Bay Street Theater welcomes Grammy-nominated pianist and vocalist Judy Carmichael back to the Bay Street stage on Saturday, October 10, at 8 PM, following a run of European performances that includes appearances in Ireland and England.
For Carmichael, the return to Sag Harbor is particularly fitting. A longtime local resident and familiar face to Bay Street audiences, she has performed at the theater many times over the years and was the first musician to perform at Bay Street, helping open the stage to a broader range of live performance beyond theater and setting the tone for the music and special events that would become part of Bay Street’s year-round identity.
One of the world’s leading interpreters of stride and swing piano, Carmichael has taken her unmistakable style from Carnegie Hall to concert halls and jazz clubs around the world. Count Basie famously nicknamed her “Stride” for her command of the demanding early jazz piano style.
At Bay Street, Carmichael will be joined by guitarist John Merrill and Dan Block on saxophone and clarinet for an evening celebrating the music of Hollywood and Broadway musicals of the 1930s and ’40s. The program draws on the songs and spirit of Fred Astaire, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and the golden age of American popular music, along with some of Carmichael’s own original music.
Carmichael brings more than formidable musicianship to the stage. Her warmth, humor, and storytelling have become as much a part of her performances as the music itself, creating an evening that feels equally at home in an international jazz club or an intimate room in Sag Harbor.
The full bar opens one hour before the performance, giving audiences time to grab a drink and settle in for an evening of swing, wit, and timeless American music. Visit baystreet.org for tickets.