AUGUST 28TH SALON CANCELLED DUE TO HURRICANE WARNING...
SALON – that unique, MULTIPLE AWARD WINNING, Weekly Open Mic Event, created and hosted by Mark Janas will return to Etcetera, Etcetera - 352 West 44th Street, NYC 10036 – on Sunday, September 18th from 7-10:30PM. (Sign-Up Begins at 6:15.)
September 4th: NO SALON
September 11th: NO SALON
September 18th:
Theme: Does Anyone Need a Drink?
Co-Host: David Ballard
September 25th:
Theme: Variety
Co-Host: Darren Williams
October 2nd:
Theme: Sweet Revenge
Co-Host: Gabrielle Stravelli
October 9th: NO SALON
October 16th:
Theme: Inappropriate Songs For Weddings & Funerals
Co-Hosts: The Cougars - Patricia Fitzpatrick, Helena Grenot & Dana Lorge
October 23rd:
Theme: That's Italian – Opera to Pop-era
Co-Hosts: O Sole Trio – Giuseppe Spoletini, Erin Shields & David Shenton
Salon is an ongoing open entertainment event in which singers, writers and musicians share their talent with each other and audience members.
There is a $10 cash cover collected at the door and a $15 food/drink minimum (cash or credit) per person. (For more information about Etcetera, Etcetera's delicious menu: www.etcrestaurant.com.) There are no reservations; seating is on a first come/first served basis, Doors open and sign up begins at 6:15pm. The evening runs 7-10:30, with one intermission. If you would like to sign up to perform, see one the evening's 'Etceterettes' to fill out a card with your name, the name of your song, whether or not Mark will be playing for you and any upcoming events you'd like to promote. We do not present performers in order of sign-up, however, indicating requests as clearly and as early as possible as far as time restraints are concerned always makes everything much more possible. ALWAYS BRING SEVERAL SONG SELECTIONS to avoid duplication. All types of material, on or off theme are always welcome at Salon. We enthusiastically welcome instrumentalists, poets, playwrights, essayists, comics, illusionists and performance artists. Please limit your selections to three or four minutes in length (including introductions). Please also bring clear, complete charts for Mark to read. Sitting on the piano is not allowed, nor is flash photography. Please turn off all noise making devices and give performers your undivided attention.
Visit our website at www.markjanasthesalon.com and look for us on Facebook!
Thank you to our sponsors Dr. Garrett Bennett & Father Jeffrey Hamblin, MD!
Looking forward to seeing you all Sunday, September 18th!
Thanks,
Tanya Moberly
Producer
P.S. If you would like to remove your name from or add a name to our mailing list please email us.
-Sierra Rein
The Blogette for The Salon
Spelling mistakes? URL's I missed? Did I mess up? Please email me.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
The Salon Wrap-Up for August 21, 2011: "Friends and Lovers"
Etcetera Etcetera was filled with friends and love, for that was the theme of the evening! And who could not love, love, love the co-host of the evening - Carole Demas, who represented young love to a T as the original Sandy in Grease on Broadway, and who was and still is beloved from TV's Magic Garden. She has a return engagement at The Laurie Beechman Theater called "Summer Nights," September 19th and October 17, both at 7pm. So go share the love she has of music with her on those nights!
Mark opened up the beginning of The Salon to the audience, to let them share what shows or performances they had seen recently - Follies, Anything Goes, Sister Act, Bob-Haired Bnadit, Simply Streisand and MetroStar Challenge all got a shoutout. Carole was then introduced, and she sang "Old Friends," a song celebrating and bemoaning the changes in our lives as we stay continued friends. Then, Elaine St. George sang the beautiful ballad "I Belong Here." We then were treated to returning Keni Fine, who first performed a short scenes between Rick and Louis from "Casablanca" which he wrote, before singing a hilarious parody of "Do You Love Me?" from Fiddler on the Roof entitled "Do You Owe Me?" He has a great French accent, by the way, and amidst writing parodies, Keni is involved in the production of Godspell in Circle in the Square on Broadway in October. Next, Richard Eisenberg, with Mark Janas on piano and Sean Harkness on guitar, sang his own composition of "The Moment that You Fell in Love." It was a jazzy, toe-tapping song!
We then heard from newcomer (and fan of Carole from childhood!) Laura Doherty, who is a visiting singer and songwriter from Chicago who has been doing children's music all her life. She played guitar for herself on an original folk rock song, a sweet love song entitled "Umbrella." She has several children's CDs, including her most recent title, "Shiny Like a Star." Check her out at lauradohertymusic.com. After Laura, Matthew Martin Ward sat at the piano and sang Jobim's "The Waters of March," but not until he performed a bit of a medley of "Friends and Lovers" songs, which unfortunately ended abruptly when, As Matt stated, "the music left him" in the middle of composing it. Ah well! After Matt, Alan Safier sang "Namely You," from Li'l Abner. Alan is performing is George Burns show on Sunday, October 30th at 2pm at the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts, and there will be a talk-back with Rupert Holmes after the show! Then, Lea McKenna Garcia belted her way through "And the World Goes Round," the classic Kander & Ebb song.
We then had a duet! Nick Levin sat at the piano with Erin Cronican singing with him, on a hilarious original duet of his entitled "You Can Co-Depend on Me." This song is going to start making the cabaret duet-team rounds, I'll tell you! Next, Steve Schalchlin sat to play and sing at the piano an incredibly personal, emotional, and tear-inducing song called "The Group." Even Sean Harkness, who followed Steve after with his guitar, wiped some tears from his eyes and commended him on his brave honesty. Sean then performed an instrumental original, "Puesta Del Sol (Sunset)," a quiet, simple lullabye guitar song which he'll be performing on September 6 at the Iridium. Next, we heard from Sierra Rein (me!) with Brian Allan Hobbs on piano - first singing "Rainbow Connection," and then singing "Start a Little War," from the musical The Many Women of Troy, music by Hobbs and lyrics by Michael Boynton. I left on Monday to perform in City of Angels at Goodspeed Musicals in Connecticut (I'm typing this on my laptop up here now!), and will miss you all! Erin Cronican and Arianna will continue the blogging as I'm away. To close the singing for the first half, Marissa Mulder, who is in the Top 5 contenders of the MetroStar Challenge, sang "Come Rain or Come Shine" with Bill Zeffiro on piano. And we all learned why she's in the Top 5 this week and next!
Classical Corner this week by Mark Janas was all about relations- how the friends and lovers of musical pieces relate to one another. In order to maintain the original color and mood of a piece when re-orchestrated for more or less instruments, one can either change the instrumentation, or change them to something that sounds like the original instrument. Mark played through a Schumann concerto, then played through a Magritte (I think?) concerto which was in the same key and which utilized the same structure of first few bars: big note followed by a candenza, which then flows into the first theme. In many ways these two pieces are a matched set, and are often put on the same recording (ie the A and B sides of a vinyl album). In many ways, Claude DeBussy's "Claire de Lune" in Db is paired with "Girl With The Flaxen Hair" in Gb by Jean-Yves Thibaudet - the planing (or how the chords fit), Impressionistic style, and the feel all have allowed these two to be married in Marks' mind. He also showed how a Beethoven piece (Opus 132 String Quartet) and a Brahms piece both disorient the listener's rhythm by playing with the location of the downbeat. Two passages are obviously related, and there was a lot of headbanging and swaying in the audience to find where the downbeat would be. He then played a Brahms sister piece, written as a study for the left hand only on a transcription of Bach's solo violin "Chaconne." The difficulty in playing the left hand only is meant to mimic the difficulty one would have playing it on the violin - and while page turning was easy, it looked to be an amazing feat - Mark made it sound like two hands were playing! Amazing.
After the break, we heard again from our co-host Carole Demas, who with music director Ian Herman at the piano, sang "Something in the Way (He) Moves" from The Beatles collection of hits. And while Carole is best known for Sandy in Grease, she was also the very first person to perform the title character of Stephen Schwartz's The Baker's Wife in Los Angeles, before it moved to New York. So, she sang "Meadowlark," with so much beautiful storytelling and emotion. She then sang "There's a Man Who Loves Me"and closed with the rousing and feisty country rock song "Whatever Happens."
Tanya Moberly, Producer extraordinaire, then sang "The Waiting Room," by Gwen Stefani (which was hard-core enough to match her awesome shoes). She will have several shows in October and November of her solo show, and is directing Marnie Klar's rock-infused debut show at Don't Tell Mama in October, November, and December. Check out TanyaMoberly.com and MarnieKlar.com for details! After Tanya, Kevin McMullan yuked it up with some economy-based jokes, and then sang the late Jim Fradrich's "Til A Moment Ago." Kevin has recently produced recorded pop versions of Jim's work - sung by some amazing singers - and will begin a Kickstarter campaign for his CD version of "Twist of Fate," his gypsy show originally performed at the Beechman. We next heard from Erin Lee Kelly, who is a songwriter and guitar player who works with tweens in Brooklyn. She channeled her inner 11-year old to sing "Tell Me," a song she wrote about the kids on the schoolbus, and all the gossip that ensues amongst their friendships.
Deb Berman, resplendent in bright blue, then stepped up with Sean Harkness to the stage and sang an amazingly beautiful Rogers & Hart song (originally removed from the 1930s show Simple Simon) entitled "He Was Too Good To Me" with smooth, mature, and gorgeously controlled vocals. Ian Herman next sat and played "Checkered Shirt," a country solo piano piece he wrote which was played so fast his fingers were a blur! Erin Cronican then returned to the stage to sing the comedic ballad "Even Though," a funny love song about a unique man. Erin is currently in rehearsals for "Closer," which opens on September 21 here in New York and will sing in Tanya's shows in October and November! Next, Marya Zimmet once again showed off her smooth jazz vocals on Cole Porter's "(I've Got You) Under My Skin," making us all yearn for whatever she had under there too. Sierra Rein (me, again) and Brian Allan Hobbs returned for one last time (sniff!) performing a duet on our own script and song version of "Movin' Right Along" from The Muppet Movie. And then Bill Zeffiro sang his hilariously biting "Have You Met You?" - he's performing piano each Tuesday at La Mediterrannee, and will have a Noel Coward show at the Oak Room (!) on October 23rd. To close the evening, Carole Demas sang "Bridge over Troubled Waters" by Paul Simon, with Ian on piano and Sean on guitar, a fantastically powerful end to an evening of new and old friends (and maybe some lovers mixed in) alike!
