The Salon Wrap-Up for December 15th: Home(sick) for the Holidays
Co Host: Katie Dunn McGrath
The holiday season is now in full swing, and Salon's holiday edition is always one of my favorite evenings. Gathering together as a musical family at this time of year is so healing; it's a lovely and warming break from all the holiday madness. As host Mark Janas said, music brings us into the real spirit of the holidays.
Producer Tanya Moberly announced that, beginning in the new year, Salon will be moving to the Brick Room, There will be many changes, first that we will run from 7-9:30 pm, no break, with sign-up at 6:30 pm. There will be a two-drink minimum, and the cabaret snack menu will be available. For more info: www.markjanasthesalon/about/
Steve Sieck. Her second number was one that they co-wrote, called "American Dream."
After the break, Katie continued with a clever song in praise of her new-found love, Chet (titled, oddly enough, "Chet). Katie wrote the lyrics, and Alex Rybeck set it to music for her. She told us that one of the few things she misses about being away from St Louis is not seeing her beloved niece. In honor of that relationship, she sang a lovely, bittersweet rendition of the Carpenters' song "Close to You."
To close out the evening, Katie announced her upcoming new venture, Immigrant Songs, which will feature various performers honoring their families' ethnic journeys to America. (More information at www.immigrantsong.org) To highlight this, her closing number was the simple and beautiful "Mira," from the musical Carnival.
Salon Spotlight
Our final Spotlight of the year (and, apparently, forever) was Frank McDonough. He presented a group of beloved standards which, although they weren't holiday songs, nevertheless brought a feel-good vibe to the evening. His opened with an exuberant "I Gotta Be Me," (from Golden Rainbow,) followed by "The Best is Yet to Come" (Cy Coleman/Carolyn Leigh), which is, of course, what we all wish for the coming year. His closer was the a mash-up of "Pennies from Heaven" and "When You're Smiling."
Mark Janas/Classical Corner
Mark opened tonight's Classical Corner by announcing that tomorrow is Beethoven's 249th birthday. And since his music is still being played al over the world, all the time, he is still very much alive. Mark played for us the first two Beethoven pieces he ever learned (beginning at age of 7 or 8): Fuer Elise, and the Piano Sonata #14 (Quasi Una Fantasia), better known as the Moonlight Sonata. Although these pieces are very well-known, and perhaps taken for granted (since most of us have heard too many beginners tackle them), to hear them performed with skill and feeling was a refreshing experience. Mark noted that even a simple piece like Fuer Elise has the characteristic Beethoven element of dramatic surprise, and that the Moonlight Sonata always creates a very specific mood for the listener.
Roster of Performers for the Evening (in order of appearance):
Click the link to visit the performer’s website or other links, as available.All piano accompaniment by Mark Janas unless otherwise noted.
Co-Host Katie Dunne McGrath (Steve Sieck accompanying)
Mary Ellen Ryan
Rene Toroian
Bob Simonello
Andrea Axelrod
Rian Keating
Bobbie Horowitz
Brian Healy
Gerrilyn Sohn
Maureen Taylor
Tim Cahill (Jim Harder accompanying)
David Herman (accompanying himself on guitar)
Roy Bailey (accompanying himself)
J. Michael Reeds (Mark McBarron Kessler accompanying)
Mark McBarron Kessler (accompanying himself)
Salon Spotlight: Frank Mc Donough
Classical Corner
BREAK
Co-host: Katie Dunne McGrath
Tanya Moberly
Marnie Klar
Richie Eisenberg
Ira Lee Collings
Mark Ryan Anderson
Barb Malley
Jeff Michael
Janice Hall (Matthew Martin Ward accompanying)
Frances O'Flynn (Matthew Martin Ward accompanying)
Steve Arons (Matthew Martin Ward accompanying)
Matthew Martin Ward (accompanying himself)
David Ballard
Joshua Bennett
Special thanks to Mark Janas, and our guest pianists Steve Sieck, Jim Harder, Mark McBarron Kessler, and Matthew Martin Ward. Thanks also to David Ballard on lights and sound, and to the wonderful waitstaff (Joshua, Allison, Leo, and Jeffrey) and thoughtful management at Don't Tell Mama. Also, thank you to our videographer for the evening, Ruben Olvera.
