Sunday, April 28, 2019

The Salon Wrap-Up for April 28, 2019: "Reckless Love"

Mark Janas kicked the evening off by introducing our co-host, MAC Award-winner and singer/songwriter Carolyn Montgomery. She started things on a lighthearted note with a jazzy, sexy arrangement of pop singer Jessie J's hit song "Domino." Carolyn is a true professional at managing the unexpected things that arise in a live performance - such as the difficulty created given that her usual music director Jeff Cubeta was called out of town unexpectedly and Mark Janas jumped in to take a stab at the charts at the last minute.

Unfazed, she segued confidently and calmly into a wickedly delightful reminiscience to set up a creative and fresh mashup of the Cy Coleman classic "You Fascinate Me So" with the crowd-favorite standard "Unforgettable" (written by Irving Gordon). Her poise and poignance on stage made her a wonderfully warm co-host for the evening.

Carolyn brought us back in from the break with Chris Smither's "Love Me Like a Man," notably sung by Bonnie Raitt. Her suave, wistful, yearning blues cooled the evening down, setting herself up for a thoughtful, evocative rendition of k.d. lang's "Pullin' Back the Reins." Carolyn is a master at losing herself in the moment of the song and taking us with her to the horizon in her eyes as she feels her way through the nuances of her scene. She finished the night in the most reckless way: realizing she didn't need traditional love and marriage at all, in Malby and Shire's "The Bear, The Tiger, The Hamster and The Mole" from Closer Than Ever. 


Co-host Carolyn Montgomery. Photo credit
Carolyn currently hosts the new Open Mic at The Den, 340 W 40th Street, NYC on Saturday Nights at 8pm. She will also be appearing at Music at The Mansion on June 6th and will host and teach at The Retreat at Herons Landing June 12th – June 26th with Karen Mason, Jay Rogers & Lennie Watts. Carolyn leads monthly programs for the American Songbook Association as their Director of Education, bringing classic American song to public schools in all five boroughs.

Classical Corner/Salon Spotlight

Tonight the Classical Corner and Salon Spotlight were combined to feature Mark’s Students from Manhattan School of Music’s 2019 “Discover Opera!” program: Dylan Courtney, George Baolin, Jeremy Leung, Josi Petersen, Heather O’Donovan, Stephanie Foster & Tiernan Chase. Mark explained that the class read all eight Mary Poppins books, in addition to watching both the 1964 original and 2018 sequel, as well as the film Saving Mr. Banks about Walt Disney's efforts to secure the rights to Mary Poppins from P.L. Travers. Then they created the piece, "Mary Poppera Loves the Opera," to perform for children's groups around the city.

The plot concerns Rudolf Bing (general manager of the Metropolitan Opera in 1966) attempting to convince P.L. Travers to let him turn Mary Poppins into an opera, a la Saving Mr. Banks. The students performed the majority of the piece for us, complete with a plethora of props and including numerous songs from the original Mary Poppins, Mary Poppins Returns, and multiple operas, many with parody/plot-appropriate lyrics they wrote themselves. (This Bloggette attempted to enumerate them all but was overwhelmed by how MANY songs they included!) They sang in multiple styles, accordingly, but the operatic selections were the vocal highlight. The numerous ways in which they taught important musical terms (aria, recitative, duet, trio, etc.) were charmingly woven into the plot. Also bravo to the many accents the students donned, including, among others, German, British, Russian, Cockney, and Long Island - no easy feat. Near the end, they needed a volunteer (the very game Kathleen France, and ultimately the entire crowd) to sing aloud to ultimately convince Ms. Travers, recalling one of the most endearing moments of Peter Pan. it was a truly delightful peformance.