THIS SUNDAY! SALON – that unique, MULTIPLE AWARD WINNING, Weekly Open Mic Event, created and hosted by Mark Janas returns to Etcetera, Etcetera - 352 West 44th Street, NYC 10036 – on Sunday, August 28th from 7-10:30PM! (Sign-Up Begins at 6:15.) The optional theme for the evening is “The Marvelous 50's & 60's”. Remember, any material, on or off theme, is always welcome at Salon. Our Co-Hosts will be The Marvelous Wonderettes - Brittney Morello, Danielle Erin Rhodes, Lara Seibert & Morgan Smith! For more information about their recent production at Maine State Music Theatre with Mark Janas as Musical Director: www.msmt.org. For more information about The Wonderettes one by one: www.brittneymorello.com & look for the other three on Facebook.
-Sierra Rein
The Blogette for The Salon
Spelling mistakes? URL's I missed? Did I mess up? Please email me.
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| Carole Demas |
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| Keni Fine |
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| Laura Doherty |
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| Lea McKenna Garcia |
Classical Corner this week by Mark Janas was all about relations- how the friends and lovers of musical pieces relate to one another. In order to maintain the original color and mood of a piece when re-orchestrated for more or less instruments, one can either change the instrumentation, or change them to something that sounds like the original instrument. Mark played through a Schumann concerto, then played through a Magritte (I think?) concerto which was in the same key and which utilized the same structure of first few bars: big note followed by a candenza, which then flows into the first theme. In many ways these two pieces are a matched set, and are often put on the same recording (ie the A and B sides of a vinyl album). In many ways, Claude DeBussy's "Claire de Lune" in Db is paired with "Girl With The Flaxen Hair" in Gb by Jean-Yves Thibaudet - the planing (or how the chords fit), Impressionistic style, and the feel all have allowed these two to be married in Marks' mind. He also showed how a Beethoven piece (Opus 132 String Quartet) and a Brahms piece both disorient the listener's rhythm by playing with the location of the downbeat. Two passages are obviously related, and there was a lot of headbanging and swaying in the audience to find where the downbeat would be. He then played a Brahms sister piece, written as a study for the left hand only on a transcription of Bach's solo violin "Chaconne." The difficulty in playing the left hand only is meant to mimic the difficulty one would have playing it on the violin - and while page turning was easy, it looked to be an amazing feat - Mark made it sound like two hands were playing! Amazing.
After the break, we heard again from our co-host Carole Demas, who with music director Ian Herman at the piano, sang "Something in the Way (He) Moves" from The Beatles collection of hits. And while Carole is best known for Sandy in Grease, she was also the very first person to perform the title character of Stephen Schwartz's The Baker's Wife in Los Angeles, before it moved to New York. So, she sang "Meadowlark," with so much beautiful storytelling and emotion. She then sang "There's a Man Who Loves Me"and closed with the rousing and feisty country rock song "Whatever Happens."
Tanya Moberly, Producer extraordinaire, then sang "The Waiting Room," by Gwen Stefani (which was hard-core enough to match her awesome shoes). She will have several shows in October and November of her solo show, and is directing Marnie Klar's rock-infused debut show at Don't Tell Mama in October, November, and December. Check out TanyaMoberly.com and MarnieKlar.com for details! After Tanya, Kevin McMullan yuked it up with some economy-based jokes, and then sang the late Jim Fradrich's "Til A Moment Ago." Kevin has recently produced recorded pop versions of Jim's work - sung by some amazing singers - and will begin a Kickstarter campaign for his CD version of "Twist of Fate," his gypsy show originally performed at the Beechman. We next heard from Erin Lee Kelly, who is a songwriter and guitar player who works with tweens in Brooklyn. She channeled her inner 11-year old to sing "Tell Me," a song she wrote about the kids on the schoolbus, and all the gossip that ensues amongst their friendships.
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Deb Berman, resplendent in bright blue, then stepped up with Sean Harkness to the stage and sang an amazingly beautiful Rogers & Hart song (originally removed from the 1930s show Simple Simon) entitled "He Was Too Good To Me" with smooth, mature, and gorgeously controlled vocals. Ian Herman next sat and played "Checkered Shirt," a country solo piano piece he wrote which was played so fast his fingers were a blur! Erin Cronican then returned to the stage to sing the comedic ballad "Even Though," a funny love song about a unique man. Erin is currently in rehearsals for "Closer," which opens on September 21 here in New York and will sing in Tanya's shows in October and November! Next, Marya Zimmet once again showed off her smooth jazz vocals on Cole Porter's "(I've Got You) Under My Skin," making us all yearn for whatever she had under there too. Sierra Rein (me, again) and Brian Allan Hobbs returned for one last time (sniff!) performing a duet on our own script and song version of "Movin' Right Along" from The Muppet Movie. And then Bill Zeffiro sang his hilariously biting "Have You Met You?" - he's performing piano each Tuesday at La Mediterrannee, and will have a Noel Coward show at the Oak Room (!) on October 23rd. To close the evening, Carole Demas sang "Bridge over Troubled Waters" by Paul Simon, with Ian on piano and Sean on guitar, a fantastically powerful end to an evening of new and old friends (and maybe some lovers mixed in) alike!
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| Deb Berman and Sean Harkness |
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| Ian Herman |
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| Carole Demas and Sean Harkness |
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| The Marvelous Wonderettes |
The Blogette for The Salon
Spelling mistakes? URL's I missed? Did I mess up? Please email me.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Update from Producer Tanya Moberly - August 28th, 2011 "The Marvelous 50's & 60's"
SALON – that unique, MULTIPLE AWARD WINNING, Weekly Open Mic Event, created and hosted by Mark Janas returns to Etcetera, Etcetera - 352 West 44th Street, NYC 10036 – on Sunday, August 28th from 7-10:30PM! (Sign-Up Begins at 6:15.)
The optional theme for the evening is “The Marvelous 50's & 60's”.
Remember, any material, on or off theme, is always welcome at Salon.
Our Co-Hosts will be The Marvelous Wonderettes - Brittney Morello, Danielle Erin Rhodes, Lara Seibert & Morgan Smith! For more information about their recent production at Maine State Music Theatre with Mark Janas as Musical Director: www.msmt.org. For more information about The Wonderettes one by one: www.brittneymorello.com & look for the other three on Facebook.
Salon continues every Sunday (except Sept 4th, Sept 11th & Oct 9th):
September 4th: NO SALON
September 11th: NO SALON
September 18th:
Theme: Does Anyone Need a Drink?
Co-Host: David Ballard
September 25th:
Theme: Variety
Co-Host: Darren Williams
October 2nd:
Theme: Sweet Revenge
Co-Host: Gabrielle Stravelli
October 9th: NO SALON
October 16th:
Theme: Inappropriate Songs For Weddings & Funerals
Co-Hosts: The Cougars - Patricia Fitzpatrick, Helena Grenot & Dana Lorge
October 23rd:
Theme: TBA
Co-Hosts: O Sole Trio – Giuseppe Spoletini, Erin Shields & David Shenton
Salon is an ongoing open entertainment event in which singers, writers and musicians share their talent with each other and audience members.
There is a $10 cash cover collected at the door and a $15 food/drink minimum (cash or credit) per person. (For more information about Etcetera, Etcetera's delicious menu: www.etcrestaurant.com.) There are no reservations; seating is on a first come/first served basis, Doors open and sign up begins at 6:15pm. The evening runs 7-10:30, with one intermission. If you would like to sign up to perform, see one the evening's 'Etceterettes' to fill out a card with your name, the name of your song, whether or not Mark will be playing for you and any upcoming events you'd like to promote. We do not present performers in order of sign-up, however, indicating requests as clearly and as early as possible as far as time restraints are concerned always makes everything much more possible. ALWAYS BRING SEVERAL SONG SELECTIONS to avoid duplication. All types of material, on or off theme are always welcome at Salon. We enthusiastically welcome instrumentalists, poets, playwrights, essayists, comics, illusionists and performance artists. Please limit your selections to three or four minutes in length (including introductions). Please also bring clear, complete charts for Mark to read. Sitting on the piano is not allowed, nor is flash photography. Please turn off all noise making devices and give performers your undivided attention.
Visit our website at www.markjanasthesalon.com and look for us on Facebook!
Thank you to our sponsors Dr. Garrett Bennett & Father Jeffrey Hamblin, MD!
Looking forward to seeing you all Sunday, August 28th!
Thanks,
Tanya Moberly
Producer
P.S. If you would like to remove or add a name to our mailing list please email news@markjanasthesalon.com.
-Sierra Rein
The Blogette for The Salon
Spelling mistakes? URL's I missed? Did I mess up? Please email me.
The optional theme for the evening is “The Marvelous 50's & 60's”.
Remember, any material, on or off theme, is always welcome at Salon.
Our Co-Hosts will be The Marvelous Wonderettes - Brittney Morello, Danielle Erin Rhodes, Lara Seibert & Morgan Smith! For more information about their recent production at Maine State Music Theatre with Mark Janas as Musical Director: www.msmt.org. For more information about The Wonderettes one by one: www.brittneymorello.com & look for the other three on Facebook.
Salon continues every Sunday (except Sept 4th, Sept 11th & Oct 9th):
September 4th: NO SALON
September 11th: NO SALON
September 18th:
Theme: Does Anyone Need a Drink?
Co-Host: David Ballard
September 25th:
Theme: Variety
Co-Host: Darren Williams
October 2nd:
Theme: Sweet Revenge
Co-Host: Gabrielle Stravelli
October 9th: NO SALON
October 16th:
Theme: Inappropriate Songs For Weddings & Funerals
Co-Hosts: The Cougars - Patricia Fitzpatrick, Helena Grenot & Dana Lorge
October 23rd:
Theme: TBA
Co-Hosts: O Sole Trio – Giuseppe Spoletini, Erin Shields & David Shenton
Salon is an ongoing open entertainment event in which singers, writers and musicians share their talent with each other and audience members.
There is a $10 cash cover collected at the door and a $15 food/drink minimum (cash or credit) per person. (For more information about Etcetera, Etcetera's delicious menu: www.etcrestaurant.com.) There are no reservations; seating is on a first come/first served basis, Doors open and sign up begins at 6:15pm. The evening runs 7-10:30, with one intermission. If you would like to sign up to perform, see one the evening's 'Etceterettes' to fill out a card with your name, the name of your song, whether or not Mark will be playing for you and any upcoming events you'd like to promote. We do not present performers in order of sign-up, however, indicating requests as clearly and as early as possible as far as time restraints are concerned always makes everything much more possible. ALWAYS BRING SEVERAL SONG SELECTIONS to avoid duplication. All types of material, on or off theme are always welcome at Salon. We enthusiastically welcome instrumentalists, poets, playwrights, essayists, comics, illusionists and performance artists. Please limit your selections to three or four minutes in length (including introductions). Please also bring clear, complete charts for Mark to read. Sitting on the piano is not allowed, nor is flash photography. Please turn off all noise making devices and give performers your undivided attention.
