Theme: Show Business - A Potpourri of Entertainment (Broadway, Cabaret, Pop, Rock, Classical & Special Material)
Whoever said March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb didn't account for what happens in between - snow and wind, and ever changing temperatures! Regardless, we were snuggled inside ready for an amazing evening of music and laughter, and the night did not disappoint.
We started the evening by announcing a lineup change. Ann Dawson, who was originally scheduled to co-host, went in for a bit of emergency surgery (she's fine and one the mend!) so our fabulous Salon Spotlight (MAC, Bistro & Nightlife Award Winner Gretchen Reinhagen and her fearless pianist collaborator Tracy Stark) stepped up into the Co-Host position! (See? Understudies DO go on!)
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| Our Co-Host, Gretchen Reinhagen! |
Gretchen explained that theme works perfectly with her as today's host, because her upcoming cabaret series bring back a few shows that she's done in the last 6 years (think of them like Gretchen's Greatest Hits - fabulous!) With that, she started the eclectic evening with a ballsy, bluesy "I'm A Woman" which was from her cabaret "Almost Blue." For her mid-show set she started with a rousing (and possessive!) "Love Will Keep Us Together" (from last year's "Listen to the Music: The Songs from My 70s" cabaret), followed by a powerful, "One Way Out." She closed the set with "A Lazy Afternoon" which was featured in her show"Special Kaye" as well as "Almost Blue." For her final song of the night, Gretchen invited Mark Janas to join her as she sang, "When?" a hilarious and yet mournful tune written by Barry Kleinbort.
As mentioned above, Gretchen will be revisiting 3 of her past shows within 3 months with 3 different bands at The Metropolitan Room – 34 West 22nd St, NYC 10010 – REINHAGEN REDUX: ALMOST BLUE will be April 1st at 7pm; SPECIAL KAYE will be May 4th at 7pm; and LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: SONGS OF MY 70’S will be June 7th at 4pm. For more information: www.gretchenreinhagen.com.
Quick Wrap: Classical Corner
With the lid of the baby grand piano lifted, Mark Janas invited up Finnish violinist Leena Jaakola and her pianist friend Markus Kaitila to the stage. Mark introduced the music they'd be playing, 3 amazing movements from "Violin Sonata # 2" in G Major by Edvard Grieg, and started by telling a story about the work. Apparently, a critic once told Grieg, "this piece is too Norwegian" to which Grieg replied, "My next will be EVEN MORE Norwegian." I like that kind of confidence. :)
There are few words that can describe the beauty and power of these two amazing musicians. Suffice it to say, there was a full standing ovation from the crowd when they were done with the segment. Truly gifted talent!
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.
Gretchen Reinhagen (with Tracy Stark on piano)
Bobbie Horowitz
Richard Eisenberg
Mark Cummings
Ira Lee Collings
Barb Malley
Jaye Maynard
Helen Glassmann
Stephanie Weems
Steve Bustamante (self-accompanied on guitar)
David Ballard
Erin Cronican
Marnie Klar
Leena Jaakola (on violin) & Markus Kaitila (on piano)
Tanya Moberly
Jacquie McCarley (with Tracy Stark)
Tracy Stark (on vocals and piano)
Adam Shapiro
Sean Patrick Murtagh
Special thanks to tonight’s pianists and musicians: Mark Janas, Tracy Stark, Steve Bustamante, Leena Jaakola and Markus Kaitila.
And thank you to Gil 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: Bill Zeffiro plays every Tuesday from 9-11pm at La Mediterranee, 947 Second Avenue (at 50th St), NYC, and on Wednesdays at La Rivista, 313 West 46th from 8-12pm.
Wednesday, March 25, 2015 (7pm) - Mark Cummings in "The Fifth of Mark" at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Friday, March 27, 2015 - Ira Lee Collings at Dana Lorge's show at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St., NYC.
Wednesday, March 31, 2015 (9:30pm) - Tanya Moberly with Ritt Henn in "Songs I Feel Like Singing" at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Thursday, April 1, 2015 (7pm) - Gretchen Reinhagen in "Reinhagen Redux: Almost Blue" at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St., NYC.
Saturday, April 11, 2015 (1pm) - Bobbie Horowitz is creator and host of "It's Only a Number" at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St., NYC.
Tuesday, April 21, 2015 (8pm & 10pm) - David Ballard in Salon Presents: "True North" at Etcetera Etcetera.
Tuesday, April 28, 2015 (7pm and 9:30pm) - Jaye Maynard in Salon Presents: "Bird Amongst the Blossom: A Tribute to the Blossom Dearie Songbook" at Etcetera Etcetera.
Friday, April 29, 2015 (9:30pm) - Tanya Moberly with Steven Ray Watkins in "Songs I Feel Like Singing" at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Wednesday, May 4, 2015 (7pm) - Gretchen Reinhagen in "Reinhagen Redux: Special Kaye" at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St., NYC.
Tuesday, May 19, 2015 (7pm) - Erin Cronican featured in "The Diva Selections" hosted by Robin Kradles at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Sunday, June 7, 2015 (4pm) - Gretchen Reinhagen in "Reinhagen Redux: Listen to the Music - Songs of My 70s" at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St., NYC.
Saturday, June 13, 2015 (1pm) - Adam Shapiro in "Nothing Normal" (with Erin Cronican on vocals) at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St., NYC.
Next Week's Salon:
The theme next week will be "Come Hell or High Water: Songs of Urgency" with Co-Host Ira Lee Collings!
Erin Cronican
Blogette for The Salon
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