Fall in Love All Over Again with a cabaret evening of romantic music and glittery candlelight as long-time ARCA favorites keyboardist John Burgh, vocalist Lisa Bleil and clarinetist/saxophonist Benny Benack II return by popular demand with Grammy winner saxophonist Eric DeFade to open ARCA’s 20th Anniversary with a fabulous night of entertainment and dancing at the back of Lincoln Hall on Saturday, February 15, 2025 at 7:30 PM. Reservations required for cabaret table seating – enjoying a complimentary charcuterie board, with wine and beer for sale.
With overtones of a “big band”, performing romantic ballads and swinging tunes from The Great American Songbook, smooth jazz, contemporary favorites and Rock n Roll, John and Lisa with their phenomenal band will perform some of the most beloved Songs of Love!
Take a spin on the dance floor at the back of Lincoln Hall – or enjoy the entertainment at your table as Lisa Bleil serenades you backed by John Burgh on keys and some of Pittsburgh’s premiere, blazing instrumentalists – Benny Benack II on clarinet and sax, Eric DeFade on sax, Robert Insko on bass, and Joey Waslousky, drums.
Because of cabaret table seating, reservations or pre-purchase of tickets or reservations is required.
Limited table seating requires reservations or advance online purchase. Adults $35 with a complimentary charcuterie board. Beer and Wine sold.
Call to Reserve 724 659-3153 – to pay by cash or check at the door. Buy online here.
Allegheny RiverStone Center for the Arts is grateful for the very generous gift of Tom and Nancy Hovis, ARCA’s Vice President and President respectively, sponsoring the Valentine’s Cabaret featuring their long time friend John Burgh with Lisa Bleil and musicians.
ARCA fans will remember the John Burgh ALL STARS with Lisa Bleil headlined for two years in ARCA’s outdoor concerts at RiverStone Farm in 2017 and 2018 as well as in a blazing night of New Orleans Jazz in Lincoln Hall in 2019 with Benny Benack II and Benny Benack III. And Lisa charmed the audience in the Valentine’s Cabaret last year with John and Benny Benack II.
LISA BLEIL has performed with both the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra and is known for her performances on the Emmy-winning PBS series “Live From Studio A”. She also can be seen on the nationally-televised PBS specials “Rock, Rhythm & Doo-wop” and “Red, White & Rock” performing with Frankie Avalon, Frankie Valli, Connie Francis, Englebert Humperdink, among others.
LISA’s beautiful, romantic ballads are sure to charm and perhaps inspire you to enjoy a slow dance with your sweetheart at the back of Lincoln Hall. Many, however, may prefer to sit and enjoy her gorgeous voice and extraordinary musical variety – AND her musicians’ riffing… an entertainment delight!
Saxophonist Benny Benack, II is a legend in the Pittsburgh jazz scene – a musician well known for his virtuosic musicianship and charismatic audience appeal.
Much beloved by his ARCA fans, Benny Benack has dazzled Lincoln Hall audiences in performances with John Burgh, entering in New Orleans style from the back of the house with his son Benny III – appearing in his son Benny III’s sold out concert with his NYC jazz band several years ago – and in the 2024 Valentine’s Cabaret performance performing this joyous “Bourbon Street Parade.”
Wailing on sax will be in-demand performing artist and studio musician, Eric DeFade, who has toured internationally with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and the Artie Shaw Big Band. Eric is a two-time Grammy Award winner for performances on Nancy Wilson’s jazz albums.
JOHN BURGH was first introduced to the Pittsburgh music scene on 1982 when he joined the Harold Betters Band playing five nights a week at the South Hills Sheraton. John also played for many years with the Billy Price Band, touring Europe in 2003. He has played and recorded 5 albums with the rock group Gathering Field, playing Hammond B3 organ.
John also has been a long time member of the Balcony Big Band (18 piece jazz band). Many people will remember his performances over the last 30 years with Lisa Bleil, combos and swing bands in Pittsburgh music venues and in the Oil City/Franklin area – PLUS his spectacular ALL STAR concerts for ARCA outdoor concerts at RiverStone Estate in Foxburg.