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: Carolyn Montgomery
Tracy Sallows
Liora Michelle
Monica Salvi
Andre Vincent
Deborah Stone (Matthew Martin Ward at piano)
Marcia Roney (Matthew Martin Ward at piano)
Matthew Martin Ward (self at piano)
Emily Ellet
Classical Corner/Salon Spotlight
BREAK
Co-Host: Carolyn Montgomery
Tanya Moberly
Julianna Graham (Mark Hartman at piano)
Jason Tyler Smith (Mark Hartman at piano)
Kristian Dambrino (Mark Hartman at piano)
Carolyn German (Mark Hartman at piano)
Frances O'Flynn (Matthew Martin Ward at piano)
Nancy Morgan
Bob Simonello
Ann Talman
Dr. Sue Horowitz
Joshua Bennett
Alison Nussbaum
Richard Eisenberg
Phillip Kuan
Co-Host: Carolyn Montgomery

Special thanks to our pianist for the evening, Mark Janas, and to musicians Matthew Martin Ward and Mark Hartman. Thanks also to Alison Nussbaum on lights and sound, and the ever quick-on-their-feet waitstaff (Joshua and Leo) and management at Don't Tell Mama. Also thanks to our videographer for the evening, Reuben Olvera.

Ongoing Shows:


Most Tuesdays (6pm): Peaceable Hour with Sarah RiceJanice Hall, and Mark Watson at St. Clements Church, free, see schedule for details - peaceablehour.com, 423 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesdays-Sundays: Adam Shapiro is performing in Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish at Stage 42, 422 W 42nd St, NYC.

Saturdays (8:30pm): Carolyn Montgomery hosts Open Mic at The Den, 340 W. 40th Street, NYC, with pianist Jeff Cubeta.


Upcoming Shows:


Thursday, May 16th, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Barb Junger direct Susanne Mack in "Where I Belong" with Musical Director Paul Greenwood at Pangea, 178 2nd Ave, NYC.

Friday, May 17th, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Barb Junger direct Susanne Mack in "Where I Belong" with Musical Director Paul Greenwood at Pangea, 178 2nd Ave, NYC.

Friday, May 17th, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Stephanie Trudeau in "Chavela: Thing of Me; Songs Stories of Chavela Vargas" with David Lahm on piano and Diego Cebollero on guitar, Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, May 19th, 2019 (6pm): Dr. Sue Horowitz presents a reading of her original musical “SssWitch - A Bewitching Musical” at St. John's Church, 81 Christopher Street, NYC.

Thursday, May 23th, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Barb Junger direct Susanne Mack in "Where I Belong" with Musical Director Paul Greenwood at Pangea, 178 2nd Ave, NYC.

Thursday, May 30th, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Barb Junger direct Susanne Mack in "Where I Belong" with Musical Director Paul Greenwood at Pangea, 178 2nd Ave, NYC.


Friday, June 6th, 2019: Carolyn Montgomery performs at Music at The Mansion, Oakeside Bloomfield Cultural Center, 240 Belleville Avenue, Bloomfield, NJ.

Monday, June 10th, 2019 (7pm): Nancy Morgan presents "That Was Then. This is Now." with pianist Tom DeFrancesco at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th Street, NYC.

Thursday, July 11th, 2019: Marnie Klar will be performing at Parnell's, 350 E 53rd St, NYC.



NEXT SALON: May 5th, 2019
Next week's Salon will be on the perennielly relevant topic of "Good and Evil", featuring co-host (and award-winner) Monica Salvi and Salon Spotlight Susanne Mack. Joining us at Salon is always the "good" choice, just sayin'....

Submitted by Emily Ellet
Blogette for The Salon
Email me if I missed anything!

Sunday, April 14, 2019

The Salon Wrap-Up for April 14, 2019: "Death & Taxes – Things You Can’t Escape"

Mark Janas introduced our co-host, Andrea Axelrod, who began our evening celebration of death and taxes with her richly voiced ebullience on Kurt Weill's "One Life to Live," accompanied by pianist John M. Cook. Andrea has a wonderfully comfortable, confident, and expressive stage presence that well matched the song's lyrics. 


Andrea Axelrod at Don't Tell Mama. Photo credit.

