On Saturday, July 11, Westchester Collaborative Theater (WCT), located at 23 Water St. Ossining NY, will present a return engagement of local favorite KJ Denhert. The performance will offer a curated selection of songs in a show entitled “The Melodies We Carry.” Urban folk jazz legend Denhert was named one of Jazz.com’s top female vocalists and four-time Independent Music Award nominee.
What happens when a songwriter wanders through their own personal history without boundaries? You get an evening where pop, swing, and traditional music blur into something entirely unique. For this special performance, KJ Denhert and her long-standing band, The Evening News, lean into a beautifully curated collection of songs—including material from their latest independent release, The Evening News. The band includes Nicki Denner on keyboard, Adam Armstrong on bass and Eric Halvorson on drums.
Alongside her original compositions, KJ revisits the Great American Songbook through a deeply personal lens. This isn't an exploration of the obscure; it’s a celebration of the melodies that live in our collective DNA. These are the songs you grew up knowing without ever trying to learn them—the ones you find yourself quietly singing along to in the aisle of a supermarket, only to stop and realize, “Wait, I know this beautiful thing.”
Crafted, written, and arranged with deep emotion, the show captures the warmth, nostalgia, and sheer joy of shared musical lifetimes.
Having played together for many years, including a transformative creative retreat in Italy where many of the new songs and arrangements were born, this ensemble delivers a tight, intuitive, and effortlessly elegant performance.
WCT Executive Director Alan Lutwin says, “KJ is a magical talent who never fails to deliver a heartfelt performance. To have her perform at our venue again is a total delight.” Denhert’s return engagement follows multiple sold-out appearances at WCT, including her signature annual holiday shows.
Reviewers have said that Denhert’s performance “will move you to laugh, to dance and even to cry.” They have praised her pathos, originality, and impeccable musicianship, calling her “one-of-a-kind and not to be missed.”
Denhert has appeared at scores of festivals, has had residencies at the 55 Bar in NYC, the Baz Bar in St. Barts, and recently completed several consecutive residencies at the prestigious Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy. She performs solo, duo and with her full band.
Nicki Denner (Piano / Keyboards)
An accomplished pianist, composer, and arranger, Nicki Denner has been a vibrant force in the New York music scene since 1999. She has released three critically acclaimed albums under her own name, leads her own Latin jazz trio, and serves as the Musical Director for the celebrated ensemble Cocomama.
Adam Armstrong (Bass)
Originally from Sydney, Australia, bassist Adam Armstrong relocated to New York in 2000 and has since become one of the city's most trusted and agile rhythm section anchors. He has performed worldwide at major international festivals—including Montreux and the North Sea Jazz Festival—and shared stages with jazz legends like Kenny Kirkland, Maria Schneider, and Billy Cobham.
Eric Halvorson (Drums)
With over two decades as a premier drummer on the New York scene, Eric Halvorson is highly sought after for his exceptional musicality and cross-genre sensibilities. He has toured internationally with Ute Lemper, recorded with vocal powerhouse Linda Eder, and performed at the Kennedy Center Honors. Eric is also a fixture in Broadway orchestras, having played for hit productions like The Book of Mormon, Moulin Rouge, and Wicked.
(limited seating available; advance purchase is strongly recommended.) Refreshments will be available.