Monday, May 18, 2015

The Salon Wrap-Up for May 17, 2015 - "On a Queer Day You Can Sing Forever"

Sunday, May 17, 2015


The Salon Wrap-Up for May 17, 2015 - "On a Queer Day You Can Sing Forever"

May 17, 2015
Theme: “On a Queer Day You Can Sing Forever"

A sultry Sunday night, the last Salon for several weeks, and it was a packed house to celebrate Gay Pride a bit early this year.

Our co-host for the evening was powerhouse singer Carly Ozard, looking like a walking work of art in her Mod-inspired dress and matching hair extensions. She opened the show, fittingly, with "On a Clear Day," paired with Heather Small's "Proud.". Her accompanist was the wonderful Steven Ray Watkins. For her second-act set, Carly duetted with Watkins, delivering a moving version of "Prisoner in Disguise." Her second number, "My Knight in Black Leather," was a tribute to the Castro district of San Francisco, where she lived before she came to New York. Carly told us that living in the Castro freed her to be whatever and whoever she wanted to be. She closed the set with the song she chose to sing at a benefit for transgender awareness, Michael Jackson's "The Man in the Mirror." For the evening's final song, Carly inhabited the passionate anthem from Hedwig and the Angry Inch, "Midnight Radio."

The Salon Spotlight tonight was the effervescent Tym Moss, host of  the Internet radio show Artists Exposed with Tym Moss. He performed the disco number "Steroid Queen," using everyone's favorite waitperson/singer, David Ballard, as Exhibit A. Tym's second song was a touching ballad about a middle-aged gay man, "You Can Face It."  Tym will be performing in the upcoming cabaret show Little House on the Ferry, about a weekend on Fire Island (West End Lounge), and will be  hosting/singing at Pride Festivities in all five boroughs this year. In that spirit, he closed his set with a rousing, sing-along version of "New York, New York."  www.tymmoss.com 

                         Tym Moss and Carly Ozard (photo by Ronnie Giles)

Quick Wrap: Classical Corner

In tonight's Classical Corner, Mark focused on the Russian romantic composer Tchaikovsky. There is compelling evidence that Tchaikovsky was gay, and there is speculation that he committed suicide. Mark pointed out the sadness in Tchaikovsky's music, specifically the descending passages in the Pathetique Symphony. Ten days after the premiere of the Pathetique, Tchaikovsky died, prompting some to refer to it as his "suicide note." Mark played recorded passages of the Pathetique Symphony (Danielle Gatti, conducting the Orchestre de Radio France, one of his favorite recordings of the work), and gave us an intense musical "play by play."

Roster of singers for the evening (in order of appearance):

Carly Ozard (with Steven Ray Watkins)
Natasha Castillo (with Steven Ray Watkins)
Marnie Klar (with Steven Ray Watkins)
Kurt Perry (with Steven Ray Watkins)
Christy Frye (with Steven Ray Watkins)
Kevin McMullan
Joe Regan, Jr.
Miles Phillips
Kelley Karel (as Hillary Clinton)
Joseph Guarino and David Ballard
David Ballard
Janice Hall
Zach Wobensmith
Tym Moss
Carly Ozard (with Steven Ray Watkins)
Tanya Moberly (with Steven Ray Watkins)
Sally Darling (with Matthew Martin Ward)
Matthew Martin Ward
Angela Leone (with Bill Zeffiro)
Marissa Mulder (with Bill Zeffiro)
Scott Mayfield
Johnny Bash
Wendy Russell
Richard Becker (Robin Kradles)
Jim Bohannon
Paul James Frantz 
Ira Lee Collings
Heather Antonissimi and Roosevelt Andre Credit
Helen Glassman
Mira Atanelova
Dawn Derow
Rob Davis (with Bill Zeffiro)
Richard Eisenberg
Adam Shapiro
Carly Ozard (with Steven Ray Watkins)

 Click link to visit the performer’s website, when available.
All piano accompaniment by Mark Janas unless otherwise noted.

Special thanks to tonight’s pianists/accompanists: Mark Janas, Steven Ray Watkins, Matthew Martin Ward, Scott Mayfield, and Bill Zeffiro.

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:

Wednesday, May 27, 2015 (9:00pm) - 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 Tuesday (8:30-11pm) at Millesime, 92 Madison Ave, NYC and every Wednesday (8-12) at La Rivista, 313 W 46th St, NYC.

