Richard Cortez
Arthur's Tavern57 Grove Street, New York 10014
Richard Cortez brings his Great American Songbook repertoire to Arthur’s Tavern on November 23. The New York City vocalist is billed alone for this appearance, and the available information does not specify whether he will perform with a duo, combo, or larger ensemble. Expect interpretations drawn from writers and singers in the Songbook tradition, including material associated with Cole Porter, Billie Holiday, and Jerome Kern.
Cortez is a New York City jazz vocalist and recording artist whose ensembles have ranged from duo settings to an eighteen-piece big band. He has shared the bandstand with pianist Sullivan Fortner and musicians Emmet Cohen, Grant Stewart, Joe Farnsworth, Nicole Glover, and Russell Hall. Arthur’s Tavern has described his readings as having “sweetness, self-assuredness, and disarming vulnerability with a well-timed wit.” His own description of his singing emphasizes honesty and stories, a useful frame for a vocalist working through standards rather than treating them as museum pieces.
Arthur's Tavern is a basement club in the West Village where jazz, Latin, and blues are played with deep roots and modern energy. The stage is small, the room intimate, and the audience sits close to the musicians, often with a few people standing near the back. Shows start around 5 PM and go late, with some sets extending into the early hours. The club has a history of hosting top-tier performers since 2001, including regular appearances by Yuichi Hirakawa Jazz Group. It's a place where music is the center, and conversation flows naturally between the audience and the performers.