Sunday, January 25, 2015

The Salon Wrap-Up for January 25, 2015 - "Optimism vs Pessimism"

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.

Co-Host Kristoffer Lowe
Quick Wrap: Classical Corner

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
(Updates? Changes? Email me)


Sunday, January 18, 2015

The Salon Wrap-Up for January 18, 2015 - "Just Go To The Movies"

Hello, everyone! I’m so thrilled to be back at The Salon after catching a bit of an illness (boo!) And what a night to return, because in the wake of the Golden Globes and with the Oscars coming up, we had the fun and eclectic theme, “Just Go To The Movies!”

This week’s hosts were Raissa Katona Bennett and Kenneth Gartman. Raissa and Kenneth will be appearing in “3 Decades in the Dark: Raissa & Kenneth Go To The Movies” at The Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 W 42nd Street on Tuesdays, February 10 & 17 (7pm); Thursdays February 12 & 19 (7pm); and Saturday February 21 (4pm). For more information: www.raissakatonabennett.com / www.kennethgartman.com.

For her first song of the night (with Mark Janas on piano) Raissa sang a powerful “Italian Street Song” from Naughty Marrieta. In her mid-show set she started by welcoming Kenneth Gartman to the piano and they did a duet mashup of “For Your Eyes Only” and “Nobody Does It Better” (both James Bond movie themes.) For their next song, Kenneth took to the mic & piano and Raissa played the flute(!) on “Beautiful Maria of My Soul.” To close this set, Raissa and Kenneth sang “Piece of Sky.” At the end of the evening these two dear friends gave us a charming “Friends to the End” from the “Tom & Jerry” movie.

Co-Hosts Raissa & Kenneth
Quick Wrap: Classical Corner

Keeping with this week's theme, Mark started by playing a few notes from Disney’s “Fantasia,” to illustrate the impact classical music has had in the scores of movies. He talked about some of the movies that have been made of opera (like “The Magic Flute.”) And then there are orchestras that are featured in movies playing classical music, which enhances the plot of the movie.

One of the pieces that will always be planted in Mark’s mind as being connected to a movie was “The Ride of the Valkyries”, which so deeply defined that scene in “Apocalypse Now.” He told some stories about the Chicago Symphony and some of their amazing musicians, and then started discussing “score reading. ” He plays the intro to the theme song of “2001: A Space Odyssey” (“Sprach Zarathustra” by Strauss) and then continued to play the next 90 seconds of the song part what we already knew. (Did you know that the piece is actually 30 minutes long? Me neither!) He then presented a recording of the song (from a track on YouTube) which highlighted what the song would sound like with a full orchestra. It was thrilling! :)

To finish Classical Corner, he invited up classical singers Angela Pinti and Heather Peterson to sing Offenbach’s “Barcarolle” from “The Tales of Hoffman.”


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.

Bennett Silverstein
Richie Eisenberg
Jennie Litt (with David Alpher on piano)
Sally Darling (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Matthew Martin Ward
David Ballard
Christopher Sale
Natalie Arneson
Heather Peterson (with Jonathan Best on piano)


Special thanks to tonight’s pianists and musicians: Mark Janas, Kenneth Gartman, Matthew Martin Ward, Jonathan Best and David Alpher.

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.

Tuesday, January 20, 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 Mark Janas) to Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Wednesday, January 21, 2015 (7pm) - "Once In Love With Amy", a benefit to help beloved singer and teacher Amy Beth Williams get back on her feet. (Featuring Adam Shapiro, Tanya Moberly, Janice Hall, and several others) Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Friday, January 23, 2015 (6:30pm) - Natalie Arneson is performing in her new show, “Mama Drama” at The Duplex, 61 Christopher 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, January 25 & 26, 2015 - Zach Wobensmith is performing in a developmental reading of Plagued, with the Gallery Players, NYC.

Sunday, February 1, 2015 - Lauren Stanford is bringing back her debut cabaret to the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.

Friday, February 6, 2015 - Lauren Stanford is appearing in “An Evening of Judy Garland” at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.

Monday, February 9, 2015 (6:30pm) - Natalie Arneson is performing in her new show, “Mama Drama” at The Duplex, 61 Christopher St, 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 (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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

Friday, March 20, 2015 (7pm) - Barb Malley is bringing back her show “Eat! Drink! Be Merry” to Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Sunday, March 22, 2015 (5pm) - Sally Darling is appearing in “Matters of the Heart”at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Saturday, March 28, 2015 (5pm) - Sally Darling is appearing in “Matters of the Heart”at 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.

Sunday, May 2, 2015 (4pm) - Nicholas Levin has a cabaret revue of his music premiering at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.


