And thinking of quality... throughout the evening, there were some wonderful mentions and tributes to a cornerstone of the Cabaret community, Barry Levitt, who passed away suddenly this week. The Salon family remembers Barry for his brilliant musicianship and personality, and sends out condolences to his family.
Our Co-Host for the evening was Sylvia Feldman (Robert Ima), who appears nightly in her shower, singing to her dog, "Cha Cha." Sylvia was a hilarious host, whipping quips and jokes around while graciously supporting each singer who came up. She first revealed her ability to spit jokes right and left by entering with the classic Gypsy song "Let Me Entertain You," which got us all in the mood. After remarking on the 90-degree Fall weather today - describing it as a "crisp day to buy a pumpkin" - Sylvia co-hosted excellently throughout the first act! For the top of Act II, Sylvia flourished on stage to sing the broad song (quite broadly), "Where the Boys Are," defending her right to stalk the male persuasion in any way she wished! At the end of the evening, she regaled us with promises of her nut-cracking thighs and then swung into a belligerently hilarious version of "You Don't Own Me." Well, Sylvia owned the stage with that one, no questions asked!
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| Sylvia Feldman (singing in a shower near you!) |
Salon Spotlight!
Amy Wolk, who has won a Bistro Award for Outstanding Musical Comedy as well as two MAC Awards for her sassy and clever cabaret performances, was our Salon Spotlight of the week! She has a trumpet-like voice that perfectly translates funny lyrics and lyric melodies alike. She started out with "Believe it or Not," the theme song from The Great American Hero by Mike Post (music) and Stephen Geyer (lyrics), a song I had never heard the full lyrics of in ages! She then switched into a rawly scathing but jazzily snappy song; "Kiss You Off" by the Scissor Sisters. She completed her set with an original piece of hers that reflected her Anglophilia: "The Brit Song" (music and lyrics by Amy Wolk and William TN Hall) which hilariously paired famous British iconography and pop culture with sexual innuendo (let's just say I'll never think of the Tardis the same way ever again).
Amy Wolk, who has won a Bistro Award for Outstanding Musical Comedy as well as two MAC Awards for her sassy and clever cabaret performances, was our Salon Spotlight of the week! She has a trumpet-like voice that perfectly translates funny lyrics and lyric melodies alike. She started out with "Believe it or Not," the theme song from The Great American Hero by Mike Post (music) and Stephen Geyer (lyrics), a song I had never heard the full lyrics of in ages! She then switched into a rawly scathing but jazzily snappy song; "Kiss You Off" by the Scissor Sisters. She completed her set with an original piece of hers that reflected her Anglophilia: "The Brit Song" (music and lyrics by Amy Wolk and William TN Hall) which hilariously paired famous British iconography and pop culture with sexual innuendo (let's just say I'll never think of the Tardis the same way ever again).
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| Amy Wolk |
Amy Wolk (with Stephen Ray Watkins as musical director) will perform "Hungry Like the Wolk" on Sundays, October 1st, 8th, and 15th (all at 7pm). The show (which will include a song written by Wolk and our own Lorinda Lisitza) can be seen at The Duplex, 61 Christopher Street, NYC
Quick Wrap - Matthew's Corner
In his own little corner at the piano, Matthew Martin Ward discussed his definition of "Vintage Pop," in particular a certain late 1960s vintage song style of sudden shifts of harmony, searching for new and interesting harmonic progression. So, now we know what Matthew's high school years sounded like. He spoke about the concept behind "Common tones," which go from one key to a more distant key by keeping one key in the note in common with the harmony. You can read all about this mind-boggling concept on Wikipedia - it takes quite a while to sink in. Matthew also pointed out the concept of "pedal point"; based on how an organ is played, it occurs when the bass line stays in one repeated place while the higher chords move around above it. Matthew exemplified this, and then showed how many times the bridge will have a surprise (sometimes a tritone-filled) section. He illustrated this with the 1967 song "Lazy Day" (the #14 hit by Spanky and Our Gang) and encouraged us to sing along "baby you and me"/"neath the shady tree" He then brought us to classic "vintage" 1914s with the pre-war song "Down Among the Sheltering Palms," composed by Abe Olman with lyrics by James Brockman and Leo Wood, which was recorded by an incredible number of people including the Lyric Quartet, Al Jolson, the Boswell Sisters, Johnny Mercer, Sammy Cain and Bing Crosby. Matthew ended his rendition of this by sliding into a jazzy arrangement originally recorded by Alice May. He then finished his "corner" by pushing even further back into history into truly "vintage" by discussing a famous piece written sometime in the late 1500s about the process of wooing Anne Bolyn (who was known to wear dresses complete with sleeves of green fabric). Gill then took advantage of our speaker system and played Elizabeth Tryon and Matthew's recording of "Greensleeves," which featured beautiful Renaissance accompaniment that morphed into a modern rap!
