December 14, 2014
Theme: “To Wit: Songs That Are Clever”
Our Co-Host was Multiple MAC & Bistro Award Winner Jeff Harnar! Jeff has performed all over the country and on television, as well as in 21 of The Cabaret Conventions. He recently finished a critically acclaimed run of OUR TIME – SULLIVAN & HARNAR SING SONDHEIM at The Laurie Beechman Theater and his solo recordings “The 1959 Broadway Songbook,” “Because of You: Fifties Gold,” “Sammy Cahn All the Way” and “Dancing in The Dark” are available on P.S. Classics. For more information: www.jeffharnar.com
First his first song, Jeff sang a lively, “I’m Throwing A Ball Tonight.” In his mid-show set, he brought the house down with “Put ‘Em In A Box” and a hilarious medley of songs from Oklahoma! in the style of Stephen Sondheim. For his final song of the evening, he sang the witty, wordy and wonderful, “Can Can (Or Too Marvelous For Words).”
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| Co-Host Jeff Harnar |
Quick Wrap: Classical Corner
What is wit in music? Founder & host Mark Janas says that there can certainly be a sense of humor in music, usually based on the element of surprise. A couple of Schubert songs came to Mark’s mind when thinking of the theme so he played excerpts from them: the “Moments Musicaux” F Major and F Minor Movements.
He was also thinking of the Chopin Etude known as the Butterfly Etude (because the pianist’s hand looks like a butter fly fluttering on the keys.) Mark said that the end of the song probably has the most witty ending in classical music, which he aptly demonstrated.
He then told some witty stories about Brahms. Brahms went to dinner at a wealthy man’s home and Brahms was someone who didn’t like it when people put things on “for show.” The host made an excuse to leave the room, went through a little door at the end of the dining room, and then returned with a dusty bottle of wine which seemed to have added cobwebs for effect. The host poured the wine and said, “This is the Brahms of the wine cellar,: and Brahms quipped, “Better bring the Beethoven.”
Mark then talked about Bach’s “D Major Fugue” which has a witty intelligence that conjures up powdered wigs, silk & stockings, and people taking bows. He talked about the structure of fugues (most notably themes) and he shared with us a segment of the song to illustrate how the theme is expressed over and over in different ways.
He then closed Classical Corner by playing Chopin’s “Ballade in A Flat Major.”
Roster of singers for the evening (in order of appearance):
Click link to visit the performer’s website, when available.
All piano accompaniment by Mark Janas unless otherwise noted.
Jeff Harner (with Alex Rybeck on piano)
Richie Eisenberg (with Alex Rybeck on piano)
Jim Speake
Virginia Hill
David Ballard
Ira Lee Collings
Alan Yashin
Ann Dawson
Rob Davis (with Alex Rybeck on piano)
Special thanks to tonight’s pianists and musicians: Mark Janas and Alex Rybeck.
And thank you to Gill Alexandre on lights and sound, our videographer Steve Bustamante, and our amazing waitstaff (David Ballard and team!) who always handles the demands of a full house with aplomb!
Upcoming shows:
Ongoing: Matthew Martin Ward plays on Mondays at the West End Lounge, 955 West End Ave, NYC.
Ongoing: Bill Zeffiro plays every Tuesday from 9-11pm at La Mediterranee, 947 Second Avenue (at 50th St), NYC.
Tuesday, December 30, 2014 (9pm) - Bill Zeffiro plays piano (with special guest singers Zach Wobensmith and Anna Marie Sell) at La Mediterranee, 947 Second Avenue (at 50th St), NYC.
Friday, January 9, 2015 (7pm) - Tanya Moberly is bringing a new series of shows called, “Songs I Feel Like Singing” (with a rotation of pianist - this date has Mark Janas) to Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Wednesday, January 14, 2014 (6:45pm) - Rob Davis is doing his solo cabaret debut at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.
Tuesday, January 20, 2015 (7pm) - Tanya Moberly is bringing a new series of shows called, “Songs I Feel Like Singing” (with a rotation of pianist - this date has Mark Janas) to Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Sunday, January 25, 2015 (3pm) - Barb Malley is bringing back her show “Eat! Drink! Be Merry” to Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Sunday, February 15, 2015 - Robin Kradles is bringing a brand new show “Heart Throb” to Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Friday, February 20, 2015 (9:30pm) - Tanya Moberly is bringing a new series of shows called, “Songs I Feel Like Singing” (with a rotation of pianist - this date has Sean Harkness) to Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015 (7pm) - Barb Malley is bringing back her show “Eat! Drink! Be Merry” to Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015 (7pm) - Tanya Moberly is bringing a new series of shows called, “Songs I Feel Like Singing” (with a rotation of pianist - this date has Sean Harkness) to Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Friday, March 20, 2015 (7pm) - Tanya Moberly is bringing a new series of shows called, “Songs I Feel Like Singing” (with a rotation of pianist - this date has Ritt Henn) to Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Tuesday, March 31, 2015 (9:30pm) - Tanya Moberly is bringing a new series of shows called, “Songs I Feel Like Singing” (with a rotation of pianist - this date has Ritt Henn) to Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Wednesday, April 29, 2014 (7pm) - Ann Dawson is bringing her new show, “Traveling Solo” to the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.
Sunday, May 31, 2014 (4pm) - Ann Dawson is bringing her new show, “Traveling Solo” to the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.
Next Week’s Salon
We have a break for the next 2 Salons - NO SALON December 21 or 28.
We’ll be back on January 4 with the theme, “Living In The Moment” with co-host, Champagne Pam. We’ll see you then!
Erin Cronican
Blogette for The Salon
(Updates? Changes? Email me.)
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