New York City's Judy Carmichael Trio in town

Grammy-nominated pianist and Steinway artist Judy Carmichael will perform on a Steinway grand piano on stage in the dining room at Whitefish Lake Restaurant Nov. 3.

The piano is being loaned by the Steinway Piano Gallery of Spokane. 

Carmichael will be joined by world famous tenor saxophonist Harry Allen and jazz guitarist Chuck Flory. The Judy Carmichael Trio is based in New York City.

The restaurant will offer its full dinner and beverage menu, just like a big city jazz club. The show starts at 8 p.m.

Carmichael is a two-fisted pianist whom Count Basie nicknamed “Stride.” George Shearing called her “Miss Strideville.”  Her passion for jazz is unbridled, she has wit and virtuosity to match, and her singing features everything from Peggy Lee-inspired standards to humorous takes on Fats Waller tunes.

Carmichael has appeared frequently on Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion” and has been featured on National Public Radio’s “Morning Edition,” “Entertainment Tonight” and CBS’ “Sunday Morning.”  

Her weekly public radio show, “Judy Carmichael’s Jazz Inspired,” which explores issues such as creativity and inspiration, has been on the air for 20 years.

Allen has more than 30 recordings to his name. Three of his CDs have won Gold Disc Awards from Japan’s Swing Journal magazine. He has appeared at jazz festivals and clubs worldwide; performed with artists such as Rosemary Clooney, Ray Brown and Hank Jones. 

Flory has been a fixture of the New York jazz scene since the late 1970s, touring with Benny Goodman’s last ensemble and with one of Scott Hamilton’s first groups.  

Any proceeds from the concert will benefit the Steinway Fund, which was started by Don “K” Subaru and John Simpson and has been supported by generous contributions from the community to pay for the recently acquired Steinway concert grand at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center. So far, the fund has received pledges totaling about two-thirds of the amount needed to pay off the piano.

The concert is sponsored by Don “K” Subaru and is a Singer & Simpson Production.