Mark Janas, The Salon's founder and host, opened the evening talking about our theme, "Fun and Fancy Free." He looked up the definition and was surprised to learn that "fancy free" is first described as, "free of amorous connections" but the second usage is "having an open imagination." I had never thought of the phrase either way - I had always assumed it meant, "carefree," so it was exciting to hear this evening's songs with this new understanding.
Our Co-Host was Broadway Veteran Bret Shuford! Bret is currently appearing in the Broadway production of PARAMOUR at the Lyric Theatre. Other Broadway credits include AMAZING GRACE, THE LITTLE MERMAID, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG.
Bret launched this evening's show with a charming song of the same name as our theme - "Fun and Fancy Free"! He came back in the second half of the evening with a three-song set, starting with a lyrical and inventive medley called, "Spooky/Ghostbusters." He followed that with the great, actor-centric story song, "Skipper Dan" by Weird Al Yancovic. He finished the set with a hilarious, "Way Ahead of My Time" by Peter Mills. And for the final song of the evening, he inspired us with a very moving, "Fighting the Dragons."
For more information : www.bretshuford.com
Quick Wrap - Classical Corner
Mark started Classical Corner by saying, "Fun and Fancy Free, hmmm..." He played a little bit of Chopin's "Butterfly Etude" - which he remarked sounds fancy free, but it's actually quite difficult to play. Mark said he started to think about what makes music fancy free - is it that the song feels fancy free for the performer to play, or is it that it sounds fancy free to the listener? As mentioned earlier, there's another definition of "fancy free" which is "unlimited imagination." Mark started talking about pieces that have inspired the imagination over the ages. He then began to play a bit of Franz Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody," slowing it down at times to demonstrate the complexity of certain passages (flourishes which Liszt was known for doing to all pieces he played.) After talking about more about Liszt's career trajectory, he outlined how these pieces were conceived by Liszt. Mark said that these Hungarian tunes would be played by bands around town, and Liszt was inspired to write piano transcriptions of what he was hearing. Mark demonstrated a few sections slowly to point out how the piano was mimicking several instruments and overlapping ideas to become wilder and wilder until it hits the 2nd theme (which, as he pointed out, was used in a Bugs Bunny cartoon!)
He then talked about pianist/composer Vladimir Horowitz, who took this already challenging piece of music and made his own transcription MAKING IT EVEN HARDER (this emphasized by Mark!) And with that, Mark grabbed his phone held it to the microphone, and played for us a version of Horowitz's transcription. This allowed him to point out certain features of the song as the song was being played via the recording.It was such a master class in music appreciation - amazing! We're so lucky to be exposed to this learning week after week.
Roster of performers for the evening (in order of appearance):
Click link to visit the performer’s website or other links, when available.
All piano accompaniment by Mark Janas unless otherwise noted.
Co-Host: Bret Shuford (with Tracy Stark on piano)
Gary Crawford
Bobbie Horowitz
Marnie Klar
Charles Baran
Ira Lee Collings
Rian Keating
Becca Kidwell
Barbara Malley (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Matthew Martin Ward (also on piano)
David Ballard
Erin Cronican
Adam B Shapiro
Salon Spotlight: Meg Flather, Rosemary Loar and Tracy Stark (with Tracy on piano)
Classical Corner: Mark Janas
BREAK
Co Host: Bret Shuford (with Tracy Stark on piano)
Tanya Moberly
Kit
Angela Leone
Deborah Stone
David Gillam (also on piano)
Steve Bustamante (also on guitar)
Kathleen France
Co-Host: Bret Shuford (with Tracy Stark on piano)
Special thanks to tonight’s musicians: Mark Janas, Tracy Stark, Matthew Martin Ward, David Gillam, and Steve Bustamante.
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, and Steve Bustamante, tonight's videographer.
Ongoing Shows:
Monday nights (7pm): Opera Open Mic at Shanghai Mong with Mark Janas and Matthew Martin Ward, 30 West 32nd Street, NYC. www.shanghaimongnyc.com
Monday & Wednesday nights (8pm): Bill Zeffiro performs weekly at La Rivista, 313 West 46th St, NYC.
Upcoming Shows:
Tuesday, February 28, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Amy Beth Williams in "Carried Away" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th St, NYC.
March 2017: Keep your eyes open for an announcement of dates for Rian Keating's next show, "Woman Songs" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Friday, March 3, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly brings back "Tanya Moberly Sings Nilsson With Weber" one night only at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th St, NYC.
Friday, March 31, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly brings back "Tanya Moberly Sings Kenny Loggins with Steven Ray Watkins" one night only at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th St, NYC.
Saturday, April 1, 2017 (4:30pm) - Becca Kidwell is premiering her show, "A Song and Its Girl" (with music director Tracy Stark) at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th St, NYC.
Tuesday, April 4, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Dan Ruth in "A Life Behind Bars" at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W 42nd St, NYC.