Her second set opened with a spectacularly entertaining novelty song written for Robert Preston for a 1963 Carol Burnett special about the many ways his B-movie characters had been killed off as he worked his way up through show business before ultimately becoming a star with The Music Man on Broadway. Andrea brought a vibrant physicality to the song, commanding the stage as she was shot, stabbed, hanged, and drowned, among others (with excellent foley work by John M. Cook). Her crisp articulation, particularly of the varied onomatopoetic sound effects, was especially appreciated in such a fun patter song. She then brought us the wistful ballad "Killing Time" by Jule Styne and Carolyn Leigh. Her thoughtful parsing of the song's phrasing offered a beautifully spare setting in which to appreciate her myriad vocal textures. She finished the set with "Toreador," which was the first song that classical composer Francis Poulenc ever wrote, along with lyricist Jean Cocteau. As the piece was in French, Andrea thoughtfully set the scene for us before ripping loose with a tour de force performance that proved her operatic and acting bonafides (as befits a regional finalist in the Metropolitan Opera Auditions!).

She also provided us a chance to sing along at the end of the evening, leading us in "Easter Parade" with Mark Janas, who gamely donned Dr. Sue Horowitz's witch hat for the occasion! We went into Easter and Passover week with much giggling and joyous song.

Andrea's upcoming show, "After the Bawl," will be presented on Sunday, June 9 at 4 pm and Friday, June 14 at 7 pm and on two more dates in the fall (Sept 8th at 4 pm, Sept 13th at 7 pm) at the Brick Room at Don't Tell Mama with John M. Cook at the piano, featuring songs for recovering from heartache.



Classical Corner


Mark was joined by cellist Amy Ralske for the first movement of the Brahms sonata for piano and cello in E minor. At times tormented anguish, at others fervant insistence, the sonata's somber elegance befitted the night's theme. Mark's sensitive piano and Amy's clear and poignant cello plumbed the depths of emotion felt from losses personal or pecuniary. Mark pointed out that in a sonata like this, both musicians are equal contributors, sharing and trading the melodic lines. (The pianist is not merely an accompanist.)

After such a filling entree, our classical "dessert" was a sprightly movement of François Couperin’s Pièces de Concert 
titled "Air de Diable."

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: Andrea Axelrod (John M. Cook at piano)
Ira Lee Collings
Josephine Sanges (John M. Cook at piano)
Dr. Sue Horowitz (self at piano)
Andre Vincent
Raina Sabella (David Sabella at piano)
David Sabella (John M. Cook at piano)
Bobbie Horowitz
Ann Talman
Madelaine Warren
Karen Joyce
Bob Simonello
Emily Ellet
Marnie Klar
Classical Corner
BREAK
Co-Host: Andrea Axelrod (John M. Cook at piano)
Tanya Moberly
Karon Haynes
Phillip Kuan
David Ballard
Joshua Bennett
Cathy Taylor (Matthew Martin Ward at piano)
Marcia Roney (Matthew Martin Ward at piano)
Matthew Martin Ward (self at piano)
Sandra Gilmour (Stephen Cornine at piano)
Stephen Cornine (self at piano)
Kathleen Twyner-Coley
Antonio Watts
Co-Host: Andrea Axelrod

Special thanks to our pianist for the evening, Mark Janas, and to the musicians John M. Cook, Matthew Martin Ward, and Amy Ralske. Thanks also to David Ballard on lights and sound, and the astounding waitstaff (Joshua and Leo), and management at Don't Tell Mama. Also thanks to our videographer for the evening, Reuben Olvera.

Ongoing Shows:


Most Tuesdays (6pm): Peaceable Hour with Sarah RiceJanice Hall, and Mark Watson at St. Clements Church, free, see schedule for details - peaceablehour.com, 423 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesdays-Sundays: Adam Shapiro is performing in Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish at Stage 42, 422 W 42nd St, NYC.


Upcoming Shows:


Saturday, April 20th, 2019 (7pm): Raina Sabella will be a part of the Youth Pride Chorus performance "(R)Evolution" at The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, 208 West 13th St, NYC.

Thursday, May 16th, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Barb Junger direct Susanne Mack in "Where I Belong" with Musical Director Paul Greenwood at Pangea, 178 2nd Ave, NYC.

Friday, May 17th, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Barb Junger direct Susanne Mack in "Where I Belong" with Musical Director Paul Greenwood at Pangea, 178 2nd Ave, NYC.

