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 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:

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
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