Visit our website at www.markjanasthesalon.com and look for us on Facebook!
Thank you to our sponsors Dr. Garrett Bennett & Father Jeffrey Hamblin, MD!
Looking forward to seeing you all Sunday, August 28th!
Thanks,
Tanya Moberly
Producer
P.S. If you would like to remove or add a name to our mailing list please email news@markjanasthesalon.com.
-Sierra Rein
The Blogette for The Salon
Spelling mistakes? URL's I missed? Did I mess up? Please email me.
Monday, August 15, 2011
The Salon Wrap-Up for August 14, 2010: "Black & White"
What's black and white and talented all over?! The singers and performers at The Salon last night! Bwahaha!* Our lovely and engaging co-host of the evening was self-proclaimed "Middle-Aged Party Girl" Marianne Challis, who is also a recording artist, cabaret performer, and teacher. She's currently in the midst of her Broadway Bootcamp for the summer in Connecticut, to encourage and teach 60 students of musical theater! The theme was "Black and White," celebrating songs from black and white movies, songs that include "white" and "black" in the titles and lyrics, songs written by African-American and Caucasian writers alike, and anything that pointed out the simplicities of life or the dis-inclusion of color. Marianne herself is singing in the show "Wine Women & Song" with Andy Fisher at the Astor Center on September 19th from 6:30pm-8:30pm. She will provide entertainment between wine tasting courses (you'll actually learn wine tasting principles and appreciation while whe sings). This sounds like a fantastic date for wine and cabaret lovers alike...
Marianne started out the evening with a whole medley of music from black and white movies, many from Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers films: "Let's Face the Music & Dance," "Cheek to Cheek," "Let Yourself Go," and "Steppin' Out," amongst others.
Marianne then introduced up to the stage Joan Jaffe, who is so full of color herself and wore a gold and white ensemble. Joan sang the amusing "Saloon," which even has the line "and I hate Cabaret..." but we forgave her. She is performing her show "Joan Jaffe Sings Funny" at the Towers Country Club on September 9th, but then is introducing an entirely new show, "Man-ha-ha-ha-TAN," at Don't Tell Mama's October 9, 12, 26 & 30th (all at 7pm). With such varied song choices and hilarious renditions, I'm sure this will be a treat. After Joan, Richard Eisenberg sang his sweetly sad but eventually uplifting "Color Blind Blues," then Marianne brought up her good friend Laurie Krauz to sing "Honeysuckle Rose." Laurie is a multi-MAC Award winner and soulful alto, who sang and scatted her way through this classic song, and even included a covered trumpet scat solo. She has a fantastic control of her vocals and wowed everyone. She will perform with Danny Kojak at the Metropolitan Room on September 16th with their show "Celebrate 20 Years of Making Music Together."
Barb Malley, a steadfast Salon regular now, then sang "Blues in the Night," from the black & white movie of the same name. Next, Marni Raab, with Michael Larsen on piano, sang the lovely "Infinite Joy" by William Finn. If Marni's name sounds familiar, it's because you may have seen her sing high notes as Christine Daae in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway - she performs each Monday and Thursday night! She is going to bring her Cabaret show "Wishes Are Children" to Los Angeles in November! Next, Marissa Mulder (with Bill Zeffiro at the piano) sang "Why Did I Choose You?" from The Yearling. And speaking of choosing, she has been chosen as one of the TOP 8 contender's for this year's MetroStar Challenge at the Metropolitan Room - she's performing again TONIGHT and with the help of audience participation, will make it all the way to the end! (**update Tuesday 8/16: she made it to the next round - she's in the Top Five!**) Then, Bill Zeffiro stayed at the piano to sing a brand new song - "Have You Met You?" a biting and angrily witty song inspired by a conversational question originally put directly to him (we can only imagine his response!). We then heard from Steve "The Whistler" Herbst, who sang and whistled through "Georgia On My Mind," a song written by a "white" man (Hoagie Charmichael), but made famous by a "black" man (Ray Charles).
Marianne Challis opened up the second half with a beautifully crafted three-song set. She was thrilled that her family (daughter and son) were in the audience to watch. She started out with a fast-paced, jazzy version of "I Can't Give You Anything But Love," from the 1931 movie "Happy Birthday." And speaking of Birthdays, we had a Birthday party in the back for Shelia, so Marianna conducted the entire Salon to sing a multi-part "Happy Birthday" to Shelia, which she topped off with a chocolate-esque martini. Marianne then sang "God Does But I Don't," a country song by Lyle Lovett about how some things are not as black and white as they seem. She then sang a gorgeous rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," which is of course from the first black and white portion of the famous movie The Wizard of Oz with Judy Garland.
*I apologize profusely for this - so sorry! :)
NEXT SUNDAY! SALON – that unique, MULTIPLE AWARD WINNING, Weekly Open Mic Event, created and hosted by Mark Janas returns to Etcetera, Etcetera - 352 West 44th Street, NYC 10036 – on Sunday, August 21st from 7-10:30PM! (Sign-Up Begins at 6:15.)
The optional theme for the evening is “Friends & Lovers”. Remember, any material, on or off theme, is always welcome at Salon.
Our Co-Host will be the Delightful Carole Demas! Carole is of course best known for creating the role of Sandy in the Original Broadway production of “Grease”. She is also known as the beloved co-star of “The Magic Garden”, the most successful regional show in the history of children’s television. She will be appearing in “Simply Streisand” on August 24th and in her own show, “Summer Nights” on September 19th & October 17th - all shows at 7pm at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 West 42nd St, NYC 10036, 212-695-6909. For more information about Carole's busy schedule: http://www.caroledemas.com/.
Salon continues every Sunday (except September 4th & September 11th)!
-Sierra Rein
The Blogette for The Salon
Marianne started out the evening with a whole medley of music from black and white movies, many from Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers films: "Let's Face the Music & Dance," "Cheek to Cheek," "Let Yourself Go," and "Steppin' Out," amongst others.
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| Marianne jazzes up the start of the show! |
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| Laurie Krauz |
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| Marni Raab |
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| Marissa Mulder |
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| Steve "The Whistler" Herbst |
Marya Zimmet was next, singing "Cheek to Cheek," which fit her smooth vocals perfectly. She is working on a new show for Don't Tell Mama, which will be announced soon. Then, my friend Brian Allan Hobbs sat at the piano to play on his own composition, "That Greenwood Tree," performed vocally by the beautiful Aurora Barnes, who has a deep, rich voice that fit the Southern Blues song wonderfully. This song was from a musical written by Brian with lyrics by Michael Boynton on an inspiration of Twelfth Night. I, Sierra Rein, then performed, singing "With Every Breath I Take" from the color-and-black-and-white-musical City of Angels (which I'll start rehearsing on at Goodspeed Musicals in a week!). I then had the pleasure of letting The Salon members know that David Ballard (who was not waiting on tables that night) got an invitation to audition as a lyricist to the BMI program, after submitting a number of audio clips recorded at The Salon over the past weeks! Yay David! We're rooting for you! To complete the singers for the first half, the stately Maureen Taylor sang "More Than You Know," which was written for Mayo Methot, third wife of Humphrey Bogart, which is the 2nd degree of separation from Maureen's upcoming show "Taylor Made Legend: a Tribute to Lauren Bacall" in October and November!
And then it was Classical Corner time! Mark took a moment to look down at the piano and exclaim "What does black and white mean to a pianist?!?!" The answer, of course, is EVERYTHING, as without the black keys, the white keys are just a blur. The black keys provide perfect "road marks" for the visual and tactile abilities of pianists of all levels, and the black keys always add the warm and dark tones to every song. Songs in the key of C major (ie all of the white keys) are very bright, which is fine for a while...but the human ear and the human heart needs to hear those sharps and flats. For example, the key of E has a bright tonic key regardless of having four black keys, yet it has a richer tone than C major. Db is richer even more; it uses all the black keys and is quite evocative. He then played Chopin's "Ab Ballade," which is the most optimistic of his four ballades and which utilizes all the warmth that the black keys can offer.
Marianne Challis opened up the second half with a beautifully crafted three-song set. She was thrilled that her family (daughter and son) were in the audience to watch. She started out with a fast-paced, jazzy version of "I Can't Give You Anything But Love," from the 1931 movie "Happy Birthday." And speaking of Birthdays, we had a Birthday party in the back for Shelia, so Marianna conducted the entire Salon to sing a multi-part "Happy Birthday" to Shelia, which she topped off with a chocolate-esque martini. Marianne then sang "God Does But I Don't," a country song by Lyle Lovett about how some things are not as black and white as they seem. She then sang a gorgeous rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," which is of course from the first black and white portion of the famous movie The Wizard of Oz with Judy Garland.
Always the one to bring in unique songs from popular culture of every era, Tanya Moberly did not dissappoint, as she then sang "Black Tambourine" by Beck. She has shows up the wazoo, with solo works at Don't Tell Mama on October 17th and 24th, November 7th and 14th, then directing Marnie Klar's show on October 3rd, Novemer 1st and December 5th. We then had encores! Joan Jaffe came up and sang "You Make Me Feel So Young" (and watching Joan, the gesture was returned!). Richie Eisenberg sang the lovely and innocent waltz "Now That I Know How To Love Someone," and Marya Zimmet stayed on theme to sing the empowering standard, "Bye Bye Blackbird." Bill Zeffiro, taking a cue from the rain outside, took to the piano to play and sing through Randy Newman's "Every Time it Rains." With Bill still at the piano, Barb Malley sang "On The Other Side of the Tracks." Then, Steve Herbst whistled and sang "Summertime" (once again, written by white men and performed by a black cast). Then I (Sierra) sang "Shades of Grey," a song all about the lost "black and white" innocence of youth and easier times, recorded by The Monkees (Peter and Mike were my favs growing up) and written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. Maureen Taylor came up second to last to sing "To Make The Boy a Man" from Goodtime Charley. Marianne closed the evening to sing a "Queen Petula" song, the crowd-pleasing "Downtown" - as she explained, she saw Queen Petula sing this in 1965 on the Ed Sullivan Show, in black and white on her old family TV.
 |
| Marianne admires Tanya's stems. |
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| Bill Zeffiro |
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| Mark and Marianne close the evening |
*I apologize profusely for this - so sorry! :)
NEXT SUNDAY! SALON – that unique, MULTIPLE AWARD WINNING, Weekly Open Mic Event, created and hosted by Mark Janas returns to Etcetera, Etcetera - 352 West 44th Street, NYC 10036 – on Sunday, August 21st from 7-10:30PM! (Sign-Up Begins at 6:15.)
