The Salon Wrap-Up for April 26, 2015 - "Connection"

April 26, 2015

Theme: “Connection”

Connection is a huge part of the human experience, and a wonderful goal of most Cabaret artists - a connection to the audience, to the material, and drawing a line between them in an entertaining way.  The theme this week was a stellar one, and we had an audience exemplary of old connections (and a few new ones were created too in the process!)

We had a true treat on Sunday, as our multiple co-hosts were The Manhattan School of Music cast of Discover Opera, with the Head Co-Host the effervescent Andy Gale who, along with Mark Janas, directed the Spring Cabaret for Discover Opera, "Connection."  They performed this at the Manhattan School of Music last Wednesday, so we were thrilled to watch them recreate a majority of the songs from the show up on our Salon stage!  

The Cast of Discover Opera!

As we had a bevvy of Co-Hosts, they provided a wonderful Salon Spotlight, and Mark Janas deferred his usual Classical Corner time so we could hear more of these fantastic young singers.  Another treat was the incorporation of standup bass by Nick Miller and trumpet by Ryan Casperson in a number of songs!  They started out as a group to sing a fully-voiced and tight-harmony version of "I'm in the Mood for Love," and throughout the evening they sang solos, duets, and trios ranging from the youthfully endearing "Taylor, The Latte Boy" (Anna Mayo) to an expertly arranged "Everybody Says Don't" (Ryan Casperson) to a three-part showcase version of "The Girl in 14G" (Stephanie Johnson, Alexandra Clint and Anna Mayo) to the gorgeous "Sorry-Grateful" (Martin Case, Juan Melo, Nick Miller and Vincent Law).  Other standouts included "Lonely Town" (Vincent Law), "Love Look Away" (Matilyn Obregon), "Unexpressed" (Michael Anderson), "Some Things are Meant to Be" (Alexandra Clint), "Inolvidable" (sung in English and Spanish by Juan Melo), and the heart-wrenching "Smile/Make Someone Happy" (Nick Miller).  They began the second act with a Company-sung version of "Travel" by Shire and Maltby, Jr, and at the end performed an ensemble "For Good" from Wicked, closing out a wonderful evening of cabaret!

And talk about a magical Connection, we also saw a touching moment worthy of mention: the celebration of the 29th Anniversary to the day of Ira Lee Collings and his beau Owen!

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.

MSM's Company
Barb Malley
Bobbie Horowitz
Adam Shapiro
Vincent Law
Matilyn Obregon
Ryan Casperson
Anna Mayo
Paul Kolecki
Nicholas Levin with singer Adam Shapiro (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Matthew Martin Ward (with self on piano)
David Ballard
Sierra Rein
Juan Melo
Stephanie Johnson / Alexandra Clint / Anna Mayo
Martin Case / Juan Melo / Nick Miller / Vincent Law
Alexandra Clint / Michael Anderson / Ryan Casperson / Anna Mayo
MSM's Company
Michael Anderson
Alexandra Clint
Nick Miller
Tanya Moberly
Ira Lee Collings
Joe Gimpel
Charlotte Patton
Robyn McCorquodale (self at the piano)
Jaye Maynard (with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano)
Kai Hoffman
Benjamin Newmayer
Christine Pedi (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
MSM's Company

Special thanks to all of tonight’s musicians: Mark Janas, Matthew Martin Ward, Paul Kolecki, Robin McCorquodale, Ryan Casperson, and Nick Miller.

And thank you to Gill Alexandre on lights and sound and to our amazing waitstaff!

Salon Presents: 

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: 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, April 28, 2015 (9pm) -  Robyn McCorquodale presents her singer-songwriter skills in "Diary of a Piano Girl" at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 West 42nd St., NYC.

Wednesday, April 29, 2015 (9pm) - Kai Hoffman brings her show "Hot Rockin' Diva" direct from London to The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St., NYC

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 (4pm) - Nicholas Levin has an evening of his music, “Somewhere In This Song” at The Metropolitan Room 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.

Saturday, May 2, 2015 (6:00pm) - Sierra Rein will start the evening out at Charles Baran's new showcase at Room 53, 314 W 53rd St., NYC.

Wednesday, May 16, 2015 - Jaye Maynard sings her Blossom Dearie Songbook at The Hotel Rex, San Francisco.

Wednesday, May 27, 2015 - Bobbie Horowitz presents "It's Just a Number" at the Metropolitan Room, honoring Edyth Eisenberg.

Thursday, May 28, 2015 - Charlotte Patton in "Celebrating Men (Bless Their Hearts)" at the Metropolitan Room, 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.

Wednesday, June 17, 2015 (7:00pm) - Ira Lee Collings in "Gay Since 1935: a Gay Geezer's Odyssey" at Don't Tell Mama, NYC.

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

Charlotte Patton, with all her thoughts on the male gender, will Co-Host The Salon, with the theme "Celebrating Men"!  On hand to be a Salon Spotlight will be The Fine Whine: Stephanie Hedges-Thomas, Margaret Kelly Murphy and Rebecca Kendall.

Sierra Rein
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