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 Matthew Martin Ward unless otherwise noted.
Co-Host: Sylvia Feldman (Robert Ima)
Tym Moss
Monday, September 25, 2017: Angela Leone is performing in the 24 Hour Cabaret Marathon at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.
Tuesday, September 26, 2017 (7:15pm): Ira Lee Collings in "The Gay Geezer: Life Is A Song – So Why Not Sing it?” at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Monday, October 2, 2017 (7:15pm): Ira Lee Collings in "The Gay Geezer: Life Is A Song – So Why Not Sing it?” at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Wednesday, October 4, 2017 (9:30pm): Tanya Moberly directs the return of "A Life Behind Bars," written and performed by Dan Ruth, at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42nd Street, NYC.
Friday, October 6, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Ritt Henn at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Sunday, October 7, 2017 (7:30pm): Raissa Katona Bennett will be in "Broadway and Cabaret Sing David Friedman" at the Unity Center of Norwalk, 3 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Norwalk, CT 06851.
Sunday, October 8, 2017 (1pm): Sally Darling will be a part of "Richard Skipper Celebrates" at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 West 42nd Street, NYC.
Sunday, October 15, 2017 (7pm): Amy Wolk (with Stephen Ray Watkins) will perform "Hungry Like the Wolk" at The Duplex, 61 Christopher Street, NYC
Monday, October 16, 2017 (6pm): Opening night of the Cabaret Convention features Tanya Moberly, Adam B. Shapiro, and others, at the Rose Theatre, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Broadway at 60th Street.
Friday, October 27, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Ian Herman are appearing at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Saturday, October 28, 2017 (2pm): Tanya Moberly directs the return of "A Life Behind Bars," written and performed by Dan Ruth, at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42nd Street, NYC.
Sunday, October 29, 2017 (7:15pm): Ira Lee Collings in "The Gay Geezer: Life Is A Song – So Why Not Sing it?” at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Thursday, November 2, 2017 (7:00pm): Barbara Malley brings back her show "OMG! Am I a Diva?" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC
Friday, November 10, 2017 (7pm): Marnie Klar performs "Bedtime Stories" (directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Saturday, November 11, 2017 (7pm): Frances O'Flynn with Matthew Martin Ward at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Monday, November 13, 2017: Amy Beth Williams, with Tanya Moberly directing, performs "A Thousand Beautiful Things" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Friday, November 17, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Mark Janas are appearing at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Tuesday, November 21, 2017 (7pm): Sally Darling will be part of "Together: 2017 Cabaret Award-Nominated Vocalists" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Wednesday, November 29, 2017 (7pm): Sally Darling (with Matthew Martin Ward) presents "Totally Noël" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Sunday, December 3, 2017 (4:30pm): Sally Darling (with Matthew Martin Ward) presents "Totally Noël" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Friday, December 8, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Steven Ray Watkins at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Saturday, December 10, 2017 (4pm): Marnie Klar performs "Bedtime Stories" (directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Quick Wrap - Matthew's Corner
In his own little corner at the piano, Matthew Martin Ward discussed his definition of "Vintage Pop," in particular a certain late 1960s vintage song style of sudden shifts of harmony, searching for new and interesting harmonic progression. So, now we know what Matthew's high school years sounded like. He spoke about the concept behind "Common tones," which go from one key to a more distant key by keeping one key in the note in common with the harmony. You can read all about this mind-boggling concept on Wikipedia - it takes quite a while to sink in. Matthew also pointed out the concept of "pedal point"; based on how an organ is played, it occurs when the bass line stays in one repeated place while the higher chords move around above it. Matthew exemplified this, and then showed how many times the bridge will have a surprise (sometimes a tritone-filled) section. He illustrated this with the 1967 song "Lazy Day" (the #14 hit by Spanky and Our Gang) and encouraged us to sing along "baby you and me"/"neath the shady tree" He then brought us to classic "vintage" 1914s with the pre-war song "Down Among the Sheltering Palms," composed by Abe Olman with lyrics by James Brockman and Leo Wood, which was recorded by an incredible number of people including the Lyric Quartet, Al Jolson, the Boswell Sisters, Johnny Mercer, Sammy Cain and Bing Crosby. Matthew ended his rendition of this by sliding into a jazzy arrangement originally recorded by Alice May. He then finished his "corner" by pushing even further back into history into truly "vintage" by discussing a famous piece written sometime in the late 1500s about the process of wooing Anne Bolyn (who was known to wear dresses complete with sleeves of green fabric). Gill then took advantage of our speaker system and played Elizabeth Tryon and Matthew's recording of "Greensleeves," which featured beautiful Renaissance accompaniment that morphed into a modern rap!