Friday, May 17th, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Stephanie Trudeau in "Chavela: Thing of Me; Songs Stories of Chavela Vargas" with David Lahm on piano and Diego Cebollero on guitar, Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, May 19th, 2019 (6pm): Dr. Sue Horowitz presents a reading of her original musical “SssWitch - A Bewitching Musical” at St. John's Church, 81 Christopher Street, NYC.

Thursday, May 23th, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Barb Junger direct Susanne Mack in "Where I Belong" with Musical Director Paul Greenwood at Pangea, 178 2nd Ave, NYC.

Thursday, May 30th, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Barb Junger direct Susanne Mack in "Where I Belong" with Musical Director Paul Greenwood at Pangea, 178 2nd Ave, NYC.

Thursday, May 30th, 2019: Karen Joyce will be performing at Parnell's, 350 E 53rd St, NYC.

Sunday, June 2nd, 2019 (4pm): Sandra Gilmour presents "Hearts Collide" with Stephen Gilmore on piano at the Brick Room at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Tuesday, June 18th, 2019 (7pm): Sandra Gilmour presents "Hearts Collide" with Stephen Gilmore on piano at the Brick Room at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Thursday, June 27th, 2019 (7pm): Ira Lee Collings brings back "NAKED - From The Neck Up" as a benefit for SAGE in the Brick Room at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th St, NYC.

Thursday, June 27th, 2019 (8pm): David Ballard will be part of the 50th Anniversary NYC Gay Men's Chorus performance "Quiet No More: A Choral Celebration of Stonewall" at Carnegie Hall, 881 7th Ave, NYC.

Thursday, July 11th, 2019: Marnie Klar will be performing at Parnell's, 350 E 53rd St, NYC.

Friday, July 12th, 2019 (9:30 pm): Josephine Sanges presents a preview of her new show celebrating "The Men" at the Beach Cafe, 1326 2nd Avenue, NYC.

Thursday, October 17th, 2019: Bobbie Horowitz presents "It's Just a Number" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

NEXT SALON: April 28th, 2019
Reminder that there will be NO SALON next Sunday, April 21st. We will pick back up on Sunday, April 28th with the theme "Reckless Love" so gird your loins (and heart) accordingly, with co-host Carolyn Montgomery and a Salon Spotlight featuring Mark's MSM Students!

Submitted by Emily Ellet
Blogette for The Salon
Email me if I missed anything!

Monday, April 8, 2019

The Salon Wrap-Up for April 7, 2019: "Mixed Bag – A Salon Potpourri"

Mark introduced our Co-Host for the evening, the 2019 Bistro Award winner for Outstanding Vocalist who was recently seen in the North American premiere of "Girl from the North Country" (earning her a 2019 Lortel nomination for Outstanding Featured Actress) and Broadway veteran Luba Mason. She is working on her 4th CD, entitled Triangle, which will be released later this year. Luba took to the stage and slid gently into Van Morrison's "Moondance," giving us our first taste of her smooth alto vocals and effervescent onstage personae. She played with this jazzy melody so beautifully, taking the familiar notes, giving Mark an instrumental break for himself to bounce up and down the song with cool joy before having a lot of fun with the ending. She is wearing new sneakers this evening, and didn't hesitate to point it out before going into her Co-Hosting duties. In the midst of a single opening note, Luba burst into an a cappella rendition of "Skylark" by Johnny Mercer and Hoagy Carmichael, so we really could hear her glorious voice and all the nuances she gives to her work, all by itself. Thru her last note, Mark played into a swirlingly relaxing "I Can See Clearly Now" by Johnny Nash, and Luba ebbed and flowed with the rhythm in her own beautiful interpretation of the well-known verse. To end her set, she took us to Brazil, South America, from her second album Krazy Love, by singing her original samba composition called "Gorgeous Fool," which was as deceptively hilarious as it was sensuous. For the final number of the evening, she turned up the heat with a sizzling version of "And All That Jazz" by John Kander and Fred Ebb, complete with powerful belting and sultry Fosse/Verdon movements behind the mic stand.