The optional theme for the evening is “Friends & Lovers”. Remember, any material, on or off theme, is always welcome at Salon.
Our Co-Host will be the Delightful Carole Demas! Carole is of course best known for creating the role of Sandy in the Original Broadway production of “Grease”. She is also known as the beloved co-star of “The Magic Garden”, the most successful regional show in the history of children’s television. She will be appearing in “Simply Streisand” on August 24th and in her own show, “Summer Nights” on September 19th & October 17th - all shows at 7pm at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 West 42nd St, NYC 10036, 212-695-6909. For more information about Carole's busy schedule: http://www.caroledemas.com/.
Salon continues every Sunday (except September 4th & September 11th)!
-Sierra Rein
The Blogette for The Salon
Spelling mistakes? URL's I missed? Did I mess up? Please email me.
Update from Producer Tanya Moberly: "Friends & Lovers" - August 21st, 2011!
SALON – that unique, MULTIPLE AWARD WINNING, Weekly Open Mic Event, created and hosted by Mark Janas returns to Etcetera, Etcetera - 352 West 44th Street, NYC 10036 – on Sunday, August 21st from 7-10:30PM! (Sign-Up Begins at 6:15.)
The optional theme for the evening is “Friends & Lovers”.
Remember, any material, on or off theme, is always welcome at Salon.
Our Co-Host will be the Delightful Carole Demas! Carole is of course best known for creating the role of Sandy in the Original Broadway production of “Grease”. She is also known as the beloved co-star of “The Magic Garden”, the most successful regional show in the history of children’s television. She will be appearing in “Simply Streisand” on August 24th and in her own show, “Summer Nights” on September 19th & October 17th - all shows at 7pm at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 West 42nd St, NYC 10036, 212-695-6909. For more information about Carole's busy schedule: http://www.caroledemas.com/.
Salon continues every Sunday (except September 4th & September 11th):
August 28th:
Theme: The Marvelous 50's & 60's
Co-Hosts: The Wonderettes - Brittney Morello, Danielle Erin Rhodes, Lara Seibert & Morgan Smith
September 4th: NO SALON
September 11th: NO SALON
September 18th:
Theme: Does Anyone Need a Drink?
Co-Host: David Ballard
September 25th:
Theme: Variety
Co-Host: Darren Williams
October 2nd:
Theme: TBA
Co-Host: Gabrielle Stravelli
Salon is an ongoing open entertainment event in which singers, writers and musicians share their talent with each other and audience members. There is a $10 cash cover collected at the door and a $15 food/drink minimum (cash or credit) per person. (For more information about Etcetera, Etcetera's delicious menu: http://www.etcrestaurant.com/.) There are no reservations; seating is on a first come/first served basis, Doors open and sign up begins at 6:15pm. The evening runs 7-10:30, with one intermission. If you would like to sign up to perform, see one the evening's 'Etceterettes' to fill out a card with your name, the name of your song, whether or not Mark will be playing for you and any upcoming events you'd like to promote. We do not present performers in order of sign-up, however, indicating requests as clearly and as early as possible as far as time restraints are concerned always makes everything much more possible. ALWAYS BRING SEVERAL SONG SELECTIONS to avoid duplication. All types of material, on or off theme are always welcome at Salon. We enthusiastically welcome instrumentalists, poets, playwrights, essayists, comics, illusionists and performance artists. Please limit your selections to three or four minutes in length (including introductions). Please also bring clear, complete charts for Mark to read. Sitting on the piano is not allowed, nor is flash photography. Please turn off all noise making devices and give performers your undivided attention.
Visit our website at www.markjanasthesalon.com/and look for us on Facebook!
Thank you to our sponsors Dr. Garrett Bennett & Father Jeffrey Hamblin, MD!
Looking forward to seeing you all Sunday, August 21st!
Thanks,
Tanya Moberly
Producer
P.S. If you would like to add your name to our mailing list please email tanya at news@markjanasthesalon.com.
-Sierra Rein
The Blogette for The Salon
Spelling mistakes? URL's I missed? Did I mess up? Please email me.
The optional theme for the evening is “Friends & Lovers”.
Remember, any material, on or off theme, is always welcome at Salon.
Our Co-Host will be the Delightful Carole Demas! Carole is of course best known for creating the role of Sandy in the Original Broadway production of “Grease”. She is also known as the beloved co-star of “The Magic Garden”, the most successful regional show in the history of children’s television. She will be appearing in “Simply Streisand” on August 24th and in her own show, “Summer Nights” on September 19th & October 17th - all shows at 7pm at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 West 42nd St, NYC 10036, 212-695-6909. For more information about Carole's busy schedule: http://www.caroledemas.com/.
Salon continues every Sunday (except September 4th & September 11th):
August 28th:
Theme: The Marvelous 50's & 60's
Co-Hosts: The Wonderettes - Brittney Morello, Danielle Erin Rhodes, Lara Seibert & Morgan Smith
September 4th: NO SALON
September 11th: NO SALON
September 18th:
Theme: Does Anyone Need a Drink?
Co-Host: David Ballard
September 25th:
Theme: Variety
Co-Host: Darren Williams
October 2nd:
Theme: TBA
Co-Host: Gabrielle Stravelli
Salon is an ongoing open entertainment event in which singers, writers and musicians share their talent with each other and audience members. There is a $10 cash cover collected at the door and a $15 food/drink minimum (cash or credit) per person. (For more information about Etcetera, Etcetera's delicious menu: http://www.etcrestaurant.com/.) There are no reservations; seating is on a first come/first served basis, Doors open and sign up begins at 6:15pm. The evening runs 7-10:30, with one intermission. If you would like to sign up to perform, see one the evening's 'Etceterettes' to fill out a card with your name, the name of your song, whether or not Mark will be playing for you and any upcoming events you'd like to promote. We do not present performers in order of sign-up, however, indicating requests as clearly and as early as possible as far as time restraints are concerned always makes everything much more possible. ALWAYS BRING SEVERAL SONG SELECTIONS to avoid duplication. All types of material, on or off theme are always welcome at Salon. We enthusiastically welcome instrumentalists, poets, playwrights, essayists, comics, illusionists and performance artists. Please limit your selections to three or four minutes in length (including introductions). Please also bring clear, complete charts for Mark to read. Sitting on the piano is not allowed, nor is flash photography. Please turn off all noise making devices and give performers your undivided attention.
Visit our website at www.markjanasthesalon.com/and look for us on Facebook!
Thank you to our sponsors Dr. Garrett Bennett & Father Jeffrey Hamblin, MD!
Looking forward to seeing you all Sunday, August 21st!
Thanks,
Tanya Moberly
Producer
P.S. If you would like to add your name to our mailing list please email tanya at news@markjanasthesalon.com.
-Sierra Rein
The Blogette for The Salon
Spelling mistakes? URL's I missed? Did I mess up? Please email me.
Friday, August 12, 2011
The Salon Wrap-Up for August 7, 2011: "Opposites Attract!"
We deal in opposites every day: from Fortissimo to pianissimo, from too hot in the Summer to too cold in the Winter. Elaine St. George has made a career about singing the opposite of what is expected of her - usually singing songs meant for male characters and voices, and she doesn't change the lyrics to cow-tow to conventions. She simply sings the songs as written! The evening's theme was "Opposites Attract," and from the get-go, Elaine co-hosted with humor and wit.
She opened up the evening with "Maria" from West Side Story, which certainly works in for female voice as well as a male voice! She then introduced Stephen Hanks, who sang "Castles in the Air" by Don McLean. He is Co-Producer of The Fartiste, which will have previews this fall in October, and is also excited to be on the board for the Musical Mondays Theater Lab. We then had a Hanks double-feature surprise - Stephen was proud to watch his daughter, Jean Hanks, perform "Take Me Or Leave Me" from Rent. Jean (who wowed us with her songwriting skills a few weeks ago) will be a Sophomore this September, and the whole audience wished this talented lady the best! After Jean, we heard Marya Zimmet, who coo'ed with velvet tones through "You Go to My Head." Her debut show will be announced soon - more information to come! We then heard a unique take on Cole Porter's "Down in the Depths," as sung and played on piano by Ivan Törzs, who mixed a samba feel with Gershwin-like licks and flourishes. As he described it, it was "a girl's song sung with liberties."
Mark then grabbed the mic to introduce his old friend, David Shenton. David is both a classical and jazz pianist, and a violinist to boot. He came up to the stage area with his violin, then sat down at the piano. We were puzzled. David then started playing a jazzy version of "All of Me" with two hands on the piano, all the while with his bow in his lap and his violin tucked under his chin. He then broke into a classical rendition of the song - thus showing the "opposite" of jazz - and then began an amazing solo-violin-duet, seamlessly alternating passages of violin, then passages (or bumped chords) of piano. Then, with the right hand hitting the piano keys and the left hand strumming the violin, David played both at the same time!!!! Hot damn, the audience was at their feet immediately after this display of musician-and-showmanship mixed in one! David is part of O Sole Trio, a performance group consisting of himself, his wife Erin Shields, and Giuseppe Spoletini, and they specialize in Italian works. They are performing at Cafe Vivaldi this Friday August 12th at 9:45pm, and September 1st, 7pm, at the Metropolitan Room, and then September 12, 19th, and 26th at 9:30pm, and October 3rd at 9:30pm. Check David out at http://www.shentonmusic.com/ and check out http://www.osoletrio.com/ to visit the trio's site!
Next to the piano was Anita Hollander and her daughter Holland Hamilton, who took the other mic to sing with her mother on "For Good" from Wicked. It was such a beautiful and touching thing to see and hear, especially after hearing that Holland has been mouthing the words to her mother's songs since she was 3. Holland had just returned from playing Sally Bowles in Cabaret and Flora in Flora the Red Menace (a modern-day Liza Minelli!). Anita is a composer herself, and will perform the role of Job's wife in the musical The Song of Job 9:11, by Danny Ashkenasi - they will perform Job in numerous locations around New York City in September - dates and times can be found here. We then heard from Bill Zeffiro, who performed his piece "Happy Birthday, Mrs. Parker", since August is the Birth Month of Dorothy herself. As to the opposites theme? "She's dead, I'm alive," as Bill explained. He will perform at La Mediterrane each Tuesday night, from now until Kingdom Come. After Bill, we heard from Emily Bergl (with Bill on piano), singing her multiple-opposites vision of "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart." She is performing her show "Kidding on the Square" at the Algonquin Hotel's Oak Room from August 30th - September 10th!