Saturday, April 15, 2017 (4pm): Deborah Stone is presenting her show "Still Exactly Where I Belong" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Tuesday, April 25, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Dan Ruth in "A Life Behind Bars" at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W 42nd St, NYC.
Tuesday, May 9, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Dan Ruth in "A Life Behind Bars" at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W 42nd St, NYC.
Wednesday, May 10, 2017: Save the date for Sally Darling's new show (music directed by Matthew Martin Ward) at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Wednesday, May 17, 2017 (9:30pm): Tanya Moberly directs Dan Ruth in "A Life Behind Bars" at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W 42nd St, NYC.
We will be back next week with the theme,"My New York" with your Co-Host, Julie Gold and Salon Spotlight, Kim Sutton.
See you then!
Erin Cronican
Blogette for The Salon
Do you see a change/addition you need me to make? Email me!
 |
| Co-Host Bret Shuford |
Our Salon Spotlight featured Hanson & Bistro Award Winner Meg Flather, Hanson Award Winner & Broadway Veteran Rosemary Loar, and Bistro, Dottie Burman & Multiple MAC Award Winner Tracy Stark! Meg, Rosemary & Tracy will be performing their original songs at Don’t Tell Mama – 343 West 46th St, NYC 10036 – in UNEXPECTED TRIO on March 12th at 5pm.
The first song of their set was a beautiful and inspiring, "Love Is All That Matters," an original tune written/performed by Meg Flather, with Tracy on piano/backing vocals and Rosemary on backing vocals. The second song, "All I Could Do Was Sigh" was written/performed by Rosemary Loar with Meg on backing vocals and Tracy on piano/backing vocals. Rosemary started by mentioning her time as a backup singer for Sting, which inspired the writing of the song (which gave such a wonderful context for this heartfelt performance.) The final song of their set was a sultry and swinging, "Coffee," written/performed with verve by Tracy Stark, with Meg and Rosemary on backing vocals.
For more information and to get tickets to the show, visit www.donttellmamanyc.com
The first song of their set was a beautiful and inspiring, "Love Is All That Matters," an original tune written/performed by Meg Flather, with Tracy on piano/backing vocals and Rosemary on backing vocals. The second song, "All I Could Do Was Sigh" was written/performed by Rosemary Loar with Meg on backing vocals and Tracy on piano/backing vocals. Rosemary started by mentioning her time as a backup singer for Sting, which inspired the writing of the song (which gave such a wonderful context for this heartfelt performance.) The final song of their set was a sultry and swinging, "Coffee," written/performed with verve by Tracy Stark, with Meg and Rosemary on backing vocals.
 |
| Our Salon Spotlight (from left): Meg Father, Tracy Stark and Rosemary Loar |
For more information and to get tickets to the show, visit www.donttellmamanyc.com
Quick Wrap - Classical Corner
Mark started Classical Corner by saying, "Fun and Fancy Free, hmmm..." He played a little bit of Chopin's "Butterfly Etude" - which he remarked sounds fancy free, but it's actually quite difficult to play. Mark said he started to think about what makes music fancy free - is it that the song feels fancy free for the performer to play, or is it that it sounds fancy free to the listener? As mentioned earlier, there's another definition of "fancy free" which is "unlimited imagination." Mark started talking about pieces that have inspired the imagination over the ages. He then began to play a bit of Franz Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody," slowing it down at times to demonstrate the complexity of certain passages (flourishes which Liszt was known for doing to all pieces he played.) After talking about more about Liszt's career trajectory, he outlined how these pieces were conceived by Liszt. Mark said that these Hungarian tunes would be played by bands around town, and Liszt was inspired to write piano transcriptions of what he was hearing. Mark demonstrated a few sections slowly to point out how the piano was mimicking several instruments and overlapping ideas to become wilder and wilder until it hits the 2nd theme (which, as he pointed out, was used in a Bugs Bunny cartoon!)
He then talked about pianist/composer Vladimir Horowitz, who took this already challenging piece of music and made his own transcription MAKING IT EVEN HARDER (this emphasized by Mark!) And with that, Mark grabbed his phone held it to the microphone, and played for us a version of Horowitz's transcription. This allowed him to point out certain features of the song as the song was being played via the recording.It was such a master class in music appreciation - amazing! We're so lucky to be exposed to this learning week after week.
Roster of performers for the evening (in order of appearance):
Click link to visit the performer’s website or other links, when available.
All piano accompaniment by Mark Janas unless otherwise noted.
Co-Host: Bret Shuford (with Tracy Stark on piano)
Gary Crawford
Bobbie Horowitz
Marnie Klar
Charles Baran
Ira Lee Collings
Rian Keating
Becca Kidwell
Barbara Malley (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Matthew Martin Ward (also on piano)
David Ballard
Erin Cronican
Adam B Shapiro
Salon Spotlight: Meg Flather, Rosemary Loar and Tracy Stark (with Tracy on piano)
Classical Corner: Mark Janas
BREAK
Co Host: Bret Shuford (with Tracy Stark on piano)
Tanya Moberly
Kit
Angela Leone
Deborah Stone
David Gillam (also on piano)
Steve Bustamante (also on guitar)
Kathleen France
Co-Host: Bret Shuford (with Tracy Stark on piano)
Special thanks to tonight’s musicians: Mark Janas, Tracy Stark, Matthew Martin Ward, David Gillam, and Steve Bustamante.
