Ebersole

Towards the beginning of a set that lasted about an hour and was a string of highlights, Ebersole--wearing a bowtie I've been influenced by Aaron, she said and a black outfit with bell-bottom trousers--mentioned she'd only had two rehearsals.

David Finkle: First Nighter: Genius Jazz Violinist Aaron Weinstein Meets Brilliant Jazz Singer Christine Ebersole in Dual Birdland Triumph David Finkle 2011

Turns out that, though she's known most for her Broadway savvy and less so for her Royal Pains USA series appearances, Ebersole is one helluva jazz singer -- the credit for bringing that knack out in her going to Weinstein, it certainly seems.

David Finkle: First Nighter: Genius Jazz Violinist Aaron Weinstein Meets Brilliant Jazz Singer Christine Ebersole in Dual Birdland Triumph David Finkle 2011

To gauge Ebersole's range, it's not necessary to go any further than her quietly emotional tribute to Cole Porter's "Every Time We Say Goodbye" followed by a growled version of Dave Frishberg's hilariously frustrated "Can't Take You Nowhere."

David Finkle: First Nighter: Genius Jazz Violinist Aaron Weinstein Meets Brilliant Jazz Singer Christine Ebersole in Dual Birdland Triumph David Finkle 2011

His latest impulse -- brought to fruition at Birdland on Sunday, November 27 and Monday, November 28 -- is a collaboration tagged "Strings Attached" between his trio the brilliant Tedd Firth on piano and the smoothly reliable Tom Hubbard on bass with two-time Tony winner Christine Ebersole.

David Finkle: First Nighter: Genius Jazz Violinist Aaron Weinstein Meets Brilliant Jazz Singer Christine Ebersole in Dual Birdland Triumph David Finkle 2011

The primary reason is that Ebersole's sense of musicality and humor and Weinstein's is as perfect a blend as coffee and cream.

David Finkle: First Nighter: Genius Jazz Violinist Aaron Weinstein Meets Brilliant Jazz Singer Christine Ebersole in Dual Birdland Triumph David Finkle 2011

Going on about his bringing to the stage a "musicians' musician that other musicians' musicians deem a musicians' musician" -- or something to that comically confusing effect -- Weinstein didn't introduce Ebersole, as the audience assumed was the case, but introduced himself, whereupon he took several modest bows.

David Finkle: First Nighter: Genius Jazz Violinist Aaron Weinstein Meets Brilliant Jazz Singer Christine Ebersole in Dual Birdland Triumph David Finkle 2011

This fine revival stars — and the verb is for once deeply appropriate — Rupert Everett, Christine Ebersole, Jayne Atkinson, and Angela Lansbury in the role of Madame Arcati.

Blithe Spirit 2009

There were performances by the rocker Rob Thomas and the stage star Christine Ebersole .

Peacefulness Becomes Her Marshall Heyman 2011

This fine revival stars — and the verb is for once deeply appropriate — Rupert Everett, Christine Ebersole, Jayne Atkinson, and Angela Lansbury in the role of Madame Arcati.

Archive 2009-07-01 2009

Always glowing whenever she hits a stage or screen, the blond, round-cheeked Ebersole has an infallible instinct for jollying a melody that jibes seamlessly with what Weinstein is doing as he rapidly saws away and as Firth and Hubbard fill their breaks with matching virtuosity.

David Finkle: First Nighter: Genius Jazz Violinist Aaron Weinstein Meets Brilliant Jazz Singer Christine Ebersole in Dual Birdland Triumph David Finkle 2011