Next, we heard Alan Safier, who sang a real and honest rendition of "Simple Little Things," a song typically sung by a young heroine, from 110 In the Shade. His new CD is available on the web via Amazon.com, and will perform his George Burns show "Say Goodnight, Gracie" - http://www.alansafier.com/. Erin Shields, who is married to David Shenton and was born in Chicago and studied opera in Indiana (like Mark), then stood at the mic. She has a classic 40's beauty and a gorgeous voice - she sang while David played the piano on an amazing version of "My Funny Valentine," with Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" as the accompanying music. Excellently played and performed! After Erin, Elizabeth Tryon did a feisty, flirty rendition of "Chacun le Salt" - an uptempo opera aria. Her show "Where the Music Takes Me" will be at Feinstein's on Tuesday August 16th at 8:30pm, with Mark Janas at the piano's helm. We then heard from this upcoming Salon's co-host, Marianne Challis, who brought in a "ditty" comedy uptempo song - the hilarious "Tom Cruise Scares Me." David Ballard sang the funny "Way Ahead of My Time" and annouced that he will be co-hosting The Salon on Septemer 18th. The theme will be his signature sign-off, "Does Anybody Need A Drink?" He's also leaving to be in Guys and Dolls on Fire Island, and we are crossing our fingers as he submits himself to the BMI lyricist program. Shana Farr, our Etceterette of the evening, then sang "Living in the Shadows" from Victor/Victoria (certainly a song about opposites!). Her Julie Andrews show "Whistling Away The Dark" performs at the Metropolitan Room this Monday at 9:30pm and this Wednesday at 7pm.
We then had Classical Corner! This was an impromptu situation, as Mark did not know that David Shenton was going to attend The Salon until that night, so they decided to put both heads and all four hands together to play a four-hand piano piece written by Franz Schubert. These sort of pieces were written during a time when chamber music - or indeed, living-room entertainment - was the only form of fun musicians could have in the household (this was before recorded music). With Mark playing the lower keys, and David playing the top, they exemplified an amazing array of coordination. Their heads bobbed up and down, breathing together, and allowed body movements and breaths (for the most part) to signal to one another changes in rhythm and tone. I say "for the most part" because they interjected comments to each other and to the audience to explain certain moments (jibs against Franz Schubert, confused page turns, and the gin and tonics running through their system were all topics of conversation). They achieved another standing ovation, and we took a break!
Elaine St. George began the second half of the evening with a beautiful but somber sing-through of "I Won't Send Roses." Then, she introduced the next two songs in her set by saying "I thought I would take advantage and sing the opposite of what I usually sing about...MEN." She then invited Kay ThePal Pringle (a former co-host of The Salon) to join up with her and sing "Marry The Man Today" from Guys & Dolls. Elaine learned how to laugh girlishly from Kay, and Kay learned how to leave the fist for after... :) Myself, Sierra Rein (who's hand was up Kay for the duration of the duet) then let the audience know of Marquee Five's upcoming CD, as well as her future engagement in City of Angels at Goodspeed this Fall. To complete her set, Elaine sang an utterly brilliant combination of "I'm Getting Married in the Morning" from My Fair Lady and "I'm Not Getting Married Today," the tongue-twisting spitfire song from Company. It was brilliant!
Producer Tanya Moberly, who is performing at Don't Tell Mama on Octoer 17th, 24th, November 7th and 14th, and who is directing Marnie Klar on October 3rd, Novemer 1st and December 5th, then got up to the mic herself. She sang "Feelings," an adorable song sung by Eve about her new beau, Adam. Mary Walsh, with David Shenton at the piano, then had her Salon debut and sang "I Wish I Were in Love Again," a perfect song for the theme of the evening, due to all the opposite-based lyrics! Jaye Maynard then popped up to sing "I'm Shadowing You," a song by Blossom Dearie from her show "Bird Amongst the Blossom," a tribute to the first Blossom Dearie Songbook. Jon Delfin played piano for her, and she announced that she will be at the United Solo Festival on 42nd from October thru to November. We then heard from Marnie Klar, who will have her cabaret debut (a rock-themed show directed by Tanya) in October. She sang a heartfelt version of "Unusual Way" with sweetness and innocence that it changed the song's usually somber tones to an uplifting love song.
We then got a whole chain of complete opposites in a row - Richard Eisenberg sang from his repertoire, but from the voice of a female character. He got down and dirty and Minelli-esque whilst singing "Liza," a song about yearning to sing like her in every way possible. Then we had Tony Imgrund, who stepped away from his typical ballad style to sing "See What I Want to See" by Michael John LaChiusa, a funky blues-50's romp combining the conversation of two very opinionated people - it was great! Chanteuse Janice Hall then brought a Marlene Deitrich-empowered song "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face" from My Fair Lady, which Marlene herself did not change the lyrics of when she sang it. Janice is off to shoot a movie too, so who knows if she'll become the next Marlene on screen. Next, Stephanie Zagora came up to sing "Some Enchanted Evening" and explained that she thought of who her opposite was, and she came up with Ezio Pinza! Very funny, and the song was beautiful. Barb Malley then sang "To Keep My Love Alive," a morbidly funny tribute to heterosexual love. We then had another debut! Jamie Salzano expertly performed "Everything I've Got Belongs to You," which sounds like a good thing, but...uhhh...isn't in this case! Kevin McMullan then brought back his Carol Channing impersonation for a brief moment to show what she would sound like doing Shakespeare (and giving all reverence to Richard Skipper in the process) before singing "I Put My Hand in There" from Hello, Dolly! in his own voice. He is starting a Kickstarter.com campaign for a CD version of his show "Twist of Fate" - more information soon! To end the evening, we heard from Marie McGowan, who sang the lovely "You Fascinate Me So." Then our spunky, sassy, ever-so-talented co-host, Elaine St. George, brought in Springsteen's "Jersey Girl," even though she informed us that her lady is not from Jersey at all. But the sentiment was still there! It was an excellent, fully-packed evening with SO much unique song and performance choices!
THIS SUNDAY! The optional theme for the evening is “Black & White”. Bring in songs from Black & White Films like SOME LIKE IT HOT or Television Shows like “The Addams Family” or anything ranging from“That Old Black Magic” to songs from The White Album. Our Co-Host will be the Bistro and Hanson Award Winning Marianne Challis! Marianne will be at The Astor Center, 399 Lafayette St. (at East 4th St.) NYC 10003 on September 19th at 6:30pm in “Wine, Women & Song”. For more information: http://www.astorcenternyc.com/ / http://www.mariannechallis.com/.
All themes and co-hosts are up at http://markjanasthesalon.blogspot.com/ if you wish to plan ahead! See you at The Salon!
-Sierra Rein
The Blogette for The Salon
Spelling mistakes? URL's I missed? Did I mess up? Please email me.
She opened up the evening with "Maria" from West Side Story, which certainly works in for female voice as well as a male voice! She then introduced Stephen Hanks, who sang "Castles in the Air" by Don McLean. He is Co-Producer of The Fartiste, which will have previews this fall in October, and is also excited to be on the board for the Musical Mondays Theater Lab. We then had a Hanks double-feature surprise - Stephen was proud to watch his daughter, Jean Hanks, perform "Take Me Or Leave Me" from Rent. Jean (who wowed us with her songwriting skills a few weeks ago) will be a Sophomore this September, and the whole audience wished this talented lady the best! After Jean, we heard Marya Zimmet, who coo'ed with velvet tones through "You Go to My Head." Her debut show will be announced soon - more information to come! We then heard a unique take on Cole Porter's "Down in the Depths," as sung and played on piano by Ivan Törzs, who mixed a samba feel with Gershwin-like licks and flourishes. As he described it, it was "a girl's song sung with liberties."
Mark then grabbed the mic to introduce his old friend, David Shenton. David is both a classical and jazz pianist, and a violinist to boot. He came up to the stage area with his violin, then sat down at the piano. We were puzzled. David then started playing a jazzy version of "All of Me" with two hands on the piano, all the while with his bow in his lap and his violin tucked under his chin. He then broke into a classical rendition of the song - thus showing the "opposite" of jazz - and then began an amazing solo-violin-duet, seamlessly alternating passages of violin, then passages (or bumped chords) of piano. Then, with the right hand hitting the piano keys and the left hand strumming the violin, David played both at the same time!!!! Hot damn, the audience was at their feet immediately after this display of musician-and-showmanship mixed in one! David is part of O Sole Trio, a performance group consisting of himself, his wife Erin Shields, and Giuseppe Spoletini, and they specialize in Italian works. They are performing at Cafe Vivaldi this Friday August 12th at 9:45pm, and September 1st, 7pm, at the Metropolitan Room, and then September 12, 19th, and 26th at 9:30pm, and October 3rd at 9:30pm. Check David out at http://www.shentonmusic.com/ and check out http://www.osoletrio.com/ to visit the trio's site!
Next to the piano was Anita Hollander and her daughter Holland Hamilton, who took the other mic to sing with her mother on "For Good" from Wicked. It was such a beautiful and touching thing to see and hear, especially after hearing that Holland has been mouthing the words to her mother's songs since she was 3. Holland had just returned from playing Sally Bowles in Cabaret and Flora in Flora the Red Menace (a modern-day Liza Minelli!). Anita is a composer herself, and will perform the role of Job's wife in the musical The Song of Job 9:11, by Danny Ashkenasi - they will perform Job in numerous locations around New York City in September - dates and times can be found here. We then heard from Bill Zeffiro, who performed his piece "Happy Birthday, Mrs. Parker", since August is the Birth Month of Dorothy herself. As to the opposites theme? "She's dead, I'm alive," as Bill explained. He will perform at La Mediterrane each Tuesday night, from now until Kingdom Come. After Bill, we heard from Emily Bergl (with Bill on piano), singing her multiple-opposites vision of "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart." She is performing her show "Kidding on the Square" at the Algonquin Hotel's Oak Room from August 30th - September 10th!