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 Matthew Martin Ward unless otherwise noted.
Co-Host: Sylvia Feldman (Robert Ima)
Tym Moss
Eileen Lacy
Frances O'Flynn
Lucille Carr-Kaffashan
Jim Speake (with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano)
Marnie Klar (with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano and on vocals)
Annie Lebeaux (self on piano)
Richie Eisenberg (self on piano)
Salon Spotlight: Amy Wolk (with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano and on vocals)
Tanya Moberly (with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano)
Matthew's Corner with Matthew Martin Ward
BREAK
Co-Host: Sylvia Feldman (Robert Ima)
Ira Lee Collings
Janice Hall
Marcia Roney
Barb Malley
Angela Leone
Steve Arons
Zach Wobensmith
Jen Bradley
Co-Host: Sylvia Feldman (Robert Ima)
Thank you to this evening's videographer, Michael Stever, to Gill Alexandre on lights and sound, David Ballard and our amazing waitstaff, and the management at Etc Etc.
Ongoing Shows:
Monday nights (7pm): Opera Open Mic at Shanghai Mong with Mark Janas and Matthew Martin Ward, 30 West 32nd Street, NYC.
Weekly: Bill Zeffiro plays and sings with a rotating list of guests at La Rivista, 313 W 46th St, NYC.
Upcoming Shows:
Co-Host: Sylvia Feldman (Robert Ima)
Thank you to this evening's videographer, Michael Stever, to Gill Alexandre on lights and sound, David Ballard and our amazing waitstaff, and the management at Etc Etc.
Ongoing Shows:
Monday nights (7pm): Opera Open Mic at Shanghai Mong with Mark Janas and Matthew Martin Ward, 30 West 32nd Street, NYC.
Weekly: Bill Zeffiro plays and sings with a rotating list of guests at La Rivista, 313 W 46th St, NYC.
Upcoming Shows:
Monday, September 25, 2017: Angela Leone is performing in the 24 Hour Cabaret Marathon at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.
Tuesday, September 26, 2017 (7:15pm): Ira Lee Collings in "The Gay Geezer: Life Is A Song – So Why Not Sing it?” at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Sunday, October 1, 2017 (8pm): Tym Moss bring his debut show "Tym Moss (A)live!! Fun! Fabulous! Flamboyant!!!" with Lennie Watts as Director and Andrew Sotomayor to Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Sunday, October 1, 2017 (7pm): Amy Wolk (with Stephen Ray Watkins) will perform "Hungry Like the Wolk" at The Duplex, 61 Christopher Street, NYC
Monday, October 2, 2017 (7:15pm): Ira Lee Collings in "The Gay Geezer: Life Is A Song – So Why Not Sing it?” at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Wednesday, October 4, 2017 (9:30pm): Tanya Moberly directs the return of "A Life Behind Bars," written and performed by Dan Ruth, at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42nd Street, NYC.
Friday, October 6, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Ritt Henn at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Sunday, October 7, 2017 (8pm): Tym Moss bring his debut show "Tym Moss (A)live!! Fun! Fabulous! Flamboyant!!!" with Lennie Watts as Director and Andrew Sotomayor to Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Sunday, October 7, 2017 (7:30pm): Raissa Katona Bennett will be in "Broadway and Cabaret Sing David Friedman" at the Unity Center of Norwalk, 3 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Norwalk, CT 06851.
Sunday, October 8, 2017 (1pm): Sally Darling will be a part of "Richard Skipper Celebrates" at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 West 42nd Street, NYC.