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, and Steve Bustamante, tonight's videographer.
Ongoing Shows:
Monday nights (7pm): Opera Open Mic at Shanghai Mong with Mark Janas and Matthew Martin Ward, 30 West 32nd Street, NYC. www.shanghaimongnyc.com
Monday & Wednesday nights (8pm): Bill Zeffiro performs weekly at La Rivista, 313 West 46th St, NYC.
Upcoming Shows:
Friday, February 24, 2017 (7pm): Ira Lee Collings is performing his new show, "Simply Ira Lee: Through the Looking Glass-Warts and All! An 80th GAY GEEZER Celebration," at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Sunday, February 26, 2017 (2pm): Gary Crawford is holding his weekly "Church with a 2 Drink Minimum" (with Reverend Yolanda and Adam Shapiro) at Sidewalk Cafe in the East Village, NYC
Sunday, February 26, 2017 (2pm): Gary Crawford is holding his weekly "Church with a 2 Drink Minimum" (with Reverend Yolanda and Adam Shapiro) at Sidewalk Cafe in the East Village, NYC
Tuesday, February 28, 2017 (7pm): Barbara Malley is bringing back her show, "OMG! Am I a Diva?" to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC, benefitting American Rivers.
Tuesday, February 28, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Amy Beth Williams in "Carried Away" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th St, NYC.
March 2017: Keep your eyes open for an announcement of dates for Rian Keating's next show, "Woman Songs" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Friday, March 3, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly brings back "Tanya Moberly Sings Nilsson With Weber" one night only at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th St, NYC.
Friday, March 10, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly brings back "Tanya Moberly Sings the Blues with Ian Herman" one night only at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th St, NYC.
Wednesday, March 15, 2017 (7pm): Adam B Shapiro is bringing back his MAC Award winning show, "Guide to the Perfect Breakup," to The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St, NYC.
Wednesday, March 15, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Amy Beth Williams in "Carried Away" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th St, NYC.
Friday, March 17, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly brings back "Tanya Moberly Sings Amy, Ani, Rickie and Joni with Ritt Henn" one night only at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th St, NYC.
Monday, March 20, 2017 (7pm): Bobbie Horowitz is bringing is her next installment of "It's Only A Number" in honor of The Salon's Sponsor, Father Jeff Hamblin, at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC
Thursday, March 23, 2017 (7:30pm): Deborah Stone is presenting her show "Still Exactly Where I Belong" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Wednesday, March 29, 2017: Kit is appearing for one night only at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Wednesday, March 15, 2017 (7pm): Adam B Shapiro is bringing back his MAC Award winning show, "Guide to the Perfect Breakup," to The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St, NYC.
Wednesday, March 15, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Amy Beth Williams in "Carried Away" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th St, NYC.
Friday, March 17, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly brings back "Tanya Moberly Sings Amy, Ani, Rickie and Joni with Ritt Henn" one night only at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th St, NYC.
Monday, March 20, 2017 (7pm): Bobbie Horowitz is bringing is her next installment of "It's Only A Number" in honor of The Salon's Sponsor, Father Jeff Hamblin, at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC
Thursday, March 23, 2017 (7:30pm): Deborah Stone is presenting her show "Still Exactly Where I Belong" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Wednesday, March 29, 2017: Kit is appearing for one night only at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Friday, March 31, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly brings back "Tanya Moberly Sings Kenny Loggins with Steven Ray Watkins" one night only at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th St, NYC.
Saturday, April 1, 2017 (4:30pm) - Becca Kidwell is premiering her show, "A Song and Its Girl" (with music director Tracy Stark) at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th St, NYC.
Tuesday, April 4, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Dan Ruth in "A Life Behind Bars" at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W 42nd St, NYC.
Saturday, April 15, 2017 (4pm): Deborah Stone is presenting her show "Still Exactly Where I Belong" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Tuesday, April 25, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Dan Ruth in "A Life Behind Bars" at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W 42nd St, NYC.
Tuesday, May 9, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Dan Ruth in "A Life Behind Bars" at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W 42nd St, NYC.
Wednesday, May 10, 2017: Save the date for Sally Darling's new show (music directed by Matthew Martin Ward) at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Wednesday, May 17, 2017 (9:30pm): Tanya Moberly directs Dan Ruth in "A Life Behind Bars" at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W 42nd St, NYC.
We will be back next week with the theme,"My New York" with your Co-Host, Julie Gold and Salon Spotlight, Kim Sutton.
See you then!
Erin Cronican
Blogette for The Salon
Do you see a change/addition you need me to make? Email me!
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