Chris Noth's new club plays host to Billy Joel before grand opening

Billy Joel has given actor Chris Noth's relaunched music club his seal of approval after hosting a private show at the New York venue days before its official opening.

Sex and the City star Noth is expected to throw open the doors of the relocated Cutting Room to the public next week (begs29Oct12), but he made a special exception for the Piano Man and agreed to let him use the bar for an intimate showcase on Monday (22Oct12).

Joel performed hits including She's Always a Woman to Me and Just the Way You Are for guests such as rocker pal Sting and his singer daughter Alexa Ray Joel, before taking part in a question and answer session.

The event was held to celebrate the veteran singer's recent signing to Universal and Rondor Music Publishing, according to the New York Daily News.

Noth was forced to close the original Cutting Room venue in 2009 due to spiralling costs.