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Birdland is proud to present cabaret icon Steve Ross in “Sondheim and Before” on Monday, November 17 at 7pm.

Steve Ross will celebrate the release of his latest recording, “Steve Ross Sings Sondheim With Friends.” Sondheim classics will include “Being Alive,” “Sorry/Grateful,” “Not a Day Goes By,” as well as songs by other composers Sondheim admired, such as Oscar Hammerstein II, Leonard Bernstein, Kurt Weill, and Vernon Duke. Joining Steve will be two guest performers from the recording, pianist Dennis Buck and baritone Benjamn Weil.

Steve Ross, a Washington, DC native, was surrounded by music from an early age, thanks in part to his piano-playing mother. After studying piano and attending Georgetown University, a seminary, and serving in the U.S. Army, he embraced the Great American Songbook as his musical focus. Moving to New York City in the early 1970s, Ross quickly made a name for himself on the cabaret scene. Initially a background pianist, he was encouraged to sing, developing a distinctive style that drew increasing acclaim.

His breakthrough came when Ted Hook hired him at Backstage, later opening Onstage in 1979 to feature Ross exclusively. In 1981, he began a celebrated run at the Algonquin Hotel’s Oak Room, helping to make it a cabaret landmark. He has performed internationally, from Australia to Italy to Hong Kong, and accompanied legends like Liza Minnelli and Ginger Rogers. Ross hosted cabaret series for both BBC Television and National Public Radio, solidifying his reputation as an ambassador of sophisticated song.