Photo by Jeff Dunn
On Feb. 19, our Kittens & Crooners series kicks off with an amazing metro Detroit musician, the fabulous Ben Sharkey. One of Detroit’s premiere live entertainers over the past ten years plus, Ben infuses his live performances with a hip and sultry fire, bringing his artful swagger to the stage with a colorful fusion of old school cool, contemporary jazz, soul and pop.
Since the charismatic vocalist posted his first raw home videos of himself singing Michael Buble and Frank Sinatra classics to YouTube in 2007, he has amassed over 5 million views worldwide for over 70 clips. By increasingly popular demand, the Michigan native has amassed hundreds of performances at jazz hotspots like Cliff Bell’s and a five-year and counting residency at the Axis Lounge at the MGM Grand Detroit.
He’s been compared to everyone from Frank and Buble to Dean Martin, Mel Torme and Harry Connick, Jr. – yet he’s evolved from being a stellar vocal interpreter to master storyteller and songwriter. Collaborating with his pianist Chris Codish, Ben has written clever, crafty tunes expressing every aspect of love, deep heartfelt connections and the sheer joy of living life to the fullest in the sexiest, naughtiest, most sensual and playful way possible. Stylistically, he lets his muse lead the way to booming percussion driven landscapes infused with jazz, pop, swing, R&B, Latin and crisp, edgy house-dance beats that make him the ultimate contemporary hipster as well as a masterful throwback artist.
Click 6 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. for tickets ($25) to either concert; limited to just 100 seats per concert. Doors will open 30 minutes prior; cash bar. Feel free to enjoy a fabulous meal and drinks upstairs at Ciao Amici’s before or after the show.
Five years ago, we came up with a new live music series – Kittens & Crooners – to celebrate the music and style of our country’s classic jazz singers like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Lena Horne, Tony Bennett, and Rosemary Clooney. The four shows we held in 2016 at the Tipping Point Theater in Northville went over so well that we continued presenting live jazz at that venue until the pandemic put a halt to indoor concerts. (Don't worry, we'll be doing more shows at the Tipping Point.)
Now we've revived Kittens & Crooners and found another intimate venue that’s perfect for this type of performance: the lower level of Ciao Amici's restaurant in downtown Brighton. Seating will be limited to just 100, and there will be a cash bar to enjoy a beverage during the two-set concert.
The 2022 series was slated to kick off with Jill Jack & The American Songbook Band on Jan. 22, but due to Covid, we have moved that show to March 5. Click 8:30 p.m. or 6:00 p.m. for tickets to either show.
