Ring in a jazzy New Year at the Settlers Inn

HAWLEY — Set out for smooth sailing in 2008 by ringing in the New Year at The Settlers Inn Supper Club featuring the jazz stylings of vocalist Thos Shipley. Equally at home in the most intimate New York and international jazz clubs, Shipley’s jazz and R&B vocal pyrotechnics have put him in a category that is singularly his own. Shipley (www.thosjazz.com) will entertain guests during two seatings on Monday, Dec 31 at 7 and 9:30 p.m. in The Settlers Inn Undercroft Lodge. Dinner will begin with appetizers such as pear and endive salad with artisan blue cheese and champagne vinaigrette, or lobster and tarragon sausage en croute. Entrées include roast duck with pear ginger chutney, guinea hen with champagne and wild mushroom sauce, sautéed sea scallops with grand marnier glaze, pork rib roast with spiced cider sauce, or tenderloin of beef with port wine sauce. And don’t forget The Settlers Inn’s famous desserts like deep dark chocolate torte with hazelnut pana cotta or meyer lemon custard cake with blood orange sorbet. Cost for the Inn’s three course dinner in the Undercroft Lodge is $65 per person plus tax and gratuities. Thos Shipley garnered the 1996 MAC Jazz Vocalist Award, which was presented by the legendary Al Jarreau. “This was thrilling because Al is one of my favorite jazz artists,” says Shipley, whose musical journey began when Tony- and Emmy Award-winning actress and singer Leslie Uggams discovered him singing in Atlanta. Uggams beckoned him north and introduced him in a solo show to a celebrity-packed room at the Claridge in Atlantic City. He then hit the New York club scene, performing at jazz venues before rising to new heights with an SRO concert performance in the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, playing the Spoleto Festival and performing in a one-man Off-Broadway show, “Broadway Goes Jazz.” Shipley recently completed a three-year stint on Broadway, in the production of “Miss Saigon” and appeared in a “Lyrics & Lyricists” tribute to Duke Ellington at the 92nd St. Y. His regional theatre credits include acting roles in “Five Guys named Moe” at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, and the Harold Arlen musical “Dreamland” under the artistic aegis of Peter Matz and Leonard Foglia at the Sharon Stage. Internationally, Shipley has headlined twice on tours of select jazz clubs in Japan and most recently at Harry’s in Singapore. In addition to Shipley’s New Year’s Eve performance, The Settlers Inn Main Dining Room will feature an a la carte menu from 5 to 10 p.m. with piano music by house musician Frank Willams. For more information about The Settlers Inn or reservations visit www.TheSettlersInn.com or call 570-226-2993.