Midday Jazz: The Billy Stritch Trio
Saint Peter's Church619 Lexington Avenue, New York 10022
Billy Stritch leads a Midday Jazz trio with Michael O'Brien on bass and Eric Halvorson on drums, joined by special guest Gabrielle Stravelli. The program places Stritch's piano and vocals at the center of a lunchtime set rooted in the Great American Songbook.
Raised in Sugar Land, Texas, Stritch is an award-winning pianist, vocalist, composer and arranger who has worked extensively with Liza Minnelli, Tony Bennett, Christine Ebersole, Linda Lavin and Linda Eder. He co-wrote the Grammy-winning "Does He Love You" and is known for his "warm voice and pianistic virtuosity," as one reviewer put it.
Saint Peter's Church offers a unique setting where jazz music and spiritual history intertwine beneath the streets of Midtown Manhattan. The venue is a 178-seat space located in the church's lower level, featuring a recently restored Strayhorn piano that highlights its deep jazz roots. The room’s acoustics are carefully designed to support a range of performances, from intimate jazz sets to more expansive musical events, with a digital sound system enhancing every note. The audience can expect a focused listening experience in a space that balances reverence and artistic expression, often accompanied by a bar but no full restaurant. Shows are typically ticketed, and the environment encourages attentive appreciation rather than casual conversation, making for an evening where music and history resonate together.