On February 6, New York entertainment was celebrated in an awards show that allows no acceptance speeches.  It's The Nightlife Awards and the promise at the welcoming was kept - we wouldn't have to hear anyone thanking his third grade teacher (or director or agent or ..)  These stars of cabarets and nightclubs, jazz and comedy just performed!  The honorees were selected by a group of 27 critics/reviewers, including host and creator of the Awards, Scott Siegel.   

The first performer was winner Karen Mason who sang another promise kept: "I know a place where the music is fine ..."  Classic music filled the air, from Paula West's "Skylark" to "Good Morning, Heartache" by Darius de Haas (after which, Ervin Drake, the song's co-writer and a co-sponsor of the awards, was introduced in the audience).  The winners were sometimes announced by an offstage voice or by star colleagues like Mary Cleere Haran (acknowledging the applause of the 7:00 pm show's audience with, "Thank you, early evening sophisticates") and Marin Mazzie (for Brian Stokes Mitchell who sang, "This Nearly Was Mine" without amplification).  In a segment ending the first half, songwriter William Finn introduced Elaine Stritch, revealing that as a student he lied his way into meeting her.  "I understand that I'm not supposed to say anything," deadpanned Stritch.  "It's not that I want to ..."   But she did, and also sang, "It Amazes Me" as her response to how audiences have embraced her.  Veteran Eartha Kitt received the Legend Award and displayed her trademark playfulness with one of her standbys, "C'est si bon."     

There was also instrumental jazz.  Soloist winner Hank Jones was absent, but finalist Bill Charlap played Cole Porter's "It's All Right With Me" before accompanying his mother Sandy Stewart on "Where Do You Start?" (they won together as Outstanding Duo).  Laughs were provided by the standup comedy winners, Kristen Schaal and Bill Burr, and those who combine humor and song.  The evening's director was Dan Foster. 

Here are some photos of just some of the winners as well as presenters. 

-- Rob Lester

Karen Mason

Scott Siegel

Bill Burr

Michael Cerveris

Tom Andersen

Melissa Errico

A. J. Irvin

Mary Cleere Haran

John Cohn

Harry Allen

David Zippel

Jason Graae

Paula West

Bill Finn

Elaine Stritch

Earth Kitt

Charles Busch

Cheryl Bentyne

Sandy Steward

Lee Roy Reams

Eric Leviton and Michael Kostroff

Darius DeHaas

Judy Gold

Billy Ichler

Freddy Cole

Ute Lemper

Kabarett Kollektif

Marin Mazzie

Brian Stokes Mitchell