“Put a little love in your heart” as ARCA opens its 2025 season with a romantic cabaret evening with twinkling candlelight and the glorious music of the John Burgh ALL STARS in our beautiful Allegheny River valley. It’s “Love, Sweet Love!”
About the Musicians
Vocalist Lisa Bleil
This amazing and versatile vocalist – Lisa Bleil – was classically trained! Lisa Bleil has been singing professionally since she was 18. She attended the Carnegie Mellon University School of Music for her undergraduate studies in Classical Vocal Performance, and since then has performed in nearly every facet of the commercial music industry, from jingles to theater to television to teaching.
LISA BLEIL is known for her performances on the Emmy-winning PBS series “Live From Studio A” and can also be seen on the nationally-televised PBS specials “Rock, Rhythm & Doo-wop” and “Red, White & Rock” performing with Frankie Avalon, Frankie Valli, Connie Francis, Englebert Humperdink, among others.
Allegheny RiverStone Center for the Arts is proud to welcome back versatile vocalist Lisa Bleil, who headlined for two years in ARCA’s outdoor concerts at RiverStone Farm in 2017 and 2018 and joined the John Burgh JAZZ ALL STARS in 2019 with Benny Benack Jr and Benny Benack III in Lincoln Hall – returning in 2024 to perform in the Valentine’s Cabaret with John Burgh and Benny Benack II.
Lisa has performed with both the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra. She can be seen on the nationally-televised PBS series, “My Music” performing with Frankie Valli, Frankie Avalon, Darlene Love, Englebert Humperdink, and Ronnie Spector, among others.
Lisa was also a member of the house band on the Emmy Award-winning “Live From Studio A” series on WQED. She currently serves on the Commercial Music faculty of Seton Hill University, and previously taught at West Virginia University, and the City Music Center at Duquesne University.
Lisa maintains an active performance schedule in the Pittsburgh area, singing regularly in local venues and in numerous concerts, including the annual Holiday Jam at the New Hazlett Theater.
Keyboardist John Burgh
John Burgh and his band have been so popular with ARCA Members over the years, performing for two summers at the Outdoor concerts at RiverStone Farm and in Lincoln Hall with a six piece band including BENNY BENACK JR, BENNY BENACK III and LISA BLEIL.
John Burgh was first introduced to the Pittsburgh music scene on 1982 when he joined the Harold Betters Band playing five nights a week at the South Hills Sheraton. John graduated from IUP in 1981 as a piano performance major, and has returned there many times to play with nationally known artists such as Billy Crystal, Rita Moreno, and recently Doc Severinsen.
John played for many years with the Billy Price Band touring Europe in 2003. He has played and recorded 5 albums with the rock group Gathering Field, playing Hammond B3 organ. Besides filling in occasionally with CLO productions like Miss Saigon and Addams Family, he enjoys playing piano for local musical productions in Sewickley. John also has been a long time member of the Balcony Big Band (18 piece jazz band).
Many people will remember his performances over the last 30 years in the Oil City/Franklin and Foxburg area – and frequent appearances with Lisa Bleil in Pittsburgh music venues.
John grew up in the Harmony/Zelienople area playing piano accompanying his father, who played banjo, and helping his family in the tractor salvage yard business, which he continues to this day.
Benny Benack, Jr. – Clarinet and Sax
Benny Benack, Jr. is a legend in the Pittsburgh jazz and night club scene – a band leader well known for his virtuosic musicianship and charismatic audience appeal. The Benny Benack Band plays everything from jazz, swing, big band, Dixieland, Rhythm and Blues and Rock ‘n’ Roll – with wonderful vocals from the Great American Song Book and more.
Benny is no stranger to the music world. His father, Benny Benack, was a Pittsburgh band leader and at the forefront of the Pittsburgh jazz scene in the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s.
Benny Jr. continues the family’s musical tradition playing trumpet, clarinet, and saxophone. His son, Benny Benack III, is following in his father and grandfather’s footsteps as a jazz trumpeter and vocalist, currently building a big name for himself in the jazz scene in New York City.
Eric DeFade, Saxophone
An in demand performing artist and studio musician for over thirty years of professional experience, Eric DeFade has toured internationally with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and the Artie Shaw Big Band. Eric is a two-time Grammy Award winner for performances on Nancy Wilson’s jazz albums.