Next Week’s Salon

Next week we’ll be back with the theme, “Optimism vs Pessimism” with our co-host Kristoffer Lowe. We'll see you then!


Erin Cronican
Blogette for the Salon
(Updates? Changes? Email me)


The Salon Wrap-Up for January 11, 2015 - “Life: Inside and Out.”

January 11, 2014
Theme: “Life: Inside and Out.”

Greetings Salonistas! It's your friendly neighborhood Etcetero Adam Shapiro! It's been a long time since I've blogged, so I hope I still remember how to do this. Tonight was sure to be a party, our co-host being one of the most recognizable performers in the cabaret scene, MAC and Bistro Award winner RICHARD SKIPPER!

Richard's pianist, the extraordinary Bryon Sommers actually opened the evening with "There's a Party Going On", an appropriately exciting start to what was sure to be an exciting evening. He then introduced Richard who gave us "My Personal Property" and owned it. (See what I did there?). Later in the evening, he gave us his homage to our Salon spotlight with "Broad(s)way Baby", backed by the ladies by the end. To kick off the second set, he gave us the charming "Almost Young", and then wowed the crowd with his signature piece "Before The Parade Passes By". He closed the show by appropriating David Ballard and using him as the inspiration for "Bye Bye Baby". Richard always puts on one hell of a show and he sure didn't disappoint.

Co-Host Richard Skipper
Salon Spotlight!
Tonight our Salon Spotlight guests were in from Toronto, Heather Bambrick, Diane Leah, and Julie Michels who call themselves simply...BROADSWAY! These Canadian Ladies were a bundle of energy and sass as they started with "Cloudburst Oleo" that set the tone that they were here to have a party. Their second song, Cy Coleman's "What You Don't Know About Women" really let us here the witty and biting lyrics and then closed with a beautifully worked out medley of "Since I Fell For You", "Can't Help Loving That Man of Mine", and "Breaking Up is Hard to Do". They will be at the Metropolitan Room on Sunday, January 18 at 4:00 PM and if tonight was any indication, I suggest you don't miss them.

Quick Wrap: Classical Corner
Keeping with this week's theme of "Life, inside and out", Mark pointed out that when most people listen to a song, they only hear the melody, but a good listener can hear other, sometimes multiple melodies in a piece. I call the counterparts, but Mark calls them inner voices and says that they really help to inform the listener of the mood of the piece.

He started out with a piece called Kreisleriana by Robert Schuman, playing the 3rd movement to illustrate how the middle voice keeps dovetailing seamlessly out of the melody. He then Switched to Brahams Opus 118. In the Romance movement, he showed us the two interplaying melodies, one more outer, one more inner, that kept switching places throughout the piece (The outside going to the inside and vice versa). The final movement, Intermezzo in A major showed the beauty of the inner voices and how they inform the piece to make it richer and ultimately more beautiful.


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.
Bryon Sommers
Richard Skipper
Susan Hodgdon
Natasha Castillo
Linda Lofaro
Michael Colby
Bob Diamond
Peggy Eason
Ruth Carlin
Dawn Derow
David Ballard
Adam B. Shapiro
Jaye Maynard
Carol Woods
Tanya Moberly
Mark Cummings
Carly Ozard
Ira Lee Collings
Stephen Sorrentino
Jim Speake
Kim Grogg
Rob Davis
Marissa Mulder
Bill Zeffiro
Sally Darling
Matthew Martin Ward
Barbara Malley
Gretchen Reinhagen
Joan Jaffe
Richard Williams
Greta M. Herron

Special thanks to tonight’s pianists and musicians: Mark Janas, Matthew Martin Ward, Bryon Sommers, Bill Zeffiro, and Gretchen Reinhagen.

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.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015 (6:45pm) - Rob Davis is doing his solo cabaret debut, “You’re The One” at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.

Thursday, January 15 2015 (7pm)- Susan Hodgdon is bringing back her show "I Could Go On Singing: Songs of Judy Garland" to Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, 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 musicians - this date has Mark Janas) to Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Wednesday, January 21, 2015 (7pm)- "Once In Love With Amy", a benefit to help beloved singer and teacher Amy Beth Williams get back on her feet. (Featuring Adam Shapiro, Tanya Moberly, Janice Hall, and several others) 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.

Friday, January 30, 2015 (7pm)- Marissa Mulder in "Soul Sessions" 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.

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.