Sunday, October 8, 2017 (7pm): Amy Wolk (with Stephen Ray Watkins) will perform "Hungry Like the Wolk" at The Duplex, 61 Christopher Street, NYC
Saturday, October 14, 2017 (4pm): Marcia Roney with Director Peter Napolitano and MD Matthew Martin Ward in "Letting Go" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Sunday, October 15, 2017 (8pm): Tym Moss bring his debut show "Tym Moss (A)live!! Fun! Fabulous! Flamboyant!!!" with Lennie Watts as Director and Andrew Sotomayor to Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Sunday, October 15, 2017 (7pm): Amy Wolk (with Stephen Ray Watkins) will perform "Hungry Like the Wolk" at The Duplex, 61 Christopher Street, NYC
Friday, October 27, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Ian Herman are appearing at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Saturday, October 28, 2017 (2pm): Tanya Moberly directs the return of "A Life Behind Bars," written and performed by Dan Ruth, at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42nd Street, NYC.
Sunday, October 29, 2017 (7:15pm): Ira Lee Collings in "The Gay Geezer: Life Is A Song – So Why Not Sing it?” at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Thursday, November 2, 2017 (7:00pm): Barbara Malley brings back her show "OMG! Am I a Diva?" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC
Saturday, November 4, 2017 (4pm): Marcia Roney with Director Peter Napolitano and MD Matthew Martin Ward in "Letting Go" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Monday, November 6, 2017 (9:30pm): Tanya Moberly directs the return of "A Life Behind Bars," written and performed by Dan Ruth, at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42nd Street, NYC.
Wednesday, November 8, 2017 (7pm): Marnie Klar performs "Bedtime Stories" (directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Monday, November 6, 2017 (9:30pm): Tanya Moberly directs the return of "A Life Behind Bars," written and performed by Dan Ruth, at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42nd Street, NYC.
Wednesday, November 8, 2017 (7pm): Marnie Klar performs "Bedtime Stories" (directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Wednesday, November 8th, 2017 (7:30pm): Raissa Katona Bennett is opening for psychic Anna Raimondi at the Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 E. Ridge Road, Ridgefield CT.
Friday, November 10, 2017 (7pm): Marnie Klar performs "Bedtime Stories" (directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Saturday, November 11, 2017 (7pm): Frances O'Flynn with Matthew Martin Ward at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Monday, November 13, 2017: Amy Beth Williams, with Tanya Moberly directing, performs "A Thousand Beautiful Things" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Friday, November 17, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Mark Janas are appearing at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Tuesday, November 21, 2017 (7pm): Sally Darling will be part of "Together: 2017 Cabaret Award-Nominated Vocalists" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Wednesday, November 29, 2017 (7pm): Sally Darling (with Matthew Martin Ward) presents "Totally Noël" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Saturday, December 2, 2017: Lucille Carr-Kaffashan will be at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC..
Sunday, December 3, 2017 (4:30pm): Sally Darling (with Matthew Martin Ward) presents "Totally Noël" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Friday, December 8, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Steven Ray Watkins at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Saturday, December 10, 2017 (4pm): Marnie Klar performs "Bedtime Stories" (directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Friday, December 15, 2017 (8pm): Lucille Carr-Kaffashan will bring her show "Unwritten" to the Razz Room at The Clarion Hotel, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope, PA.
Friday, December 15, 2017: Sally Darling will be part of "Together: 2017 Cabaret Award-Nominated Vocalists" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Monday, December 18, 2017: Amy Beth Williams, with Tanya Moberly directing, performs "A Thousand Beautiful Things" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Friday, December 15, 2017: Sally Darling will be part of "Together: 2017 Cabaret Award-Nominated Vocalists" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Monday, December 18, 2017: Amy Beth Williams, with Tanya Moberly directing, performs "A Thousand Beautiful Things" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Wednesday, December 27, 2017: Sally Darling and Matthew Martin Ward bring back her show "Love, Lust, and Longing" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Friday, December 29, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Sean Harkness are appearing at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
NEXT SALON!
The next Salon will be on Sunday, October 1st (ack! it's October already!) and the theme will be the zany or just a wee bit crooked concepts behind "A Little Bit Off" with guest host, Monica Salvi, and with Spotlight performer Ira Lee Collings. See you there!
--Sierra Rein
"Blogette" for The Salon
See an "oops!" or is something incomplete? Email me.
Friday, December 29, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Sean Harkness are appearing at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
NEXT SALON!
The next Salon will be on Sunday, October 1st (ack! it's October already!) and the theme will be the zany or just a wee bit crooked concepts behind "A Little Bit Off" with guest host, Monica Salvi, and with Spotlight performer Ira Lee Collings. See you there!
--Sierra Rein
"Blogette" for The Salon
See an "oops!" or is something incomplete? Email me.
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