The Salon Wrap-Up for September 27, 2015 - "Heavenly Swing"

September 27, 2015Theme: "Heavenly Swing"
Co-Hosts: Marquee Five 

It was a heavenly evening at Salon, punctuated by the harmonic stylings of Marquee Five!

Host Mark Janas opened the evening by telling us about his experience on the panel at the "MAC to School" seminar, then introduced the members of Marquee Five (from l. to r. above): Vanessa Parvin, Adam West Hemming, Lynsey Buckelew, Mick Bleyer, & Sierra Rein. The group opened with a swingin' arrangement of Van Morrison's Moondance.

For their mid-show set, the Five began with Chattanooga Choo-Choo, and then moved to a mashup (more about that later!) they call Reminiswing (ie, Reminiscing+Swing), a Great American Songbook-lover's dream that included the standards I'll Be Seeing You, What'll I Do, and Smile. They closed with their own version of Java Jive, a nod to the famous Manhattan Transfer version, but  completely their own.

For their closing number, Marquee Five moved from the swing to the heavenly part of tonight's theme, causing a few people to tear up with their beautiful combo of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah and Bird on a Wire.

 

Quick Wrap: Classical Corner 

Mark continued his report of topics discussed at the "MAC to School" seminar by explaining the differences between some musical terms that often confuse people. For example: a transcription is a piece rewritten with a different instrumental or vocal component (ie, a piano piece is transcribed for full orchestra), an arrangement is simply creating a specific version of a particular piece of music, while composition means writing a completely new work. A medley is a series of songs strung together, while a mashup is two or more songs that are interwoven, or integrated into each other.  Marquee Five then demonstrated with an arrangement/mashup/ composition/transcription called "I've Got Gershwin," which included Rhapsody in Blue, I've Got Rhythm, and Fascinatin' Rhythm.  And fascinatin' it was!

 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.

Marquee Five
Ira Lee Collings
Anna Marie Sell
Rob Davis
Lisa Viggiano
Paul Kolecki
Mick Bleyer
Joanna Morton Gary
Ann Dawson
David Ballard
Janice Hall
Adam B. Shapiro
Tanya Moberly
Richard Becker
Barb Malley
Mary Deady (with Jeff Cubeta)
Lucille Carr-Kaffashan (with Jeff Cubeta)
Jeff Cubeta

Special thanks to tonight’s pianists: Mark Janas, Jeff Cubeta
Thanks to Kyle on lights and sound, and our wonderful waitstaff, David and Melon.

 Please note: our favorite singing waitperson, David Ballard is a new member of the Gay Men's Chorus, and he is currently the star of their fundraising campaign! If you would like to help David's team reach their goal of $1000 (or more!), you can click here

Upcoming shows:  

October 1-18, Thurs-Sun-Anna Marie Sell is appearing in the British farce "Not Now, Darling," at the Bickford Theatre in Morristown, NJ

Saturday, October 3,(4pm)- Ann Dawson is "Traveling Solo," at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St, NYC.

Sunday, October 4, 2015 (4pm)- Mary Deady in "My Love is a Wanderer," with Jeff Cubeta; Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42nd St, NYC

Monday, October 5, (9:30 pm)---Joanna Morton Gary makes her NY solo cabaret debut with the "First Annual 49th Birthday Show", at the Metropolitan Room, 34 W 22nd St, NYC

Wednesday, October 7, 2015 (7pm)- Mary Deady in "My Love is a Wanderer," with Jeff Cubeta; Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42nd St, NYC

October 8-22, 2015 - Adam B. Shapiro in “Death of a Salesman” (in Yiddish!)--New Yiddish Rep, Castillo Theatre, 543 W 42nd St, NYC

Friday, October 16 (7pm)- Lisa Viggiano appears in Chapter 5 of the "Tim di Pasqua Music & Lyrics Project," at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC

 Friday, October 23, 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.

Wednesday, October 28, (7pm)- Ann Dawson is "Traveling Solo," at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St, NYC.

Friday, November 6, 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.

Tuesday, November 10, 2015 (7 pm)- Rob Davis in “Rob’s Big Birthday Celebration” at The Metropolitan Room – 34 West 22nd St, NYC.