Sunday, February 22, 2015 (6:30pm)- Dawn Derow and Kathleen France are bringing back their show REVOLUTION to the Duplex, 61 Christopher 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 musicians - this date has Sean Harkness) to Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Monday, February 23, 2015 (6:30pm) - The Broadway World Cabaret Awards, hosted by Stephen Hanks, are being held at Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette St, NYC.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015 (7pm) - Barb Malley is bringing back her show “Eat! Drink! Be Merry” (featuring Bob Diamond!) 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 musicians - this date has Sean Harkness) to Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Sunday, March 1, 2015 (4pm)- Natasha Castillo is bringing back her show "They'd Only Just Begun, a tribute to the Carpenters" to Don't Tell Mama 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Sunday, March 8, 2015 (3pm)- Mark Cummings brings his newest show "A Fifth of Mark" to Don't Tell Mama 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Sunday, March 15, 2015 (6:30pm)- Dawn Derow and Kathleen France are bringing back their 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 musicians - this date has Ritt Henn) to Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015 (7pm)- Mark Cummings brings his newest show "A Fifth of Mark" 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.

Next Week’s Salon


Next week we’ll be back with the theme, "Just Go To The Movies" with our co-hosts Raissa Katona Bennett and Kenneth Gartman. We'll see you then!
Adam B. Shapiro
Blogette for the Salon
(Updates? Changes? Email me)

Sunday, January 4, 2015

The Salon Wrap-Up for January 4, 2015 - "Living In The Moment"

January 4, 2015
Theme: “Living In The Moment”

Mark kicked off our New Year’s Salon talking about resolutions. Last year he resolved to do more improvisation at The Salon, and we saw that played out throughout the year (lucky us!) This year he resolves to complete his Pinocchio musical - we cannot wait to see it!

Our Co-Host was Broadway World Award Winner Champagne Pam! Pam will be singing the songs of Billy Joel in NEW YORK STATE OF MIND at The Metropolitan Room – 34 West 22nd St, NYC 10010 – January 16th & January 17th. Both shows at 7pm. For more information: www.champagnepam.com

For her first song of the night Pam sang a bright, optimistic and perfectly sung, “Waiting For Life To Begin” from Once On This Island. For her mid-show set she started with a beautiful original tune, and then followed that with “The Stranger” and “My Life.” She closed the evening with a gorgeous, “New York State of Mind.”

Co-Host Champagne Pam!
Quick Wrap: Classical Corner

Mark started Classical Corner talking about music making in Handel’s day. It was much closer to how musicians are given charts in jazz cabaret. The musicians were given a guide similar to our chorded charts today and then they got to fill in the gaps with their own creativity.

Further, music was something that was done for events, in particular written for dancing aristocracy. It didn’t always have a set time signature - it was mostly felt by the musicians to accommodate people who were moving to the music as they listened. To demonstrate, Mark played a bit of the Overture from Handel’s Messiah. He then invited up a quartet: Adam Shapiro, Zach Wobensmith, Angela Pinti, Heather Peterson, to sing “And The Glory of the Lord”, also from Handel’s Messiah. He asked Heather to stay to sing an impressive, “O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings To Zion” (beginning with the Recit to “Behold A Virgin Shall Conceive”). For the final song, he invited Angela Pinti back to finish Classical Corner with a perfect example of coloratura: “Rejoice Greatly.”


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.

Bennett Silverstein
Stephen Hanks
Ira Lee Collings
Richie Eisenberg (with Adam Shapiro on vocals, plus the full audience!)
Nicholas Levin (with Adam Shapiro on vocals)
Jenny Litt (with David Alpher piano)
Sally Darling
Matthew Martin Ward


Special thanks to tonight’s pianists and musicians: Mark Janas, Matthew Martin Ward, John Hurley, and David Alpher.

And thank you to Gill Alexandre on lights and sound, our videographer Steve Bustamante, and our amazing waitstaff who always handle 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, January 6, 2015 (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.

January 13 & 14, 2015 (8pm) - Anna Marie Sell is appearing in “The Velvet Oratorio” with Untitled Theater Company No 61 at The Bohemian National Hall, 321 E 73rd St, NYC.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015 (6:45pm) - Rob Davis is doing his solo cabaret debut, “You’re The One” at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.

Friday, January 16, 2015 (7pm) - Champagne Pam is appearing in “New York State of Mind: Pamela Lewis Sings the Songs of Billy Joel” at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.

Saturday, January 17, 2015 (7pm) - Champagne Pam is appearing in “New York State of Mind: Pamela Lewis Sings the Songs of Billy Joel” 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.

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 (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 pianist - this date has Sean Harkness) to Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Monday, February 23, 2015 (6:30pm) - The Broadway World Cabaret Awards, hosted by Stephen Hanks, are being held at Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette 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.


Next Week’s Salon

Next week we’ll be back with the theme, “Life: Inside and Out.” Your co-host will be Richard Skipper. We’ll see you then!


Erin Cronican
Blogette for The Salon
(Updates? Changes? Email me.)