Ann Hampton Callaway Celebrates Harold Arlen

Kleinhans Music Hall and JazzBuffalo are pleased to present Ann Hampton Callaway Celebrates Harold Arlen Sunday, February 7 | 3 PM The Mary Seaton Room Each year, Jazz at Kleinhans proudly gathers our community to honor Buffalo’s greatest son in American music — Harold Arlen. His songs shaped the very fabric of the Great American Songbook, giving the world timeless works such as “Over the Rainbow,” “Stormy Weather,” and “Come Rain or Come Shine.” This annual celebration is more than a concert; it is a reaffirmation of Buffalo’s profound place in American musical history. For the 3rd Annual Harold Arlen Celebration, we welcome the extraordinary Ann Hampton Callaway — a Tony Award nominee and one of the world’s most revered champions of the Great American Songbook. An insatiable creative spirit, Callaway has distinguished herself not only as a luminous vocalist and pianist but also as a composer, lyricist, arranger, educator, actress, and producer. Her artistry seamlessly blends jazz and traditional pop, making her a commanding presence in concert halls, theaters, jazz clubs, and symphony stages across the globe. Callaway’s Broadway acclaim includes her Tony-nominated performance in Swing!, and she is widely known as the writer and performer of the beloved theme song to the television series The Nanny. A Platinum Award–winning songwriter, her compositions have been recorded by Barbra Streisand on five albums — a remarkable testament to her stature among America’s finest interpreters and composers. Notably, she remains the only composer to have collaborated directly with Cole Porter and has written with luminaries such as Carole King and others who have shaped American popular music. Her live performances are celebrated for their warmth, wit, spontaneity, and emotional depth. Callaway is regarded as one of America’s most gifted improvisers, often creating songs in the moment from audience suggestions — whether at the piano or in front of a full symphony orchestra. She has appeared as a special guest with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, performed with the Boston Pops, and been featured in tributes at Carnegie Hall. She has sung with more than twenty-five of the world’s leading orchestras and has performed on international stages from Berlin’s Philharmonie Hall to Washington, D.C., and Moscow. It is precisely this depth of experience — this lifelong devotion to America’s master songwriters — that makes Ann Hampton Callaway uniquely suited to honor Harold Arlen. She brings not only vocal brilliance, but an interpretive intelligence and reverence that elevates Arlen’s music to its rightful stature. Joining her is the renowned pianist Ted Rosenthal, whose virtuosity and sensitivity have made him one of the most respected jazz pianists of his generation, and internationally respected bassist Martin Wind, forming a trio of exceptional artistry. Together, they promise an evening of sophistication, swing, intimacy, and brilliance worthy of Arlen’s enduring legacy. The Harold Arlen Celebration has become a defining pillar of Jazz at Kleinhans — a program committed to presenting internationally acclaimed artists while honoring the architects of American music. In the magnificent acoustical setting of Kleinhans Music Hall, these performances continue to elevate Buffalo’s cultural standing and affirm Jazz at Kleinhans as the city’s premier home for world-class jazz. This is not simply an evening of song. It is a civic tribute, a celebration of excellence, and a continuation of a tradition that places Buffalo firmly on the national jazz stage. We invite you to join us for this special occasion as we honor Harold Arlen — and continue building one of Buffalo’s most meaningful cultural traditions.