Friday, November 13, 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.

Monday, November 16, 2015 (7pm & 9:30pm)- Rob Davis in “Rob’s Big Birthday Celebration” at Salon Presents, Etc Etc Restaurant, 352 W 44th St, 2nd Floor.

Friday, November 20, 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.


Next Week’s Salon, October 4, 2015: "Four Seasons Of Love"
Co-Host: David Vernon
Salon Spotlight: Linda Kosut

We hope to see you then!

Janice Hall
Blogette for the Salon
(Updates? Changes? Email me)

The Salon Wrap-Up for September 20, 2015 - "Celebrating The York Theatre’s 100 Musicals In Mufti"

September 21, 2015
Theme: “Celebrating The York Theatre’s 100 Musicals In Mufti”

We were thrilled to welcome back one of our favorite co-hosts - Jim Morgan, Producing Artistic Director of the York Theatre Company. Tonight we’re celebrating their innovative Musicals in Mufti Series, which presents shows that audiences might not otherwise have heard from yesteryear. Jim tells us that the word “Mufti” is an old East Indian word which means “in street clothes,” and it’s with that spirit that these musicals are presented. The cast gets together on a Monday and by Saturday they open the show and run for 2 weeks. The York just reached a milestone with these performances - 100 shows presented! The next Mufti Series is coming up in the spring and will be announced soon. I can’t wait to hear what is announced.

Jim talked a bit about the York’s commitment to youth education in the arts and announced that he had 6 special musical guests - students from Marymount Manhattan College would be featured in tonight’s co-host slots. Here’s a run-down of the amazing songs performed by The York’s guests over the evening:

Hayley Lampert gave us cheeky and wistful, “You’ve Got Possibilities” from It’s Bird It’s a Plane It’s Superman.
Austin Ryan presented the sweet and lilting title song from Fanny. 
May Yoshioka gave us a delightful, “Times Like This” from Lucky Stiff. 
Maddie Baillio sang a beautifully poignant, “You Are For Loving” from Meet Me in St Louis.
Elijah Caldwell brought in a powerful “Who Can I Turn To” from The Roar of the Greasepaint, The Smell of the Crowd.
Ramon Guzman performed what Adam Shapiro called “the famous song” from Minnie’s Boys, the lovely “Mama, A Rainbow.”

Our Salon Spotlight featured Bistro & Hanson Award Winner Amy Beth Williams! For Amy Beth’s set, she started with a glorious medley which she calls the Waterfront Medley, and concluded with a stunning and emotionally powerful, “Is She Beautiful.” Amy will be returning to Don’t Tell Mama – 343 West 46th St, NYC 10036 – with her critically acclaimed show CRAZY TO LOVE YOU September 25th, October 6th, November 3rd & November 4th. All shows at 7:00pm. For more information: www.donttellmamanyc.com

Salon Spotlight Amy Beth Williams!

Quick Wrap: Classical Corner

What does Mufti mean to classical musicians? “It means this!” Mark says, brandishing a stack of single sheets of piano music and [thunk!] tossed it on the piano. He explained: When the York chooses pieces for their Mufti series, they choose pieces that haven’t been heard in a while. So Mark started to look through his collection of music and noticed a stack of single sheet of music, which stood out from the more typical volumes & books of music that he keeps. He noticed that these songs had not been played in a while, either because they’re either old or out of style or are not in the main repertoire, or they’re unusual for some reason. Mark then started playing from the stack, sharing some refrains we knew and some that were new to us - and each time he finished a section he threw the music over his shoulder and onto the floor. Hilarious!

He then told us that back when many classical pieces were written there were no recordings, and people would learn the music by playing it in the home (as most couldn’t get to opera or symphony performances.) And these pieces were not necessarily exclusive for piano, sometimes the music would be modified for a clarinetist or flutist, and often they would be written for more than two hands to play.

With that, Mark invited Matthew Martin Ward to join him the piano to practically SIGHT READ Mozart’s 4-Hand Piano Sonata in D Major. It was fantastic (lest there be any doubt) and incited a rousing standing ovation!