LATEST NEWS:

Andrew Poretz of online Theater Pizzazz introduces Kay and Friends to New York City with reviews and beautiful images of the show at Pangea

Press Release:

Black Olive Jazz: Myth and Mystery A Musical Journey of Ancient and Modern Myths Debuts in New York City on November 22

(New York City, NY) October 24, 2022 - Renowned "Black Olive Jazz" San Francisco vocalist, Kay Kostopoulos, will be performing in New York City this November to kick off Thanksgiving week at Pangea in the East Village.

Her new show: Myth, Music and Magic: A journey of biblical, historical and mythical proportions, explores heroines like Salome, Delilah, Cleopatra, and Persephone. Seductresses? Destroyers? How much of these stories were true? What's the other story?

The show features originals and jazz standards done with an exotic twist, finger cymbals, and Mediterranean beats. Itl culminates with the modern myths of Broadway, featuring special guests, West Coast Saxophone Legend, Noel Jewkes who has has recorded with John Hendricks, Wesla Whitfield, Mary Stallings, Paula West, Mike Greensill, Lavay Smith, Bill Bell, Mimi Fox, Graham Bruce, Bobbe Norris, Larry Dunlap, Larry Vuckovich, Pat Yankee and Jerry Hahn, as well as his own ensembles, and Broadway veteran, Jeff McCarthy who is best known for his creation of the role of Officer Lockstock in the Broadway hit, Urinetown.

Show Details
When:Tuesday November, 22, 2022
Where:Pangea, Cabaret Room
Address:178 2nd Avenue, NY NY 10003
Time: 7 PM
Reservations: Email - info@pangeanyc.com
Online tickets are $20 and the door price at $25 (cash only)

Critical Acclaim for Kay Kostopoulos & Black Olive Jazz:

"Near the end of the set at Birdland, Kay Kostopoulos dressed as a member of a harem and sporting two pairs of finger cymbals soloed on "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams" was as close to finger cymbal virtuosity as I've ever heard (and if she wasn't also from the Bay Area, I'd claim this as an "only in New York" moment!)" - Concert Reviews, Frontpage by Thomas Cunliffe

"Beautiful voice with a wide range... Ms. Kostopoulos is equally skilled on ballads and uptempo material...Makes a strong case for being considered a major jazz singer." Scott Yanow, Jazz Critic

"Her love of the text, subtlety of word, and appreciation for the audience promise a performance as deep as those big, dark eyes starring right back at you." - Palo Alto Weekly

More About Pangea

Pangea a Restaurant, Bar, and Alt-Cabaret Supper Club and New Work Incubator in the East Village, New York City. Known for supporting artists of all persuasions; offering an essential safe-place for taking artistic risks; and for its delicious and spirited Downtown hospitality. Its role as an incubator for new work, in a city where cost of living has become prohibitively stratospheric for artists, is seen as vital to preserving the East Village's identity as a counter-culture hotbed.

A favorite haunt of East Village scene makers and artists since opening as Spachetteria in 1986, Pangea started programming music and performance in 2015. It's hosted an impressive roster of some of the most daring alt-cabaret artists working on the cusp of music, theatre, and the spoken word use Pangea's cozy 60-seat showroom as their home base: Sidney Myer, Tamme Faye Starlite, Penny Arcade, David Cale, Salty Brine, Claywoman, Raven O, Carol Lipnick, Joey Arias, Flotilla DeBarge, the Jazz Bastards, Rachelle Garniez, and producer Kevin Malony.

"It Just Has To Be by Kay Kostopoulos"

The Story:

Kay explores the ephemeral and termporal nature of love and life in the lyrics of her original composition, with illustrations from her precious book collection, "Romance Fiction and the Drama." Her words inspired composer, Stephanie Bruce to write the music, and musician/sound engineer Roscoe Gallo to create the soundscape. The final mixed version with new vocals will stream in late fall.

"Cleopatra and The Viper by Noel Jewkes and Kay Kostopoulos"

Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams, and Jazz:

I played Cleopatra in Shakespeare's "Antony and Cleopatra" at New Jersey's Shakespeare Festival years ago. When I started working with Noel Jewkes, he introduced me to a melody he had written called "The Viper." It was based on the Dick Tracy character from the funnies. When I heard it, I didn't hear Dick Tracy at all . . . I heard Cleopatra, so I was inspired to write lyrics to the tune.

I don't know which lyrics I made up or which were inspired by Shakespearean text: Like "Rash Poison," "Venomous Fool," maybe "Bliss Elixir." I do know "What's played in the heart is a kind of music" is Orpheus' line from Tennessee Williams' "Camino Real."

This is my first attempt at iMovie (after a 6 hour online Stanford class) featuring classic images, a few of my own, and of Noel and Grant Levin. For you fans of Noel's soprano and Grant's piano, their fabulous solos and images are about half way into the song.

Also, on the recording is the fine playing of Adam Gay, bass and Jake Shandling, drums. I am on finger cymbals.

Black Olive Jazz receives rave review in May issue of the Los Angeles Jazz Scene

Black Olive Jazz "Exotica"

Black Olive Jazz is a group from the San Francisco Bay area that features the warm singer Kay Kostopoulos and the veteran Noel Jewkes on tenor, alto, soprano and flute. Exotica was an idea conceived by Kostopoulous, Jewkes (who provided the arrangements) and pianist Grant Levin. The singer, whose background is in theater, wanted to perform dramatic material that could be considered both exotic and modern jazz. The concept works quite well on such pieces as “Bali Hai,” Horace Silver’s “”Enchantment” (on which Ms. Kostopoulos added new lyrics), “Slow Hot Wind” a slightly spooky “Never Never Land” and “Caravan.” With vocals that range from powerful to tender, a lot of spots for Jewkes to display his versatility and swinging ideas, and two guest appearances by pianist Larry Vuckovich, this is a very successful set. Kay Kostopoulos’ perfect pitch allows her to sing wordlessly on the more atmospheric pieces such as “Lotus Land,” and to engage in close interplay with Jewkes. Exotica is recommended and available from

www.BlackOliveJazz.com.

Scott Yanow

Black Olive Jazz Schedule

"Kay Kostopoulos compilation at the SF Fillmore Jazz Festival"

Kay's a Jazz Jewel at Vallejo's Empress

No Stage Fright for Stanford Professor

Kay, Larry, Noel and Ruth Band:  Performing at Stanford University

 A NEW VIDEO for the Holidays!

 NEW Springtime VIDEO!

"A FLOWER IS A LOVESOME THING": A BILLY STRAYHORN TRIBUTE FEATURING MASTER PIANIST LARRY VUCKOVICH

BLACK OLIVE

 JAZZ PROMO:

Blue Valentine, Big Band, Music Video

---

LISTEN TO SOME MP3 CLIPS!

I Got Rhythm   0:48   
Fine Brown Frame   0:42   
Dancing in the Dark   0:49   
Whatever Lola Wants   1:17    Twisted   1:04   
That Old Black Magic   0:55   
Estate   1:04   
Besame Mucho   0:54   
Caravan   1:03   
Costa Rica   1:13   
Out of This World   
Cottontail   1:23    

---

---