Luba Mason at the 2019 Bistro Awards. Photo: James Gavin


Salon Spotlight


Our Salon Spotlight was Bistro and MAC Hanson Award winner, Lucille Carr-Kaffashan. Lucille is such a great singer, with a rich alto belt and fantastic connection to the lyric. She started out by going right into the swingingly rockin' "All of Me" (by John Legend) with Jeff Cubeta at the piano, who also furnished high tenor harmonies. Tears, sweat and the sea - salt water - is basically the cure for everything, so Lucille sat on a stool and went into the moody "The Downeaster Alexa" by Billy Joel, making the song her very own. Then she performed an adamant lesson song, Bob Dylan's "Gotta Serve Somebody" with some really fun Gospel rap and lyrics, and allowed her powerful vocals and great storytelling to nail the song home.

Lucille's show "When the Light Gets In" will be presented on Saturday, April 27th and Thursday, May 2nd (both at 7pm) at the Brick Room of Don't Tell Mama with Jeff Cubeta at the piano as Music Director/Arranger. It features work by male singer-songwriters, and will have on hand Sean Harkness on guitar, Matt Scharfglass on bass, and David Hilder as Director.


Classical Corner


Taking the concept of "Mixed Bag" almost literally, we had some fun for Classical Corner last night, creating a pop quiz of sorts for Mark. Before the evening started, he wrote a bunch of classical works on cards in a basket, relatively short pieces that he knew how to play off the top of his head. When the time came, Maureen Taylor passed the basket around the room and one by one random titles were announced to Mark, who went on to play them from memory! Mendelssohn's "Scherzo Opus 16 #2" was first, then came nicely contrasting Gershwin's "Prelude No. 2," and then randomly went into Gershwin's "Prelude No. 1" in a coincidental reversal of order. He waited for quiet and then beautifully glowed musically with "Clair De Lune" by Debussy, leaving us all in a good mood for the Intermission break.


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: Luba Mason 
Bobbie Horowitz
Deborah Stone
Marnie Klar
Bob Simonello
Delaine Douglas
Barb Malley
Bennett Silverstein
Dr. Sue Horowitz (self at piano)
Sierra Rein
Maureen Taylor
Salon Spotlight Lucille Carr-Kaffashan (Jeff Cubeta on piano)
Classical Corner
BREAK
Co-Host: Luba Mason 
Tanya Moberly
Frances O'Flynn (Matthew Martin Ward at piano)
Matthew Martin Ward (self at piano)
Richard Eisenberg
David Ballard
Joshua Bennett
Phillip Kuan
Co-Host: Luba Mason 

Special thanks to our pianist for the evening, Mark Janas, and also to musician Jeff Cubeta. Thanks also to David Ballard on lights and sound, and the astounding waitstaff (Joshua and Leo), and management at Don't Tell Mama. Also thanks to our videographer for the evening,  Steve Bustamante.


Ongoing Shows:


Most Tuesdays (6pm): Peaceable Hour with Sarah Rice, Janice Hall, and Mark Watson at St. Clements Church, free, see schedule for details - peaceablehour.com, 423 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesdays-Sundays: Adam Shapiro is performing in Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish at Stage 42, 422 W 42nd St, NYC.

Upcoming Shows:


Wednesday, April 10th, 2019 (7pm): Frances O'Flynn with Matthew Martin Ward sing Jimmy Kennedy - "The Man Who Wrote the Teddy Bear's Picnic" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, April 12, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Stephanie Trudeau in "Chavela: Thing of Me; Songs & Stories of Chavela Vargas" with David Lahm on piano and Diego Cebollero on guitar, Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, April 14th, 2019 (7pm): Frances O'Flynn with Matthew Martin Ward sing Jimmy Kennedy - "The Man Who Wrote the Teddy Bear's Picnic" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, April 15th, 2019 (7pm): Delaine Douglas and others will be competing in the "Tomatoes Got Talent" Contest at The Triad, 158 W 72nd St, NYC.

Friday, April 26th, 2019 (7pm): Barb Malley in "OMG! Am I a Diva?" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, April 27th, 2019 (4:30pm): Barb Malley in "OMG! Am I a Diva?" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Thursday, May 16th, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Barb Junger direct Susanne Mack in "Where I Belong" with Musical Director Paul Greenwood at Pangea, 178 2nd Ave, NYC.