For the past ten years Eric has been a featured performer for the ‘My Music’ series on PBS. This program is internationally broadcast and features such artists as Patti Labelle, Isaac Hayes, the Temptations, Robert Goulet, Wild Cherry, the Platters, and the Commodores to name a few. Eric has played with music greats Rosemary Clooney, Josh Groban, the New York voices, Gary Burton, John Scofield, Dave Liebman, Ahmad Jamal, and Benny Golson.
In addition to a year round performance schedule, Eric is an artist\lecturer in saxophone and director of jazz ensembles at Carnegie Mellon University, visiting artist at the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School, adjunct professor of saxophone at Seton Hill university, director of jazz studies at CMU pre-college, music chair of the Henry Mancini Arts Academy, and clinician for the Pennsylvania Arts on Tour Program.
Robert Insko, Bass
Robert Insko is a freelance performer on bass and trombone, performing in the Pittsburgh area with many groups including the Burgh Big Band, the Balcony Big Band, Azucar, Catch 22, Harold Betters, The Bone Forum, Phoenix Jazz Project, touring Russia and playing the Moscow Heritage Jazz Festival. Robert has performed with nationally known artists such asHarry Connick, Jr., Rob McConnell, Phil Woods, Michael Feinstein, Regis Philbin, Joan Rivers and Robert Goulet.
Before pursuing a career in teaching, Robert performed professionally from 1984-1990 with The Four Kinsmen from Australia, The Brooks Paxton Show, Loose Change, The Temptations, and the Four Tops, touring Canada and the U.S.
He is one of Kiski Area School District’s elementary music instructors and a director of the KA elementary band. His duties include teaching elementary general music at two of the four elementary schools. Additionally, he has served on the faculties of Seton Hill and California University of PA, as an adjunct professor of electric and double bass.
Joey Waslousky, Drums
Joey Waslousky, Jazz/Fusion drummer and session/TV show band musician, returns to Lincoln Hall with John Burgh, Lisa Bleil and Benny Benack for the Valentine’s Cabaret. As one of the top drummers in the Pittsburgh area, he has played with top national bands and local artists including Corbin/Hanner, Lovechild with Jenn Wertz Rusted Root, QED Live from Studio A, Randy Baumann’s Ramble and Maureen Budway to rave reviews.
In 2015, Joey joined the group Come Together, Pittsburgh’s premier Beatles tribute band that works to replicate The Beatles’ sound with detailed precision and authenticity. He plays his “Ringo” Ludwig oyster black pearl drum kit to bring Ringo Starr’s distinctive sound to all the band’s covers. A long-time Beatles fan/fanatic, Joe enjoys playing to audiences who share his passion.
Have a Romantic Weekend in Foxburg
THE ALLEGHENY GRILLE
Arrive early in Foxburg – and have a romantic dinner at The Allegheny Grille before the Valentine’s Cabaret in Lincoln Hall.
BE SURE TO RESERVE EARLY – for dinner, either ordering off the menu in the main dining room with tables overlooking the stunning Allegheny River in winter – or make a special reservation to enjoy the four course Valentine’s meal in the pavilion.
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED for the Valentine’s Day dinners on February 15 at The Allegheny Grille.
FOXBURG WINE CELLARS
Plan to arrive early before the 7:30 Cabaret in Lincoln Hall for “Wine, Chocolate & Love” in the beautifully renovated Foxburg Wine Cellars! This romantic and indulgent experience begins at 6pm before the 7:30 PM concert!
Delight in rich flavors of their signature wines paired with decadent chocolates. Whether you’re celebrating love, friendship, or just a passion for wine and chocolate, this is an experience you won’t want to miss!
AND – You can go home with bottles of Foxburg specialty wines and after-dinner dessert wines like their deliciously robust River Queen, guaranteed to warm you and your sweetheart on those cold winter nights.
FOXBURG INN
Make it a ROMANTIC WEEKEND in Foxburg – and have an indulgent overnight in the newly renovated and elegantly rustic Foxburg Inn where every room has a view of the river.
Reserve early and get the room with the fireplace!