Next, we heard Alan Safier, who sang a real and honest rendition of "Simple Little Things," a song typically sung by a young heroine, from 110 In the Shade. His new CD is available on the web via Amazon.com, and will perform his George Burns show "Say Goodnight, Gracie" - http://www.alansafier.com/. Erin Shields, who is married to David Shenton and was born in Chicago and studied opera in Indiana (like Mark), then stood at the mic. She has a classic 40's beauty and a gorgeous voice - she sang while David played the piano on an amazing version of "My Funny Valentine," with Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" as the accompanying music. Excellently played and performed! After Erin, Elizabeth Tryon did a feisty, flirty rendition of "Chacun le Salt" - an uptempo opera aria. Her show "Where the Music Takes Me" will be at Feinstein's on Tuesday August 16th at 8:30pm, with Mark Janas at the piano's helm. We then heard from this upcoming Salon's co-host, Marianne Challis, who brought in a "ditty" comedy uptempo song - the hilarious "Tom Cruise Scares Me." David Ballard sang the funny "Way Ahead of My Time" and annouced that he will be co-hosting The Salon on Septemer 18th. The theme will be his signature sign-off, "Does Anybody Need A Drink?" He's also leaving to be in Guys and Dolls on Fire Island, and we are crossing our fingers as he submits himself to the BMI lyricist program. Shana Farr, our Etceterette of the evening, then sang "Living in the Shadows" from Victor/Victoria (certainly a song about opposites!). Her Julie Andrews show "Whistling Away The Dark" performs at the Metropolitan Room this Monday at 9:30pm and this Wednesday at 7pm.
We then had Classical Corner! This was an impromptu situation, as Mark did not know that David Shenton was going to attend The Salon until that night, so they decided to put both heads and all four hands together to play a four-hand piano piece written by Franz Schubert. These sort of pieces were written during a time when chamber music - or indeed, living-room entertainment - was the only form of fun musicians could have in the household (this was before recorded music). With Mark playing the lower keys, and David playing the top, they exemplified an amazing array of coordination. Their heads bobbed up and down, breathing together, and allowed body movements and breaths (for the most part) to signal to one another changes in rhythm and tone. I say "for the most part" because they interjected comments to each other and to the audience to explain certain moments (jibs against Franz Schubert, confused page turns, and the gin and tonics running through their system were all topics of conversation). They achieved another standing ovation, and we took a break!
Elaine St. George began the second half of the evening with a beautiful but somber sing-through of "I Won't Send Roses." Then, she introduced the next two songs in her set by saying "I thought I would take advantage and sing the opposite of what I usually sing about...MEN." She then invited Kay ThePal Pringle (a former co-host of The Salon) to join up with her and sing "Marry The Man Today" from Guys & Dolls. Elaine learned how to laugh girlishly from Kay, and Kay learned how to leave the fist for after... :) Myself, Sierra Rein (who's hand was up Kay for the duration of the duet) then let the audience know of Marquee Five's upcoming CD, as well as her future engagement in City of Angels at Goodspeed this Fall. To complete her set, Elaine sang an utterly brilliant combination of "I'm Getting Married in the Morning" from My Fair Lady and "I'm Not Getting Married Today," the tongue-twisting spitfire song from Company. It was brilliant!
Producer Tanya Moberly, who is performing at Don't Tell Mama on Octoer 17th, 24th, November 7th and 14th, and who is directing Marnie Klar on October 3rd, Novemer 1st and December 5th, then got up to the mic herself. She sang "Feelings," an adorable song sung by Eve about her new beau, Adam. Mary Walsh, with David Shenton at the piano, then had her Salon debut and sang "I Wish I Were in Love Again," a perfect song for the theme of the evening, due to all the opposite-based lyrics! Jaye Maynard then popped up to sing "I'm Shadowing You," a song by Blossom Dearie from her show "Bird Amongst the Blossom," a tribute to the first Blossom Dearie Songbook. Jon Delfin played piano for her, and she announced that she will be at the United Solo Festival on 42nd from October thru to November. We then heard from Marnie Klar, who will have her cabaret debut (a rock-themed show directed by Tanya) in October. She sang a heartfelt version of "Unusual Way" with sweetness and innocence that it changed the song's usually somber tones to an uplifting love song.
We then got a whole chain of complete opposites in a row - Richard Eisenberg sang from his repertoire, but from the voice of a female character. He got down and dirty and Minelli-esque whilst singing "Liza," a song about yearning to sing like her in every way possible. Then we had Tony Imgrund, who stepped away from his typical ballad style to sing "See What I Want to See" by Michael John LaChiusa, a funky blues-50's romp combining the conversation of two very opinionated people - it was great! Chanteuse Janice Hall then brought a Marlene Deitrich-empowered song "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face" from My Fair Lady, which Marlene herself did not change the lyrics of when she sang it. Janice is off to shoot a movie too, so who knows if she'll become the next Marlene on screen. Next, Stephanie Zagora came up to sing "Some Enchanted Evening" and explained that she thought of who her opposite was, and she came up with Ezio Pinza! Very funny, and the song was beautiful. Barb Malley then sang "To Keep My Love Alive," a morbidly funny tribute to heterosexual love. We then had another debut! Jamie Salzano expertly performed "Everything I've Got Belongs to You," which sounds like a good thing, but...uhhh...isn't in this case! Kevin McMullan then brought back his Carol Channing impersonation for a brief moment to show what she would sound like doing Shakespeare (and giving all reverence to Richard Skipper in the process) before singing "I Put My Hand in There" from Hello, Dolly! in his own voice. He is starting a Kickstarter.com campaign for a CD version of his show "Twist of Fate" - more information soon! To end the evening, we heard from Marie McGowan, who sang the lovely "You Fascinate Me So." Then our spunky, sassy, ever-so-talented co-host, Elaine St. George, brought in Springsteen's "Jersey Girl," even though she informed us that her lady is not from Jersey at all. But the sentiment was still there! It was an excellent, fully-packed evening with SO much unique song and performance choices!
THIS SUNDAY! The optional theme for the evening is “Black & White”. Bring in songs from Black & White Films like SOME LIKE IT HOT or Television Shows like “The Addams Family” or anything ranging from“That Old Black Magic” to songs from The White Album. Our Co-Host will be the Bistro and Hanson Award Winning Marianne Challis! Marianne will be at The Astor Center, 399 Lafayette St. (at East 4th St.) NYC 10003 on September 19th at 6:30pm in “Wine, Women & Song”. For more information: http://www.astorcenternyc.com/ / http://www.mariannechallis.com/.
All themes and co-hosts are up at http://markjanasthesalon.blogspot.com/ if you wish to plan ahead! See you at The Salon!
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| Our lovely Co-Host, Elaine St. George |
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| David Shenton is quite, quite, QUITE handy!!! |
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| Mother and Daughter, Anita and Holland Hamilton |
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| Alan Safier sings tenderly |
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| Richie Eisenberg shows off his inner Diva! |
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| Tony Imgrund sasses it up, hilariously! |
-Sierra Rein
The Blogette for The Salon
Spelling mistakes? URL's I missed? Did I mess up? Please email me.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Update from Producer Tanya Moberly: "Black and White" - August 14th, 2011!
SALON – that unique, MULTIPLE AWARD WINNING, Weekly Open Mic Event, created and hosted by Mark Janas returns to Etcetera, Etcetera - 352 West 44th Street, NYC 10036 – on Sunday, August 14th from 7-10:30PM! (Sign-Up Begins at 6:15.)
The optional theme for the evening is “Black & White”. Bring in songs from Black & White Films like SOME LIKE IT HOT or Television Shows like “The Addams Family” or anything ranging from“That Old Black Magic” to songs from The White Album.
Remember, any material, on or off theme, is always welcome at Salon.
Our Co-Host will be the Bistro and Hanson Award Winning Marianne Challis! Marianne will be at The Astor Center, 399 Lafayette St. (at East 4th St.) NYC 10003 on September 19th at 6:30pm in “Wine, Women & Song”. For more information: www.astorcenternyc.com/ / www.mariannechallis.com/
Salon continues every Sunday (except September 4th & September 11th):
August 21st:
Theme: Friends & Lovers
Co-Host: Carole Demas
August 28th:
Theme: The Marvelous 50's & 60's
Co-Hosts: The Wonderettes - Brittney Morello, Danielle Erin Rhodes, Lara Seibert & Morgan Smith
September 4th: NO SALON
September 11th: NO SALON
September 18th:
Theme: Does Anyone Need a Drink?
Co-Host: David Ballard
September 25th:
Theme: Variety
Co-Host: Darren Williams
October 2nd:
Theme: TBA
Co-Host: Gabrielle Stravelli
Salon is an ongoing open entertainment event in which singers, writers and musicians share their talent with each other and audience members. There is a $10 cash cover collected at the door and a $15 food/drink minimum (cash or credit) per person. (For more information about Etcetera, Etcetera's delicious menu: www.etcrestaurant.com/.) There are no reservations; seating is on a first come/first served basis, Doors open and sign up begins at 6:15pm. The evening runs 7-10:30, with one intermission. If you would like to sign up to perform, see one the evening's 'Etceterettes' to fill out a card with your name, the name of your song, whether or not Mark will be playing for you and any upcoming events you'd like to promote. We do not present performers in order of sign-up, however, indicating requests as clearly and as early as possible as far as time restraints are concerned always makes everything much more possible. ALWAYS BRING SEVERAL SONG SELECTIONS to avoid duplication. All types of material, on or off theme are always welcome at Salon. We enthusiastically welcome instrumentalists, poets, playwrights, essayists, comics, illusionists and performance artists. Please limit your selections to three or four minutes in length (including introductions). Please also bring clear, complete charts for Mark to read. Sitting on the piano is not allowed, nor is flash photography. Please turn off all noise making devices and give performers your undivided attention.
Visit our website at www.markjanasthesalon.com/and look for us on Facebook!
Thank you to our sponsors Dr. Garrett Bennett & Father Jeffrey Hamblin, MD!
Looking forward to seeing you all Sunday, August 14th!
Thanks,
Tanya Moberly
Producer
P.S. If you would like to add your name to our mailing list please email tanya at news@markjanasthesalon.com.
-Sierra Rein
The Blogette for The Salon
Spelling mistakes? URL's I missed? Did I mess up? Please email me.
The optional theme for the evening is “Black & White”. Bring in songs from Black & White Films like SOME LIKE IT HOT or Television Shows like “The Addams Family” or anything ranging from“That Old Black Magic” to songs from The White Album.
Remember, any material, on or off theme, is always welcome at Salon.
