full menu with dishes like New Orleans-style gumbo alongside a well-stocked bar, making it easy to enjoy a meal or drinks while listening. Each show is ticketed per set, encouraging focused listening as the music unfolds in roughly 45-minute segments. The club’s walls echo decades of jazz history, having hosted legends and continuing to attract top contemporary artists. Located in Manhattan’s Theater District, the space balances a serious music environment with the energy of a night out, where attentive audiences savor the performances without distraction. Booking ahead is essential, as the club fills quickly for its celebrated lineup.