Friday, May 17th, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Barb Junger direct Susanne Mack in "Where I Belong" with Musical Director Paul Greenwood at Pangea, 178 2nd Ave, NYC.

Friday, May 17th, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Stephanie Trudeau in "Chavela: Thing of Me; Songs Stories of Chavela Vargas" with David Lahm on piano and Diego Cebollero on guitar, Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, May 19th, 2019 (6pm): Dr. Sue Horowitz presents a reading of her original musical “SssWitch - A Bewitching Musical” at St. John's Church, 81 Christopher Street, NYC.

Thursday, May 23th, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Barb Junger direct Susanne Mack in "Where I Belong" with Musical Director Paul Greenwood at Pangea, 178 2nd Ave, NYC.

Thursday, May 30th, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Barb Junger direct Susanne Mack in "Where I Belong" with Musical Director Paul Greenwood at Pangea, 178 2nd Ave, NYC.

Friday, May 31, 2019 (7pm): Sierra Rein - as part of Marquee Five - performs "8-Track Throwback" with Dan Pardo on piano, Matt Scharfglass on bass, Tony Romano on guitar, and Emma Ford on drums, at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42nd Street, NYC.

Thursday, June 20th, 2019 (7pm): Bennett Silverstein will present "Born to Be Bennett" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Thursday, June 27th, 2019 (8pm): David Ballard will be part of the 50th Anniversary NYC Gay Men's Chorus performance "Quiet No More: A Choral Celebration of Stonewall" at Carnegie Hall, 881 7th Ave, NYC.

Thursday, July 11th, 2019: Marnie Klar will be performing at Parnell's, 350 E 53rd St, NYC.

Thursday, October 17th, 2019: Bobbie Horowitz presents "It's Just a Number" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

NEXT SALON: April 14th, 2019
The theme for next Sunday will be filled with potential doom, but a lot of music to face: "Death & Taxes – Things You Can’t Escape," and our Co-Host will be teacher and acclaimed Cabaret vocalist, Andrea Axelrod!

Sierra Rein
Blogette for The Salon
Email me if I missed anything!

Monday, April 1, 2019

The Salon Wrap-Up for March 31, 2019: "What A Swell Party, Parody Or Patter Song"

If you've been around the Cabaret community, ou've seen performer/writer/director, our Co-Host: Jeff Harnar! Alex Rybeck was on the piano to perform the very Dean Martin-meets-Robert Preston-esque "Having A Ball," which Cole Porter wrote for Panama Hattie with just a few lyrics (no, actually a lot) rewritten to fit the party. Alex then played and sang a "Cole Porter Friendship Medley" which included "Well, Did You Ever," "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," "Friendship," "You're the Top," amongst others, with Jeff jumping in for a few answering lyrics and harmony lines. Rick Crom (composer of Newsical the Musical) once imagined if Sondheim had written Oklahoma, and Jeff sang "Sunday in the Meadow with Curly." This was not only an astounding parody, but pretty spot-on imitation of what Sondheim might write for the opening, including "golden brown beautiful haze...what a beautiful mornin.'" Jeff then sang a series of Oklahoma characters as seen through Sondheim's eyes: Curly's invitation to the box social, Ado Annie singing a "Not Getting Married Today" parody on the theme of "I Can't Say No," and the show's title song itself then got an "Another Hundred People" musical angle. For the second half, Jeff did his tribute to Danny Kaye, a fast-paced list of famous Russian composers, "Tschaikowsky (and Other Russians)." He then did it again, even faster, trying to beat the 39 second record...but someone forgot to start the clock, so we don't know if he made it! He finally thanked us for being here, and sang Johnny Mercer's swingingly lovely "Too Marvelous For Words."