Tuesday, May 19, 2015 (7 pm) - Robin Kradles in "Short Stories and Tall Tales," at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC. Featuring guests Erin Cronichan, Kim Grogg, Lisa Yaeger, and Lorinda Lisitza.
Wednesday, May 20th, 2015 (6:30 pm) - Carly Ozard, along with Tanya Moberly and Mark Janas, is featured at The Concerts for City Greens, South Park of Tudor City, corner of 41st St and Tudor City Pl., near 2nd Ave. (Rain date--Thursday, May 21st, 6:30 pm)
Friday, May 22, 2015 (7pm) - Natasha Castillo featured in “The Arrangement Experience” at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Tuesday, May 26, 2015 (7pm) - Dawn Derow in “Legit” (with Mark Janas on piano) at The Metropolitan Room – 34 West 22nd St, NYC.
Wednesday, May 27th,  2015 (9:30 pm) -Zach Wobensmith  produces and stars in "Next to Normal," to benefit the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation. At the Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W 42nd St, NYC.
Friday, May 29th, (7 pm) - Marissa Mulder debuts her new show, "Instincts," at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St, NYC.
Saturday, May 30th,  2015 (1:00 pm) -Zach Wobensmith  produces and stars in "Next to Normal," to benefit the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation. At the Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W 42nd St, NYC.
Saturday, May 30th, 2015 (5 pm) - Christy Frye performs her show, "Feels Like the First Time," at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Sunday, May 31, 2015 (6PM) - Tym Moss in "Little House on the Ferry" at the West End Lounge,
955 West End Ave., NYC

Saturday, June 6th, 2015 (5 pm) - Christy Frye performs her show, "Feels Like the First Time," at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Tuesday, June 9th, 2015 (7:30 pm) - see Bill Zeffiro in "It Was a Very Good Year: 1915." produced by The Mabel Mercer Foundation, at Weill Recital Hall (Carnegie Hall), 154 W 57th St, NYC.
Wednesday, June 10, 2015 (9:30pm) - Tanya Moberly in “Songs I Feel Like Singing” (with a rotation of musicians - this date has Sean Harkness) at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Friday, June 12, 2015 (7pm) - Tanya Moberly in “Songs I Feel Like Singing” (with a rotation of musicians - this date has Sean Harkness) at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th 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.
Monday, June 15, 2015 - Carly Ozard and Adam Shapiro in the David Friedman Tribute at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St., NYC.
Tuesday, June 16, 2015 - Angela Leone, along with Bill Zeffiro, will perform at Stage 72 (Triad Theatre), in a show to benefit the Actor's Guild. 158 W. 72nd 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.
Thursday, June 18, 2015 (7 pm) - Wendy Russell in “Where Have I Been All My Life," at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Friday, June 19, 2015 (9:30pm) - Dawn Derow in “Legit” (with Mark Janas on piano) at The Metropolitan Room – 34 West 22nd St, NYC.
Saturday, June 20, 2015 (5:30 pm) - Helen Glassman in “Confessions of a Native New Yorker”, Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Monday, June 22nd, 2015 (7:00pm) - Ira Lee Collings in “Gay Since 1935: a Gay Geezer’s Odyssey” at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Wednesday, June 24, 2015 (7pm) - Carly Ozard in “Midler on the Roof”, NYC. Metropolitan Roo, 34 W. 22nd St. NYC.
Saturday, June 27, 2015 (5:30 pm) - Wendy Russell in “Where Have I Been All My Life," at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Sunday, June 28, 2015 (3:00 pm) - Helen Glassman in “Confessions of a Native New Yorker”, Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Sunday, June 28, 2015 (6PM) - Tym Moss in "Little House on the Ferry" at the West End Lounge,
955 West End Ave., NYC

Wednesday, July 1, 2015 (6:30 pm) - Dawn Derow returns with Kathleen France in their MAC-winning "Revolution," at The Duplex, 61 Christopher St, NYC.
Wednesday, July 1, 2015 (9:30 pm) - Carly Ozard hosts "Love Don't Need a Reason," a benefit for Callen-Lorde, at 54 Below, 254 W. 54th, NYC. Also featured on this program are Kurt Perry, Adam B. Shapiro, and Steven Ray Watkins.
Wednesday, July 15, 2015 (7pm) - Tanya Moberly in “Songs I Feel Like Singing” (with a rotation of musicians - this date has Ritt Henn) at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Friday, July 17, 2015 (9:30pm) - Tanya Moberly in “Songs I Feel Like Singing” (with a rotation of musicians - this date has Ritt Henn) at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Thursday, July 30, 2015 (8pm) - Ronnie Giles sings love songs in, "The Good, The Bad, and the Lovely," at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Wednesday, August 5, 2015 (9:30pm) - Tanya Moberly in “Songs I Feel Like Singing” (with a rotation of musicians - this date has Steven Ray Watkins) at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Friday, August 14, 2015 (7pm) - Tanya Moberly in “Songs I Feel Like Singing” (with a rotation of musicians - this date has Steven Ray Watkins) at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC. 

 NO SALON – May 24th  – July 5th !!!
SALON RETURNS ON JULY 12, 2015
Theme: I Love New York
Co-Hosts: Joseph Macchia & FORTE (Thomas Dieter, Johnny Hagar, Skie Ocasio & Michael Osso)
Salon Spotlight: Karen Oberlin

HAPPY SUMMER! 

