Fred Talks to Cheryl Bentyne at Velvet Martini Lounge

Cheryl Bentyne has sung upstairs at Vitello's in Studio City plenty of times. On Saturday, October 3, she's coming back to The Velvet Martini Lounge downstairs, and this time she won't be singing. She'll be the one answering questions. If you like your weekend plans a little off the usual track, this is one of the more interesting things happening in Los Angeles that afternoon.

Who's on stage

Bentyne joined The Manhattan Transfer in 1979. Her first record with the group was Extensions, which also gave the quartet its first Grammy. Between 1979 and 2022 she recorded 21 albums with them and toured the world. Her solo career started in 1992 with Something Cool, and she's kept releasing albums since, mostly jazz takes on Cole Porter, George Gershwin and the rest of the Great American Songbook, plus a few pop covers like "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" and "Come Softly To Me."

The host is Fred Bronson, a music journalist whose byline has run in Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Rolling Stone and the Los Angeles Times. He wrote The Billboard Book of Number One Hits and has interviewed Paul McCartney, Mariah Carey and ABBA over a career that's lasted five decades. "Fred Talks To..." is his monthly live interview series at the lounge.

What to expect

It's a sit-down conversation, unscripted, lasting about 90 minutes. After the interview Bronson opens the floor for an audience Q&A, so bring a question about the Transfer years if you've got one. The room leans Old Hollywood, and the organizers pitch it as a brunch setting with craft cocktails. Seats are limited.

Can't make it in person? There's also an online streaming ticket. Stream buyers get the access details and password by email the day before.

Practical info

• When: Saturday, October 3. Doors at 12 PM, conversation from 1 PM to 2:30 PM.
• Where: The Velvet Martini Lounge at Vitello's, 4349 Tujunga Avenue, Studio City.
• Tickets: $12.51 to $28.52 on Eventbrite. No refunds.
• Food and drink: the lounge has a $35 per person food and beverage minimum, and it applies during this event too. Budget for it.
• Ages: all ages.
• Parking: the listing says free parking.

Tujunga Avenue's little restaurant strip is easy to reach from the 101 or the 170. If you're sorting through LA events this weekend and want something quieter than a club night, a jazz singer's stories over brunch is a good trade.

For more things to do in Los Angeles, browse the arts and culture calendar or the wider Los Angeles neighborhood page.