Upcoming Shows
Ongoing:
Tuesdays through December (except the 24th), 6-7 pm: Join Janice Hall and Sarah Rice for "Peaceable Hour," a beautiful, relaxing hour of music to sooth the soul. St. Clements Church, 423 W 46th St, NYC. (www.peaceablehour.com for schedule updates)Upcoming:
Saturday, December 21st, 2019 (7pm): Maureen Taylor debuts her new show, "Cosmic Connections: The Lyrics of Michael Colby," at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th Street, NYC.
Friday, December 27th, 2019 (7pm): Maureen Taylor debuts her new show, "Cosmic Connections: The Lyrics of Michael Colby," at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th Street, NYC.
Saturday, December 28th, 2019 (7pm): Maureen Taylor debuts her new show, "Cosmic Connections: The Lyrics of Michael Colby," at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th Street, NYC.
Sunday December 29th, 2019 (2pm): Maureen Taylor debuts her new show, "Cosmic Connections: The Lyrics of Michael Colby," at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th Street, NYC.
Friday, January 10th, 2019 (7:30 pm); Katie Dunne McGrath presents "Immigrant Song: The DIVA Experience," at Harlem Stage, 150 Convent Ave., NYC (https://www.harlemstage.
Friday, January 17th, 2020 (7pm): Tanya Moberly sings Seals & Crofts, Cat Stevens, and Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young with Sean Harkness at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Saturday, January 18th, 2020 (4pm); Rian Keating encores his show "In This Traveling Heart," at
Don't Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th St, NYC
Monday, January 20th, 2020 (7pm): Stephen Hanks's Blue Wave series returns, raising money for Stacey Abram's "Fair Fight Georgia." Come see a cavalcade of cabaret stars, including Janice Hall and Katie Dunne McGrath. Hidden Cabaret, 707 8th Avenue, NYC.
Wednesday, February 12, 2020 (7pm): Welcome another edition in Bobbie Horowitz's series, "It's Just a Number, at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Friday, February 21st, 2020 (7pm): Tanya Moberly sings Seals & Crofts, Cat Stevens, and Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young with Sean Harkness at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Wednesday, February 26th, 2020 (7pm): Rian Keating encores his show "In This Traveling Heart," at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.
Friday, March 20th, 2020 (7pm): Tanya Moberly sings Amy Winehouse, Ani Di Franco, Rickie Lee Jones, and Joni Mitchell with Ritt Henn at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th Street, NYC.
Friday, April 17th, 2020 (7pm): Tanya Moberly sings Amy Winehouse, Ani Di Franco, Rickie Lee Jones, and Joni Mitchell with Ritt Henn at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th Street, NYC.
Friday, May 15th, 2020 (7pm): Tanya Moberly sings Led Zeppelin and The Beatles with Ian Herman at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th Street, NYC.
Friday, June 19th, 2020 (7pm): Tanya Moberly sings Led Zeppelin and The Beatles with Ian Herman at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th Street, NYC.
Friday, July 17th, 2020 (7pm): Tanya Moberly sings Stephen Sondheim and Stephen Schwartz with Mark Janas at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th Street, NYC.
Friday, August 21st, 2020 (7pm): Tanya Moberly sings Stephen Sondheim and Stephen Schwartz with Mark Janas at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th Street, NYC.
Friday, September 18th, 2020 (7pm): Tanya Moberly sings Pat Benetar, Chrissie Hynde, and Annie Lennox with Steven Ray Watkins at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th Street, NYC.
Friday, October 16th, 2020 (7pm): Tanya Moberly sings Pat Benetar, Chrissie Hynde, and Annie Lennox with Steven Ray Watkins at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th Street, NYC.
Friday, November 20th, 2020 (7pm): Tanya Moberly sings Harry Nilsson and Randy Newman with Jon Weber at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th Street, NYC.
Friday, December 18th, 2020 (7pm): Tanya Moberly sings Harry Nilsson and Randy Newman with Jon Weber at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th Street, NYC.
SALON WISHES YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON!
We will return on Sunday, January 5th, 2020, with the theme, "FIRST IMPRESSIONS"
Co-Host: David Maiocco (as Liberace)
Submitted by Janice Hall
Blogette for The Salon
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