Carole J. Bufford Stars in SPEAK EASY with Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks, 5/5-5/24

The singer Carole J. Bufford sings about the "dry" years in SPEAK EASY, her new Prohibition-era show running at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, from May 5 to 24. Backed by the Grammy Award-winning jazz-age band, Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks, Bufford pours out classics made famous by Sophie Tucker, Al Jolson, Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong, Helen Kane, Annette Hanshaw and more.

With music direction by Larry Lees, SPEAK EASY plays the forbidden hours in a four-show engagement running Saturday May 5 at 4pm, Thursday May 10 at 9:30pm, Saturday May 19 at 4pm, and Thursday May 24 at 9:30pm.

Traveling back to a time when flappers, vamps and sheiks shimmied in gin joints amid a swirl of social and political upheaval, Bufford, whose petite form packs a powder keg of talent, puts her own special mark on the torch singer leading a band of merry-making men. Since her cabaret debut as a finalist of the 2009 MetroStar Talent Challenge, Bufford has been distinguishing herself in numerous "Broadway by the Year" appearances, at the Cabaret Convention (2009 and 2010), and as a headliner of Scott Siegel's "11 O'Clock Numbers at 11 O'Clock" in a just-ended, eight-month run at Feinstein's.

Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks -- internationally known through performances, recordings, film soundtracks and TV broadcasts – just won a 2012 Grammy Award for their work on "Boardwalk Empire Vol. 1 – Music from the HBO Original Series." The Nighthawks currently hold forth every Monday and Tuesday at Sofia's Downstairs in the heart of Times Square.

Bufford's music charge is $25. For reservations call 212/206-0440. For more information or to order online visit www.metropolitanroom.com The Nightlife and Bistro Award-winning Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, celebrates its sixth anniversary in May.