• Tues., March 20, The Stables in Wavendon, UK. John Dankworth and Cleo Laine own this venue. John personally requested Marlene. Tel: 01 908 582 522
• Wed.-Sat., March 28-31 and Wed.-Sat., April 4-7, Pizza on the Park, Knightsbridge, London. Shows 9:15 p.m. and 11:15 p.m. Tel.: 235-9100

MARLENE VERPLANCK'S U.S. TOUR SCHEDULE FOR 2001
 
• Sat.-Mon., April 21-23, Lyrics & Lyricists, 92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Ave., NYC. Tel. 212-996-1100. Tribute to Duke Ellington.
• Fri., April 27, New Rochelle Public Library, Lawton St., between Main and Huguenot St., New Rochelle, NY, 8 p.m. Reservations: 914-632-7878, ext. 33
• Sun., May 6, 6-9 p.m., Shanghai Jazz, NOW ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT JAZZ ROOMS IN THE USA, 24 Main St. Madison, NJ. Tel: 973-822-2899

• Sun., June 3, Lucy Robbins Welles Library, 95 Cedar St. (Rt. 175), Newington, Conn. Tel.: 860-665-8700. 3:00 p.m. Tel: 860-665-8730

• Sun., Aug. 5, Memorial Park, Fairlawn, NJ, 8:30 p.m. Billy will be conducting a big swinging band and Marlene will be out front singing the show tunes and standards. Bring lawn chairs and listen under the stars. For directions and rain site, call Isadore at 973-646-1061.

• Thurs., Aug. 9, Kasschau Memorial Shell, Ridgewood, NJ. 8:30 p.m. For directions and rainsite: 201-670-5560

• Sun., Aug. 19, The Alsop Barn in Saratoga Springs 3:00 p.m. This is like no barn you've ever seen...a work of art. Joining Marlene will be master musicians Ruth and Lamar Alsop. Inquiries: Call Lamar at 518-584-3533.
• Sat., Sept. 29, Princeton Jazz Festival, Palmer Square in Princeton, NJ. Festival takes place outdoors, rain or shine, noon-4 p.m. Marlene is scheduled to sing at approximately 1:30 p.m.
• Sat., Sept. 29, The Loonis McGlohon Theater in Charlotte, NC, 8:00 p.m. This is not a mistake. Marlene will be on a plane to Charlotte right after the Princeton Jazz Festival.
• Thurs., Oct. 4, The Manor, 111 Prospect Ave., West Orange, NJ. Dinner/Show Package. Reservations a must! Tel.: 973-731-2360

Everything we'd heard about working in Japan turned out to be true. What a trip! We marveled at how Takao and Mariko took care of all the little details. Five major cities, Kumamoto, Nagoya, Kaizu, Osaka and Tokyo, seven concerts, different hotels every night, shuttling all the luggage, plane or train reservations. Everything was in place. The venues were huge and well received.

Our hats off to the Japanese for being very appreciative and supportive of our music. It could not have been better. We took pictures along the way. You can click here to see some really nice people.