Tonight's Blogette: Janice Hall
(email me with any corrections or updates: jansopran@aol.com)

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Sunday, May 3, 2015

The Salon Wrap-Up for May 3, 2015 - "Celebrating Men"

May 3, 2015
Theme: “Celebrating Men”

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?

Our Co-Host was the always sassy and sultry, Charlotte Patton (with jazz legend Barry Levitt on piano)! She started the evening with a perfect kickoff - “I Love To Love.” When she ushered us back from the break, she elegantly sat down on a stool and gave us a contemplative and humorous, “Unexpected Complication” by Steven Lutvack. She then sang a silky smooth, “Bewitched, Bothrered & Bewildered” and followed it with a powerful and charming, “Ah Men.” And to polish off the evening, Charlotte sang and sensual and bluesy, “Do It Again.”

Charlotte will be at The Metropolitan Room – 34 West 22nd St, NYC 10010 – in CELEBRATING MEN (BLESS THEIR HEARTS) May 28th at 9:30pm, June 29th at 9:30pm, July 31st at 7pm & August 20th at 7pm. For more information: www.charlottepatton.com

Our Co-Host, Charlotte Patton
Our Salon Spotlight featured The Fine Whine: Heidi Seigell, Margaret Kelly & Rebecca Kendall! Each of the three singers sang their own solo odes to men - Margaret sang, “Children of the Wind”; Rebecca gave us, “Blues in the Night” and Heidi brought us, “Good Morning Heartache.”

These fine ladies will be singing back-up for Bistro, MAC & Nightlife Award Winner Carolyn Montgomery-Forant in VISIBLE PHOENIX at The Laurie Beechman Theater – 402 West 42nd St, NYC 10036 – on Friday May 8th at 7pm. For more information: www.carolynmontgomeryforant.com


Quick Wrap: Classical Corner

Mark Janas, Salon founder and host, started Classical Corner by posing the question: Who would be the preeminent opera composer that we might call “The Man”? Why, Puccini, of course. Mark pointed out that Puccini penned one of the few operas that have been on Broadway - La Boheme. This week’s Classical Corner featured MAC Award Winner Dawn Derow, and she started by singing snippets from a few popular pieces from the opera.

Puccini was a proponent of a style that was just coming to the forefront in 1896 - “verismo” (meaning "realism", from Italian vero, meaning true or “true to life”) - before that the opera subjects had always been about kinds, prince and big battles and lofty subjects. Puccini was one of the first to tell stories about the poorer classes - real people and real life.

First her first song, Dawn sang on of the more recognizable arias from the opera. Not only did she knock us out with her vocals, but she traveled the room and delivered the song personally to specific people in the audience. It was pretty thrilling. Mark went on to share the synopsis of the popular scene where Rodolfo meets Mimi for the first time nd gave us some of the translation of Mimi’s aria (in Italian.) For the final song of the set, Dawn sang Mimi’s aria toward the end of the opera when she is very ill. It was stunning to hear Dawn and Mark partnered together on this glorious music.

Dawn will be at The Metropolitan Room – 34 West 22nd St, NYC 10010 – in LEGIT (again, with Mark Janas) on May 9th at 4pm, May 26th at 7pm & June 19th at 9:30pm. For more information: www.dawnderow.com


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.

Charlotte Patton (with Barry Levitt on piano)
Lou Iacovino (with Barry Levitt on piano)
Wendy Russell
Stephen Hanks
John Trujillo
Marilyn Michaels & Mark Will (with Barry Levitt on piano)
Carol Mailhet (with Scott Mayfield on piano)
Scott Mayfield (on piano)
Belinda Powell (accompanying self on ukelele)
Bill Zeffiro
Carolyn Montgomery Forant (with Heidi Seigell, Margaret Kelly & Rebecca Kendall on backing vocals)
David Ballard
Margaret Kelly
Rebecca Kendall
Heidi Seigell
Janice Hall (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Matthew Martin Ward (on piano)
Ira Lee Collings
Richie Eisenberg
Amoricka Amaroso
Ann Dawson
Helen Glassman
Bennett Silverstein
Sallie Jo Hadley (with Barry Levitt on piano)

Special thanks to tonight’s pianists and guitarists: Mark Janas, Barry Levitt, Bill Zeffiro, Matthew Martin Ward, Nicholas Levin, Scott Mayfield and Belinda Powell.

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: 

Wednesday, May 27, 2015 (9:00pm) - 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 Tuesday (8:30-11pm) at Millesime, 92 Madison Ave, NYC and every Wednesday (8-12) at La Rivista, 313 W 46th St, NYC.

