April 19, 2015
Theme: “Gone With the Wind- Longing For The Past”
I think I’ve said this before but I’ll say at again - I love coming to The Salon. I have made some of the most dear and wonderful friends, get to listen to the best talent in the city, and get to share a little of my storytelling, all packed within a short 3.5 hours on a Sunday night. How lucky are we?
This week our co-host was the always charming, Metrostar winning, MAC Award nominated, Lauren Stanford. She began the show by introducing the evening’s theme, “Gone With the Wind- Longing For The Past”” and then sang a fun and rousing duet with friend, Rick Skye - “Hello Bluebird.” At the start of the 2nd half, Lauren invited Kathleen Stuart back to the stage to sing another duet, “Dream a Little Dream/Over The Rainbow” (with Kathleen on ukelele), a nostalgic mashup from a girl from Kansas (Lauren) and a girl from Hawaii (Lauren.) She followed that by a touching, “She Used to be Mine” by Sara Bareilles, who has written a new musical based on the film, “Waitress.” She then perked up the room with a sweet and hopeful, “The Trolley Song.” To seal this evening of nostalgia, Lauren gave us “I Had Ball” (which has people cheering the moment the recognizable opening notes were heard!)
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| Our effervescent Co-Host, Lauren Stanford! |
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| Salon Spotlight: Susan Garson |
Quick Wrap: Classical Corner
Ah, Nostalgia... Mark Janas, our amazing host, started by playing a few strains of the theme from “Gone With the Wind” which made us all a little wistful. What makes Mark nostalgic? College. He said, “I had fun with music back then - making music, seeing concerts. You know, you had everything in front of you then.” He talked about “drop the needle” moments in class where his teachers would play a record and drop the needle, and the students would have to name the symphony, movement, composer, etc. In order to memorize all of this kind of information the students would make up lyrics to the songs to would help them remember. He demonstrated a few of the lyrics and songs, which had the audience in stitches.
Mark went on to talk about quarter tone music, music that has quarter tone intervals. He talked about how some pieces were written for two pianos tuned slightly differently so that quarter tones would be possible. Mark then gave us a demonstration of some of the atonal qualities of that music. He then pulled out a stack of “nostalgia” music from his past and started playing snippets of a a few of the tunes that moved him:
- Wagner's "Prelude to Tristan and Isolde" (considered one of the first atonal compositions)
- "Three Gymnopedies" by Satie (a song that influenced much of the music of the band, Chicago)
- "Valse" in B Minor by Chopin (a waltz he used to play as a kid)
- Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata
- Claire de Lune by Debussy
- Rachmaninoff's Second Concerto
- "The Rustle of Spring" by Singing
- “Melodies To Remember” by Chopin (and actual, written medley of Chopin songs)
All of the songs above evoked a sense of longing and remembrance, and it was fun to travel down memory lane with Mark, who always has great stories!
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.
Lauren Stanford and Rick Skye
Rick Skye
Tym Moss
Richie Eisenberg
Ira Lee Collings
Sally Darling
Nicholas Levin (accompanying self on piano)
Robin Westle
Kathleen Stuart
David Ballard
Susan Garson (with Daryl Kojak on piano)
Rob Davis (with Daryl Kojak on piano)
Ariel Teitel
Steve Bustamante (accompanying self on guitar)
Kevin McMullan
Nancy Seabold
Special thanks to tonight’s pianists and guitarists: Mark Janas, Daryl Kojak, Nicholas Levin, Kathleen Stuart, Steve Bustamante.
And thank you to Gill Alexandre on lights and sound, our amazing waitstaff who always handle the demands of a full house with grace and style, and Steve Bustamante who is providing video footage for people interested in that service!
Salon Presents:
Tuesday, April 21, 2015 (8:00pm & 10:00pm) - Salon Presents David Ballard in "True North" at Etcetera Etcetera, 352 West 44th St, NYC. Directed by Tanya Moberly, with Joseph Olsen at the piano. (and then stay after to celebrate David's Birthday!!!)
Wednesday, May 27, 2015 (7:00pm and 9:30pm) - Salon Presents Jaye Maynard in "Bird Amongst the Blossom: A Tribute to the Blossom Dearie Songbook," at Etcetera Etcetera, 352 West 44th St, NYC.
Upcoming shows:
Ongoing: Sarah Rice in a solo performance on Concert Window (online), Saturday nights at 7pm - go to www.concertwindow.com, then search for Sarah Rice.
Ongoing: Matthew Martin Ward plays on Mondays at the West End Lounge, 955 West End Ave, NYC.
Ongoing: Bill Zeffiro plays every Monday from 9-11pm at La Mediterranee, 947 Second Avenue, NYC, Tuesdays at Millesime, 92 Madison Ave, NYC, and Wednesdays at La Rivista, 313 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 in "Recipes For Disaster" at The Metropolitan Room 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.
Sunday, April 26, 2015 (3pm): Tym Moss in “Little House on the Fairy” at the West End Lounge, 955 West End Ave, NYC.
Tuesday, April 28, 2015 (7pm) - Susan Garson in "Where Do I Start?" at Stage 72, 158 West 72nd Street, NYC. Directed by Tanya Moberly, Musical Direction by Daryl Kojak.
Wednesday, 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.
Saturday, May 2, 2015 (6:00pm) - Charles Baran is hosting a brand new showcase at Room 53, West 53, NYC.
Saturday, May 2, 2015 - Nicholas Levin has an evening of his music, “Somewhere In This” at The Metropolitan Room 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.
Wednesday, May 6, 2015 (7pm) - Susan Garson in "Where Do I Start?" at The Metropolitan Room 34 West 22nd Street, NYC. Dir. Tanya Moberly, Musical Direction by Daryl Kojak.
Saturday, May 9, 2015 - Rick Skye as Liza in an ongoing Judy & Liza show at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th 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.
Saturday, May 23, 2015 (4pm) - Nancy Seabold in “Love And How It Grows You, Story Two” at The Metropolitan Room 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.
Tuesday, June 2, 2015 (7pm) - Robin Westle in "Robin's Nest" at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 West 42nd Street, NYC.
Tuesday, June 2, 2015 (7pm) - Robin Westle in "Robin's Nest" at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 West 42nd Street, 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.
Saturday, June 13, 2015 (4pm) - Bennett Silverstein in “Bennett Sings (Tony) Bennett” at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St., NYC.
Wednesday, June 17, 2015 (7:00pm) - Ira Lee Collings in "Gay Since 1935: a Gay Geezer's Odyssey" at Don't Tell Mama, NYC.
Saturday, June 20, 2015 - National Arts Club tribute to Michael Colby's book "The Algonquin Kid."
Monday, June 22nd, 2015 (7:00pm) - Ira Lee Collings in "Gay Since 1935: a Gay Geezer's Odyssey" at Don't Tell Mama, NYC.
Next Week’s Salon
We have a very special event next Sunday, when the students from the Manhattan School of Music will be co-hosting. The theme “Connection” will be brought to you by Mike Anderson, Brittany Bellacosa, Martin Case, Ryan Casperson, Alexandra Clint, Kayla Fuentes, Stephanie Johnson, Vincent Law, Anna Mayo, Juan Melo, Nick Miller & Mattie Obregon.
Erin Cronican
Blogette for the Salon
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