Jeff Harnar

Classical Corner


The plan for the evening originally was for Mark's MSM Students to be the spotlight before an early Monday morning call. However, six sick students needed their rest, so Mark had to think. He remembered the first parody he ever heard at age 8 or 9, and in College he and his students did parodies with combined classical pieces combined together, including "This was the symphony that Schubert wrote that never finished," adding lyrics to classical repertoire. Sometimes these lyrics were passed down from class to class just to aid the memorization of the melody of the piece. Mark then invited Matthew Martin Ward to sit at the piano, and they both asked for a tune from the audience just to improvise classical parodies on it, back and forth. The song was "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" and was first played by Mark in a straightforward way, but then it was "Motzarted" a bit, then Matthew turned it into another composer, then Mark into "Moonlight Sonata," and on and on. They then duetted on the keyboard at the same time, one taking the melody of "Raindrops" and the other adding the underbelly of one classical piece beneath it, ending on some amazing work! It was stunning in arrangements to begin with, but the fact that it was all improvised on the spot made it all the more impressive. To finish, and taking from a parody that Heather Villaescusa sang earlier, they ended on a stirring "Raindrops Keep Falling on the William Tell Overture."

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: Jeff Harnar (Alex Rybeck on piano)
Alex Rybeck and Jeff Harnar (Alex Rybeck on piano)
Ann Kittredge (Alex Rybeck on piano)
Joanne Halen (Alex Rybeck on piano)
Bernie Boronson
Heather Villaescusa
Madelaine Warren
Bobbie Horowitz (Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Marcia Roney (Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Andrea Axelrod (Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Janice Hall (Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Sally Darling (Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Matthew Martin Ward (self on piano)
Sierra Rein
Jaye Maynard
Classical Corner
BREAK
Co-Hosts: Jeff Harnar 
Tanya Moberly
Tim Cahill (James Harder on piano)
Nicola Mills
Bob Simonello
Alicia Littman
Ira Lee Collings
Deborah Stone
Zach Wobensmith
Dawn Derow
Michael Colby
Sandra Gilmore (Stephen Cordine at the piano)
Stephen Cordine (self at the piano)
Joshua Bennett
Bennett Silverstein
Joan Jaffe
Richie Eisenberg

Special thanks to our pianist for the evening, Mark Janas, and to the musicians James HarderAlex Rybeck, Matthew Martin Ward, and Stephen Cordine. Thanks also to David Ballard on lights and sound, and the astounding waitstaff (Joshua and Leo), and management at Don't Tell Mama. Also thanks to our videographer for the evening, Reuben Olvera.

Ongoing Shows:


Most Tuesdays (6pm): Peaceable Hour with Sarah Rice, Janice Hall, and Mark Watson at St. Clements Church, free, see schedule for details - peaceablehour.com, 423 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesdays-Sundays: Adam Shapiro is performing in Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish at Stage 42, 422 W 42nd St, NYC.

Upcoming Shows:


Monday, April 1st, 2019 (7pm): Matthew Martin Ward will be a part of Joe Keenan's “Everybody Rise: A Resistance Cabaret” at Theatre at Birdland, 315 West 44th St, NY.

Monday, April 1st, 2019 (8pm): Tanya Moberly directs Dan Ruth in the award-winning "A Life Behind Bars" at City Winery, 155 Varick St, NYC.

Thursday, April 4th, 2019 (7pm): Joan Jaffe in "Little Girl Blue" with special guest Charles Baran, Kuni Mikami on piano at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, April 7th, 2019: Heather Villaescusa and others perform at the Singnasium benefit.

Wednesday, April 10th, 2019 (7pm): Frances O'Flynn with Matthew Martin Ward sing Jimmy Kennedy - "The Man Who Wrote the Teddy Bear's Picnic" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, April 12, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Stephanie Trudeau in "Chavela: Thing of Me; Songs & Stories of Chavela Vargas" with David Lahm on piano and Diego Cebollero on guitar, Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, April 14th, 2019 (7pm): Frances O'Flynn with Matthew Martin Ward sing Jimmy Kennedy - "The Man Who Wrote the Teddy Bear's Picnic" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, April 28th, 2019: Tim Cahill with James Harder will be featured in "Groovin on a Sunday” at Don’t Tell Mama, 345 W 46th St., NYC.

