The concert reading includes Mercer songs, which were heard on the film's soundtrack.

The Hoagy Carmichael/Johnny Mercer song "Skylark", sung by K.D. Lang, features prominently in the movie and the movie soundtrack is a tribute album to Johnny Mercer, containing 14 Mercer songs performed by a variety of jazz and pop recording artists.

On Sunday evening at Avery Fisher Hall, as part of the JVC Jazz Festival, readings from Mr. Berendt's book were interwoven with performances of many Mercer songs during a concert that also brought two of the book's more colorful characters to the stage.

Several of these types, and others including Mercer's protegee Margaret Whiting, whose idea it was, are part of a suitably oddball jazz cabaret at the State Theater in New Brunswick on Saturday: Mercer songs with "Midnight"-related narration.

"Well, 'Moon River' is pretty soothing," Mr. Miller said of the Mercer song, "but with my likes and dislikes I don't want to be the one that picks these numbers."

They will be performing such Mercer songs as "Satin Doll," "Moon River" and "That Old Black Magic."

Using nearly 40 Mercer songs, he fashioned a flowing sequence of five vignettes that evoke cafe society in the 1920's or the Rainbow Room in the 1930's and 40's.