Friday, May 8, 2015 (7pm) - Carolyn Montgomery Forant and The Fine Whine (Stephanie Hedges-Thomas, Margaret Kelly & Rebecca Kendall) in Visible Phoenix at The Laurie Beechman Theater, 402 West 42nd St, NYC.

Friday, May 8, 2015 (9:30pm) - Tanya Moberly in “Songs I Feel Like Singing” (with a rotation of musicians - this date has Mark Janas) at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Saturday, May 9, 2015 (4pm) - Dawn Derow in “Legit” (with Mark Janas on piano) at The Metropolitan Room – 34 West 22nd St, NYC.

Wednesday, May 13, 2015 (7pm) - Tanya Moberly in “Songs I Feel Like Singing” (with a rotation of musicians - this date has Mark Janas) at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Thursday, May 14, 2015 - Janice Hall in a Tribute to Julie Wilson at 54 Below, 254 W 54th 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.

Friday, May 22, 2015 (7pm) - Natasha Castillo featured in “The Arrangement Experience” at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Wednesday, May 20, 2015 - Carly Ozard is appearing at Tudor City, NYC.

Tuesday, May 26, 2015 (7pm) - Dawn Derow in “Legit” (with Mark Janas on piano) at The Metropolitan Room – 34 West 22nd St, NYC.

Wednesday, May 27, 2015 - Bobbie Horowitz in an evening of her songs, “It’s Just A Number,” at The Metropolitan Room – 34 West 22nd St, NYC.

Thursday, May 28, 2015 (9:30pm) - Charlotte Patton in “Celebrating Men (Bless Their Hearts)” at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St., NYC.

Wednesday, June 10, 2015 (9:30pm) - Tanya Moberly in “Songs I Feel Like Singing” (with a rotation of musicians - this date has Sean Harkness) at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Friday, June 12, 2015 (7pm) - Tanya Moberly in “Songs I Feel Like Singing” (with a rotation of musicians - this date has Sean Harkness) at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Saturday, June 13, 2015 - John Trujillo in “The Tie That Binds: Stories & Songs of Family” at The Duplex, 61 Christopher 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.

Saturday, June 13, 2015 (4pm) -  Bennett Silverstein in “Bennett Sings (Tony) Bennett” at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St., NYC.

Monday, June 15, 2015 - Carly Ozard and Adam Shapiro in the David Friedman Tribute 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.

Thursday, June 18, 2015 - Wendy Russell in “Where Have I Been All My Life”, NYC.

Friday, June 19, 2015 (9:30pm) - Dawn Derow in “Legit” (with Mark Janas on piano) at The Metropolitan Room – 34 West 22nd St, NYC.

Saturday, June 20, 2015 - National Arts Club tribute to Michael Colby’s book “The Algonquin Kid.”

Saturday, June 20, 2015 - Helen Glassman in “Confessions of a Native New Yorker”, NYC.

Monday, June 22, 2015 (7:00pm) - Ira Lee Collings in “Gay Since 1935: a Gay Geezer’s Odyssey” at Don’t Tell Mama, NYC.

Wednesday, June 24, 2015 - Carly Ozard in “Midler on the Roof”, NYC.

Saturday, June 27, 2015 - Wendy Russell in “Where Have I Been All My Life”, NYC.

Sunday, June 20, 2015 - Helen Glassman in “Confessions of a Native New Yorker”, NYC.

Monday, June 22nd, 2015 (7:00pm) - Ira Lee Collings in “Gay Since 1935: a Gay Geezer’s Odyssey” at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Monday, June 29, 2015 (9:30pm) - Charlotte Patton in “Celebrating Men (Bless Their Hearts)” at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St., NYC.

Wednesday, July 15, 2015 (7pm) - Tanya Moberly in “Songs I Feel Like Singing” (with a rotation of musicians - this date has Ritt Henn) at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Friday, July 15, 2015 (9:30pm) - Tanya Moberly in “Songs I Feel Like Singing” (with a rotation of musicians - this date has Ritt Henn) at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Friday, July 31, 2015 (7pm) - Charlotte Patton in “Celebrating Men (Bless Their Hearts)” at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St., NYC.

Wednesday, August 5, 2015 (9:30pm) - Tanya Moberly in “Songs I Feel Like Singing” (with a rotation of musicians - this date has Steven Ray Watkins) at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Friday, August 14, 2015 (7pm) - Tanya Moberly in “Songs I Feel Like Singing” (with a rotation of musicians - this date has Steven Ray Watkins) at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Thursday, August 20, 2015 (7pm) - Charlotte Patton in “Celebrating Men (Bless Their Hearts)” at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St., NYC.


Next Week - No Salon

We will be honoring our mother’s next week for Mother’s Day, but we will be back on May 17 with the theme, “On A Queer Day You Can Sing Forever,” with your co-host, Carly Ozard. The Salon Spotlight will be Tym Moss. We’ll see you then!


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

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