January 25, 2015
Theme: “Optimism vs Pessimism”
I think that this week’s theme is germaine to our little “weather situation” facing NYC. Today, the mayor declared that NYC was going to see one of the worst blizzards we have ever seen in our history. This evoked a few responses which wildly varied on the Optimism/Pessimism spectrum, from “Oh crap! I need to stock up on supplies (wine & chocolate!)” to “Yeah right. I need to see it to believe it.” I guess only time will tell whose philosophy wins!
Our Co-Host was 2014 Metrostar Winner Kristoffer Lowe! Kristoffer just finished a run of his critically acclaimed debut cabaret show WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO SHINE. He also appeared in the 25th Annual Cabaret Convention at Lincoln Center’s Rose Hall. For more information, you can find Kristoffer on Facebook.
For his first song he sang an upbeat yet contemplative, “Sing Happy.” For his mid-show set he started with a powerful, “Life Is” followed by the charming story song (with a blues flair), “World Weary” and a delicious parody of “She’s Got A Way.” To close out the show, he sang one of my favorite songs, “Look Around” to remind everyone that there is beauty everywhere you look.
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| Co-Host Kristoffer Lowe |
Optimism. Pessimism. In classical music is is easy to boil it down to major and minor keys/chords. He played a couple of Chopin tunes which made it very easy to hear & feel either mood, and even within the same piece the elements flowed into one another (as all good stories do.)
Mark started talking about those songs that you know in your head but not because you’ve practiced it. He gave an example of “My Funny Valentine” - not everyone may have performed it but we all know it. He wondered if he had any classical pieces like that and pulled out Beethoven’s gorgeous and gentle “Pathetique Sonata.” He started out by plunking through a section of the 2nd Movement where he pointed out the free flow between optimistic major tones and pessimistic minor tones. He then played through the entire 2nd Movement, which represented a fairly optimistic viewpoint.
He then went back to the 1st Movement of the same piece, which he said we might more readily recognize (and we did!) He played through the entire 1st Movement and the audience sat in awe. It was glorious.
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.
Kristoffer Lowe
Leni Tabb
Michael Salat
Bennett Silverstein
Raffael Pacitti
Ira Lee Collings
Sandra Bargman (with Ian Herman on piano)
Ian Berman
David Ballard
Richie Eisenberg (with Erin Cronican on vocals)
Steve Bustamante (with and Erin Cronican on backing vocals)
Special thanks to tonight’s pianists and musicians: Mark Janas, Ian Herman, Richard Eisenberg, Dawn Derow, and Steve Bustamante!
And thank you to Gill Alexandre on lights and sound, and our amazing waitstaff who always handle the demands of a full house with grace and style.
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.
Saturday, January 30, 2015 (7pm) - Sandra Bargman (with Ian Herman) is appearing in “The Edge of Every Day” at The Duplex, 61 Christopher St, NYC.
Sunday, February 1, 2015 - Lauren Stanford is bringing back her debut cabaret to the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015 (6pm) - Dawn Derow is appearing in a show at Carroll Place on Bleecker Street.
Friday, February 6, 2015 - Lauren Stanford is appearing in “An Evening of Judy Garland” at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.
Saturday, February 14, 2015 (6pm): Erin Cronican is a special guest performer in the Alanis Morisette tribute show, “Jagged Little Pill: A Valentine’s Story” at the West End Lounge, 955 West End Ave, NYC.
Sunday, February 15, 2015 (4:30pm) - Sandra Bargman (with Ian Herman) is appearing in “The Edge of Every Day” at The Duplex, 61 Christopher St, NYC.
Sunday, February 15, 2015 (5:30pm) - Bennett Silverstein is appearing in “Bennett Sings (Tony) Bennett” at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Monday, February 16, 2015 (9:30pm) - Adam Shapiro is appearing in “Nothing Normal”, (with Erin Cronican on vocals), at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, 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 musicians - this date has Sean Harkness) to Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Sunday, February 22, 2015 (3pm) - Robin Kradles is hosting and performing in “My Leading Men” (co-starring Kristoffer Lowe) at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Sunday, February 22, 2015 (6:30pm) - Dawn Derow is bringing back her show “Revolution” to The Duplex, 61 Christopher St, NYC.
Monday, February 23, 2015 (6:30pm) - The Broadway World Cabaret Awards, hosted by Stephen Hanks (with tons of nominees who are Salon regulars!) are being held at Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette 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 musicians - this date has Sean Harkness) to Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015 (7pm) - Eric Michael Gillett is appearing in “Dirty Little Songs” at the Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 W 42nd 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 musicians - this date has Sean Harkness) to Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Wednesday, February 26 - March 15, 2015 (Tues-Sat 7pm, Sun 2pm) - Erin Cronican is appearing as Desdemona in OTHELLO with The Seeing Place Theater in their brand new home, the Clarion Theater, 309 E 26th St.
Sunday, March 1, 2015 (4pm) - Natasha Castillo is bringing back her show “They’d Only Just Begun- A Carpenters Tale” to Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Thursday, March 12, 2015 (9:30pm) - Charles Baran is bringing back his show, “Recipes for Disaster!” to the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.
Sunday, February 15, 2015 (6:30pm) - Dawn Derow is bringing back her show “Revolution” to The Duplex, 61 Christopher 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 musicians - this date has Ritt Henn) to Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Thursday, April 23, 2015 (9:30pm) - Charles Baran is bringing back his show, “Recipes for Disaster!” to the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.
Next Week’s Salon
We have a break next week: NO SALON February 1.
We’ll be back on February 8 with the theme: “The Nature of Women & Women In Nature.” Our Co-Host will be Carolyn Montgomery-Forant and the Salon Spotlight will be Robin Kradles. We’ll see you then!
Erin Cronican
Blogette for the Salon
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