Our Co-Host will be the Bistro and Hanson Award Winning Marianne Challis! Marianne will be at The Astor Center, 399 Lafayette St. (at East 4th St.) NYC 10003 on September 19th at 6:30pm in “Wine, Women & Song”. For more information: www.astorcenternyc.com/ / www.mariannechallis.com/
Salon continues every Sunday (except September 4th & September 11th):
August 21st:
Theme: Friends & Lovers
Co-Host: Carole Demas
August 28th:
Theme: The Marvelous 50's & 60's
Co-Hosts: The Wonderettes - Brittney Morello, Danielle Erin Rhodes, Lara Seibert & Morgan Smith
September 4th: NO SALON
September 11th: NO SALON
September 18th:
Theme: Does Anyone Need a Drink?
Co-Host: David Ballard
September 25th:
Theme: Variety
Co-Host: Darren Williams
October 2nd:
Theme: TBA
Co-Host: Gabrielle Stravelli
Salon is an ongoing open entertainment event in which singers, writers and musicians share their talent with each other and audience members. There is a $10 cash cover collected at the door and a $15 food/drink minimum (cash or credit) per person. (For more information about Etcetera, Etcetera's delicious menu: www.etcrestaurant.com/.) There are no reservations; seating is on a first come/first served basis, Doors open and sign up begins at 6:15pm. The evening runs 7-10:30, with one intermission. If you would like to sign up to perform, see one the evening's 'Etceterettes' to fill out a card with your name, the name of your song, whether or not Mark will be playing for you and any upcoming events you'd like to promote. We do not present performers in order of sign-up, however, indicating requests as clearly and as early as possible as far as time restraints are concerned always makes everything much more possible. ALWAYS BRING SEVERAL SONG SELECTIONS to avoid duplication. All types of material, on or off theme are always welcome at Salon. We enthusiastically welcome instrumentalists, poets, playwrights, essayists, comics, illusionists and performance artists. Please limit your selections to three or four minutes in length (including introductions). Please also bring clear, complete charts for Mark to read. Sitting on the piano is not allowed, nor is flash photography. Please turn off all noise making devices and give performers your undivided attention.
Visit our website at www.markjanasthesalon.com/and look for us on Facebook!
Thank you to our sponsors Dr. Garrett Bennett & Father Jeffrey Hamblin, MD!
Looking forward to seeing you all Sunday, August 14th!
Thanks,
Tanya Moberly
Producer
P.S. If you would like to add your name to our mailing list please email tanya at news@markjanasthesalon.com.
-Sierra Rein
The Blogette for The Salon
Spelling mistakes? URL's I missed? Did I mess up? Please email me.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
The Salon Wrap-Up for July 31, 2011: "That's Original!"
The heat was on, but the room at Etcetera, Etcetera was nice and cool for the audience and singers of The Salon this past Sunday night. The theme was "That's Original!", a celebration of original song pieces, "firsts," and songs that hold their own. Mark Janas had just returned from the Buck Hill Skytop Festival (wearing their black-red tshirt), and told stories of the 90 minute version of Carmen he helped create. In addition to shaving down the full orchestral score to 11 pieces, he played the electric keyboard (timponi on one hand and triangle in the other!). He also spoke adoringly of the 15 young scholars (High School and College age) who received his expert tutelage for the past 2 weeks.
As the theme was "That's Original!", the co-host was a songwriter of original and freshly emotional work, Brett Kristofferson. Brett has won the MAC award for Song of the Year, the Dottie Berman award, and a Bistro award for his achievements in songwriting! He started out the evening by inviting Maureen Taylor (in a summer blue) to sing Brett's original song, "This Time."
Then, we heard "It Was Just One of Those Things" by Cole Porter (a composer/lyricist of much originality), sung by Barb Malley, who sang the rarely-performed verse intro as well! Barb joked that her use of an American Standard evokes the sarchastic "Well, that's original!", but anything is welcome at The Salon!
Edie Stokes then sang, performing "How Are Things in Glocca Mora?", with Mark playing entirely from memory! Edie's new show "Midnight Ride on a Carousel" will continue her "Carousel"-themed shows, only this time involving songs of moonlight, twelve o'clock jitters, and night owls. Then Sunny Leigh, a recording artist who has written many blues-rock pieces, sang her original song "Ain't No Love," and treated us by playing the piano herself! Impromptu backup vocals from the audience accompanied Sunny, who is working on another CD and future shows. Next, Richard Eisenberg came up - this time singing both ON theme and OF theme, with his original song about original experiences - the jazzy "The First Time." Mark embellished on a great jazzy instrumental break and made the song fly!
The lovely Maureen Taylor returned to the microphone to sing "Make the Moment." As she put it, "we are all original but there are always instructions." She will soon perform a show in November centered around the glamourous movie star, Lauren Bacall. Next, David Ballard (who is currently becoming an Original Songwriter to contend with!) sang his "A Song About Your Baby." He is submitting for the BMI workshop as a lyricist, and will perform in Guys and Dolls in Fire Island this Fall! We then heard from Yours Truly (me, Sierra Rein), who took a suggestion from her husband to sing "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" by The Beatles. Turns out this song inspired the group who discovered the "missing link" skeleton to name their new lady-of-the-epoc "Lucy." After I sang, the leggy Etceterette, Candace Oden, whipped out "I Am What I Am" from La Cage Aux Folles, and let us know about the new improv group she and a friend are creating together - sounds like fun! and she will have more details about the group later.
Those who attend The Salon regularly love the Classical Corner - a chance for Mark (or guest pianist/co-host) to take the theme and apply it to the world of Classical music. This Sunday, Mark delved into the originals of Classical music, paying close attention to Beethoven and Mozart, and why their work was so original. When music scholars looked at the original scores hand-written by Mozart, they noticed not a single edit or "erasure" to his compositions - Mozart thought out every note before applying them to paper. Beethoven, on the other hand, scribbled and crossed out and drafted and re-wrote, until there were even 23 versions of his famous Fifth Symphony (you know, dah dah dah dummmmm). From memory, Mark even played this symphony and even some of the first sketches, showing how the final version had the "right" pauses and emotional tension to make it an original work of transformative music. For Beethoven, original ideas struggled out of him, and he sought to find the inevitability of it. As Leonard Bernstein once spoke of Beethoven, every note is the ONLY note that could have followed the previous one. Originality, Mark stated, is a product of surprise. Repeated themes, combined with new themes, provide both comfort and surprise for the ear, and the ratio between the two of them provide structure to the song.
The true challenge of Originality, at it's most basic definition, is IMPROV. Mozart would improve sonatas on a theme suggested by the audience. Jazz, like Schubert, derives most of its surprising elements from improv (Mark illustrated some fast-fingered Schubert from us off hand, showing how the configuration of major and minor keys tricked the ear). He then laid down a challenge to himself: he would play an original, improvised piano piece on the spot, based on suggestions from the audience. He got: Bb minor/Viennese waltz/theme of a storm. He then played.
It was breathtaking - Mark played roughly 8 minutes of off-the-cuff music that sounded like it could have been published then and there. He commented throughout if he thought there were any obvious "inspirations" he was drawing from - at one particularly stormy section, he called out "oh a little Carmen there," and "there's your Beethoven" at one point. After thunderous applause, he pointed out that in the era of Classical music, there was no television to distract the composers to do their work - each note might have been improvised into a starting form, but they did agonize over every note and how it fit in to the overall form of the song. Mark's composition teacher once said of modern improvisationally-themed music, it's as if "this man [the composer] wants to take you to his toilet and show it to you." Originality sometimes arises out of a need to rail agains authority. And while Nature gives us overtones that sound pretty and nice, we as original creators sometimes seek to fight against them with discord. As a closing note, he told us that every culture on Earth uses the notes that correspond to the black keys on the piano, which can hardly be said for the white. Officially, my mind was blown that night!
After the break, our gracious and talented co-host, Brett Kristofferson, offered to us a series of his original works, sung by some of his friends. Danny Leary (who co-hosted a comedy-themed Salon in 2010) hopped to the stage and sang a comedic song about an encounter with "Paul" at the gym. Then, Angela Schultz sang "The Lizzie Borden Rag," a viciously funny song with lyrics by Brent Peterson, from the musical As the Curtain Rises. Angela will be doing a new cabaret show with Brett in October at Don't Tell Mama! She then sang the tormented love song "Things That Haunt Me," which won the MAC Award for Song of the Year.
Tanya Moberly then came up to sin a song from an original musical she once performed in - she sang "He Never Leaves His Love," a classic, sultry blues number from the musical Night Club Confidential, by Dennis Deal and Albert Evans. She will return with new shows at Don't Tell Mama in October and November, and is directing Marnie Klar in her debut shows at Don't Tell Mama in October, November, and December! Tanya also made mention of the Tudor City Greens Concerts (tomorrow, Weds!!!), produced by Raissa Katona Bennett - more info at http://www.raissa.info/. After Tanya, Marya Zimmett sang "Bye Bye Blackbird" in sultry tones, and invited us to her Joabim show in September at Don't Tell Mama.
We then had encores! Richie Eisenberg sang "Start a Dream With Me" (title unsure), an original song of his which he has not done at The Salon before. Barb Malley sang "Love is Only Love" from the movie musical version of Hello Dolly, and Edie Stokes sang "Walkin' After Midnight" by Patsy Cline. David Ballard then returned to perform a cappella a piece that is in the middle of being originated - "A Letter to My Uncle," with music and lyrics by himself and an accompaniment to be determined! Mark quickly interjected the run of the singers to perform "The Allergists Woes," a parody of "My Favorite Things" which was dedicated to Allergist Dr. David Mazza. Canace Oden came up again to sing "Some People" from Gypsy, and Brett Kristofferson ended the evening with "Mickey", a moving song about comings and goings.
NEXT SUNDAY! The Salon returns to Etcetera, Etcetera - 352 West 44th Street, NYC 10036 – on Sunday, August 7th from 7-10:30PM! (Sign-Up Begins at 6:15.) The optional theme for the evening is “Opposites Attract”. (But remember kids, any material, on or off theme, is always welcome at Salon.)
Our Co-Host will be the Fabulous Elaine St. George! Elaine just finished a critically acclaimed Ray Charles show in the spring and has been singing "cross-gender" songs since her cabaret debut in "All I Need is the Girl" back in 1996. For more information: http://www.elainestgeorge.com/.
Salon continues every Sunday (except September 4 th & September 11th)! See you then!
-Sierra Rein
The Blogette for The Salon
Spelling mistakes? URL's I missed? Did I mess up? Please email me.
