Swinging Times With Judy Carmichael

Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor will be in the groove on Saturday, December 4, at 8 p.m. when pianist and vocalist Judy Carmichael presents “Swing! I Go For That,” a live and in-person concert with special guests.

The evening marks Carmichael’s first concert live at Bay Street in two years, showcasing her signature blend of swinging music, sassy humor, and sultry vocals — think Fats Wallers meets Peggy Lee meets Paula Poundstone.

Carmichael and her trio — bassist Pat O’Leary and guitarist Chris Flory — will rollick through favorites from the Great American Songbook from the Gershwins and Cole Porter to Harold Arlen and Randy Newman. Carmichael was the first musician Bay Street Theater presented shortly after it opened, and the December 4 concert will be her first live concert at the theater since 2019, which makes this a celebratory evening on multiple levels and a perfect way to launch into the holiday season.

Grammy Award-nominated pianist and vocalist Judy Carmichael is one of the world’s leading interpreters of stride piano and swing. Count Basie nicknamed her “Stride,” acknowledging the command with which she plays this technically and physically demanding jazz piano style. Her vocal debut on her CD “Come and Get It” features her singing debut on everything from Peggy Lee inspired standards, to humorous takes on Fats Waller tunes. Her first all-vocal CD “I Love Being Here With You” followed, which is also her first with someone else playing piano, in this case the great Mike Renzi (presently music director for Tony Bennett) with Harry Allen on sax and Jay Leonhart on bass. NPR and podcast fans know “Judy Carmichael’s Jazz Inspired,” Judy’s weekly program interviewing celebrated creative people who are inspired by jazz, everyone from Neil deGrasse Tyson to Jane Lynch. The show airs locally on WLIW 88.3 FM Sundays at 7 p.m.

A native of California, Carmichael moved to New York in the early 1980s and has maintained a busy concert schedule throughout the world ever since. She has toured for the United States Information Agency throughout India, Portugal, Brazil, and Singapore. In 1992, Carmichael was the first jazz musician sponsored by the United States Government to tour China. She has played in a variety of venues, from Carnegie Hall to the Peggy Guggenheim Museum in Venice (the first concert ever presented by the museum) to programs with Joel Grey, Michael Feinstein, Steve Ross, and the Smothers Brothers. In addition, Carmichael has done comic skits and performed her music on radio and television, and performed private recitals for everyone from Rod Stewart and Robert Redford to President Clinton and Gianni Agnelli.

Masks and proof of vaccination are required for entry. Tickets start at $35 at baystreet.org or 631-725-9500. Masks and proof of vaccination are required for entry.