Friday, May 3rd, 2019 (7pm): Frank McDonough will be singing at the National Opera Center, 330 Seventh Ave., NYC.

Monday, May 6th, 2019: Bernie Boronson will be a part of Producer Eadie Scott's Cabaret show, at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, May 9th, 2019 (7pm): Janice Hall will perform in the rarely done opera by Benjamin Britten of "Owen Wingrave" for Little Opera Theater of NY at GK ArtsCenter, 29 Jay Street, Brooklyn.

Thursday, May 11th, 2019 (7pm): Janice Hall will perform in the rarely done opera by Benjamin Britten of "Owen Wingrave" for Little Opera Theater of NY at GK ArtsCenter, 29 Jay Street, Brooklyn.

Thursday, May 16th, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Barb Junger direct Susanne Mack in "Where I Belong" with Musical Director Paul Greenwood at Pangea, 178 2nd Ave, NYC.

Friday, May 17th, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Barb Junger direct Susanne Mack in "Where I Belong" with Musical Director Paul Greenwood at Pangea, 178 2nd Ave, NYC.

Friday, May 17th, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly directs Stephanie Trudeau in "Chavela: Thing of Me; Songs & Stories of Chavela Vargas" with David Lahm on piano and Diego Cebollero on guitar, Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, May 17th, 2019 (8pm): Jaye Maynard in the a cappella Art Mob 40th Anniversary Spring concert at the Ronald Feldman Gallery, 31 Mercer Street, NYC.

Thursday, May 23th, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Barb Junger direct Susanne Mack in "Where I Belong" with Musical Director Paul Greenwood at Pangea, 178 2nd Ave, NYC.

Wednesday, May 29th, 2019: Ann Kittredge in "An Evening of Ahrens and Flaherty" - Director Andrea Marcovicci and Music Director Alex Rybeck at 54 Below, 254 W 54th St, NYC.
Thursday, May 30th, 2019 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Barb Junger direct Susanne Mack in "Where I Belong" with Musical Director Paul Greenwood at Pangea, 178 2nd Ave, NYC.

Friday, May 31, 2019 (7pm): Sierra Rein - as part of Marquee Five - performs "8-Track Throwback" with Dan Pardo on piano, Matt Scharfglass on bass, Tony Romano on guitar, and Emma Ford on drums, at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42nd Street, NYC.

Sunday, June 2nd, 2019: Sandra Gilmore with Stephen Cordine at the piano at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, June 9th, 2019: Andrea Axelrod in "After the Bawl" with John Cook.

Tuesday, June 11th, 2019: Joanne Halen (with Alex Rybeck on piano) makes her Debut at Birdland Theater, 315 W 44th St, NYC.
Friday, June 14th, 2019: Andrea Axelrod in "After the Bawl" with John Cook. Sept 8th 13th.

Sunday, June 16th, 2019 (1pm): Dawn Derow in "The House That Built Me" with Musical Director Matt Baker, Guest artist Peter Calo, Guitarist, Directed by Jeff Harnar at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42nd Street, NYC.

Tuesday, June 18th, 2019: Sandra Gilmore with Stephen Cordine at the piano at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, June 26th, 2019 (7pm): Dawn Derow in "The House That Built Me" with Musical Director Matt Baker, Guest artist Peter Calo, Guitarist, Directed by Jeff Harnar at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42nd Street, NYC.

Monday, June 17th, 2019 (7pm): Ira Lee Collings sings at benefit for SAGE at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, September 8th, 2019: Andrea Axelrod in "After the Bawl" with John Cook.

Friday, September 13th, 2019: Andrea Axelrod in "After the Bawl" with John Cook.

Thursday, October 17th, 2019: Bobbie Horowitz presents "It's Just a Number" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

NEXT SALON: April 7th, 2019
The theme for next Sunday will be one that is TOTALLY OPEN: "Mixed Bag – A Salon Potpourri." Or maybe it's about Gucci purses and rose smelling things...your pick! Our Co-Host will be 2019 Bistro Award Honoree Luba Mason, and our Salon Spotlight will be Lucille Carr-Kaffashan!

Sierra Rein
Blogette for The Salon
Email me if I missed anything!