As the theme was "That's Original!", the co-host was a songwriter of original and freshly emotional work, Brett Kristofferson. Brett has won the MAC award for Song of the Year, the Dottie Berman award, and a Bistro award for his achievements in songwriting! He started out the evening by inviting Maureen Taylor (in a summer blue) to sing Brett's original song, "This Time."
 |
| Maureen Taylor |
 |
| Barb Malley |
The lovely Maureen Taylor returned to the microphone to sing "Make the Moment." As she put it, "we are all original but there are always instructions." She will soon perform a show in November centered around the glamourous movie star, Lauren Bacall. Next, David Ballard (who is currently becoming an Original Songwriter to contend with!) sang his "A Song About Your Baby." He is submitting for the BMI workshop as a lyricist, and will perform in Guys and Dolls in Fire Island this Fall! We then heard from Yours Truly (me, Sierra Rein), who took a suggestion from her husband to sing "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" by The Beatles. Turns out this song inspired the group who discovered the "missing link" skeleton to name their new lady-of-the-epoc "Lucy." After I sang, the leggy Etceterette, Candace Oden, whipped out "I Am What I Am" from La Cage Aux Folles, and let us know about the new improv group she and a friend are creating together - sounds like fun! and she will have more details about the group later.
Those who attend The Salon regularly love the Classical Corner - a chance for Mark (or guest pianist/co-host) to take the theme and apply it to the world of Classical music. This Sunday, Mark delved into the originals of Classical music, paying close attention to Beethoven and Mozart, and why their work was so original. When music scholars looked at the original scores hand-written by Mozart, they noticed not a single edit or "erasure" to his compositions - Mozart thought out every note before applying them to paper. Beethoven, on the other hand, scribbled and crossed out and drafted and re-wrote, until there were even 23 versions of his famous Fifth Symphony (you know, dah dah dah dummmmm). From memory, Mark even played this symphony and even some of the first sketches, showing how the final version had the "right" pauses and emotional tension to make it an original work of transformative music. For Beethoven, original ideas struggled out of him, and he sought to find the inevitability of it. As Leonard Bernstein once spoke of Beethoven, every note is the ONLY note that could have followed the previous one. Originality, Mark stated, is a product of surprise. Repeated themes, combined with new themes, provide both comfort and surprise for the ear, and the ratio between the two of them provide structure to the song.
The true challenge of Originality, at it's most basic definition, is IMPROV. Mozart would improve sonatas on a theme suggested by the audience. Jazz, like Schubert, derives most of its surprising elements from improv (Mark illustrated some fast-fingered Schubert from us off hand, showing how the configuration of major and minor keys tricked the ear). He then laid down a challenge to himself: he would play an original, improvised piano piece on the spot, based on suggestions from the audience. He got: Bb minor/Viennese waltz/theme of a storm. He then played.
 |
| Mark, rolling out a storm of notes on command |
After the break, our gracious and talented co-host, Brett Kristofferson, offered to us a series of his original works, sung by some of his friends. Danny Leary (who co-hosted a comedy-themed Salon in 2010) hopped to the stage and sang a comedic song about an encounter with "Paul" at the gym. Then, Angela Schultz sang "The Lizzie Borden Rag," a viciously funny song with lyrics by Brent Peterson, from the musical As the Curtain Rises. Angela will be doing a new cabaret show with Brett in October at Don't Tell Mama! She then sang the tormented love song "Things That Haunt Me," which won the MAC Award for Song of the Year.
 |
| Danny Leary |
 |
| Angela Schultz |
We then had encores! Richie Eisenberg sang "Start a Dream With Me" (title unsure), an original song of his which he has not done at The Salon before. Barb Malley sang "Love is Only Love" from the movie musical version of Hello Dolly, and Edie Stokes sang "Walkin' After Midnight" by Patsy Cline. David Ballard then returned to perform a cappella a piece that is in the middle of being originated - "A Letter to My Uncle," with music and lyrics by himself and an accompaniment to be determined! Mark quickly interjected the run of the singers to perform "The Allergists Woes," a parody of "My Favorite Things" which was dedicated to Allergist Dr. David Mazza. Canace Oden came up again to sing "Some People" from Gypsy, and Brett Kristofferson ended the evening with "Mickey", a moving song about comings and goings.
NEXT SUNDAY! The Salon returns to Etcetera, Etcetera - 352 West 44th Street, NYC 10036 – on Sunday, August 7th from 7-10:30PM! (Sign-Up Begins at 6:15.) The optional theme for the evening is “Opposites Attract”. (But remember kids, any material, on or off theme, is always welcome at Salon.)
Our Co-Host will be the Fabulous Elaine St. George! Elaine just finished a critically acclaimed Ray Charles show in the spring and has been singing "cross-gender" songs since her cabaret debut in "All I Need is the Girl" back in 1996. For more information: http://www.elainestgeorge.com/.
Salon continues every Sunday (except September 4 th & September 11th)! See you then!
 |
| Brett Kristofferson sings at the piano |
 |
| Danny, Angela, Brett & Maureen (thanks to Danny Leary for the photo!) |
The Blogette for The Salon
Spelling mistakes? URL's I missed? Did I mess up? Please email me.
Update from Producer Tanya Moberly - "Opposites Attract"!
SALON – that unique, MULTIPLE AWARD WINNING, Weekly Open Mic Event, created and hosted by Mark Janas returns to Etcetera, Etcetera - 352 West 44th Street, NYC 10036 – on Sunday, August 7th from 7-10:30PM! (Sign-Up Begins at 6:15.)
The optional theme for the evening is “Opposites Attract”.
Remember, any material, on or off theme, is always welcome at Salon.
Our Co-Host will be the Fabulous Elaine St. George! Elaine just finished a critically acclaimed Ray Charles show in the spring and has been singing "cross-gender" songs since her cabaret debut in "All I Need is the Girl" back in 1996. For more information: http://www.elainestgeorge.com/.
Salon continues every Sunday (except September 4 th & September 11th):
August 14th :
Theme: Black & White
Co-Host: Marianne Challis
August 21st :
Theme: Friends & Lovers
Co-Host: Carole Demas
August 28th :
Theme: The Marvelous 50's & 60's
Co-Hosts: The Wonderettes - Brittney Morello, Danielle Erin Rhodes, Lara Seibert & Morgan Smith
September 4th : NO SALON
September 11th : NO SALON
Salon is an ongoing open entertainment event in which singers, writers and musicians share their talent with each other and audience members.
There is a $10 cash cover collected at the door and a $15 food/drink minimum (cash or credit) per person. (For more information about Etcetera, Etcetera's delicious menu: http://www.etcrestaurant.com/.) There are no reservations; seating is on a first come/first served basis, Doors open and sign up begins at 6:15pm. The evening runs 7-10:30, with one intermission. If you would like to sign up to perform, see one the evening's 'Etceterettes' to fill out a card with your name, the name of your song, whether or not Mark will be playing for you and any upcoming events you'd like to promote. We do not present performers in order of sign-up, however, indicating requests as clearly and as early as possible as far as time restraints are concerned always makes everything much more possible. ALWAYS BRING SEVERAL SONG SELECTIONS to avoid duplication. All types of material, on or off theme are always welcome at Salon. We enthusiastically welcome instrumentalists, poets, playwrights, essayists, comics, illusionists and performance artists. Please limit your selections to three or four minutes in length (including introductions). Please also bring clear, complete charts for Mark to read. Sitting on the piano is not allowed, nor is flash photography. Please turn off all noise making devices and give performers your undivided attention.
Visit our website at http://www.markjanasthesalon.com/ and look for us on Facebook!
Thank you to our sponsors Dr. Garrett Bennett & Father Jeffrey Hamblin, MD!
And don't forget to check out The Free Concert at Tudor City Greens this Wednesday, August 3rd (rain date August 4th ) at 6:30pm. (41st St / East of Second Avenue) For more information: http://www.raissakatonabennett.com/.
Looking forward to seeing you all Sunday, August 7 th !
Thanks,
Tanya Moberly
Producer
PS If you would like to remove your name from or add a name to our mailing list please email news@markjanasthesalon.com.
-Sierra Rein
The Blogette for The Salon
Spelling mistakes? URL's I missed? Did I mess up? Please email me.
 |
| Painting by Lesa |
The optional theme for the evening is “Opposites Attract”.
Remember, any material, on or off theme, is always welcome at Salon.
Our Co-Host will be the Fabulous Elaine St. George! Elaine just finished a critically acclaimed Ray Charles show in the spring and has been singing "cross-gender" songs since her cabaret debut in "All I Need is the Girl" back in 1996. For more information: http://www.elainestgeorge.com/.
Salon continues every Sunday (except September 4 th & September 11th):
August 14th :
Theme: Black & White
Co-Host: Marianne Challis
August 21st :
Theme: Friends & Lovers
Co-Host: Carole Demas
August 28th :
Theme: The Marvelous 50's & 60's
Co-Hosts: The Wonderettes - Brittney Morello, Danielle Erin Rhodes, Lara Seibert & Morgan Smith
September 4th : NO SALON
September 11th : NO SALON
Salon is an ongoing open entertainment event in which singers, writers and musicians share their talent with each other and audience members.
There is a $10 cash cover collected at the door and a $15 food/drink minimum (cash or credit) per person. (For more information about Etcetera, Etcetera's delicious menu: http://www.etcrestaurant.com/.) There are no reservations; seating is on a first come/first served basis, Doors open and sign up begins at 6:15pm. The evening runs 7-10:30, with one intermission. If you would like to sign up to perform, see one the evening's 'Etceterettes' to fill out a card with your name, the name of your song, whether or not Mark will be playing for you and any upcoming events you'd like to promote. We do not present performers in order of sign-up, however, indicating requests as clearly and as early as possible as far as time restraints are concerned always makes everything much more possible. ALWAYS BRING SEVERAL SONG SELECTIONS to avoid duplication. All types of material, on or off theme are always welcome at Salon. We enthusiastically welcome instrumentalists, poets, playwrights, essayists, comics, illusionists and performance artists. Please limit your selections to three or four minutes in length (including introductions). Please also bring clear, complete charts for Mark to read. Sitting on the piano is not allowed, nor is flash photography. Please turn off all noise making devices and give performers your undivided attention.
Visit our website at http://www.markjanasthesalon.com/ and look for us on Facebook!
Thank you to our sponsors Dr. Garrett Bennett & Father Jeffrey Hamblin, MD!
And don't forget to check out The Free Concert at Tudor City Greens this Wednesday, August 3rd (rain date August 4th ) at 6:30pm. (41st St / East of Second Avenue) For more information: http://www.raissakatonabennett.com/.
Looking forward to seeing you all Sunday, August 7 th !
Thanks,
Tanya Moberly
Producer
PS If you would like to remove your name from or add a name to our mailing list please email news@markjanasthesalon.com.
-Sierra Rein
The Blogette for The Salon
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