The Salon Wrap-Up for January 19, 2020: Breaking Resolutions

“It’s January 19th and I’m already exhausted” - thus opened our wryly funny co-host of the evening, MAC President, Singnasium Artistic Director/CEO, and Director of countless Cabaret shows throughout New York, Lennie Watts! His theme of “Breaking Resolutions” brought a up lot of personal goals destroyed on the rocks of well intentions, and Lennie was quick on the mic to guide us all through our guilt and pain. After getting a hand count of the majority of us who already broke our 2020 New Year’s Resolutions, he started singing “One Rock N’ Roll Too Many” from Starlight Express. As a high tenor, Lennie gave us his honest and blunt rendition of this Andrew Lloyd Webber song, in a way we’d never heard before. Midway through the evening, he sang a smooth jazz version of the Beatles’ “Hard Day’s Night,” which was admittedly stolen from a student who once quit his Arrangement Experience too early. To complete the night’s antics, he showed off his own arrangement brilliance with a sly combination of  “That’s Life” and “Bowl of Cherries.”

Lennie and vocalist Kim Grogg will be performing February 1st, 7pm with “Hometown Heroes” with Musical Director Steven Ray Watkins and Bassist Matt Scharfglass at The Laurie Beechman Theater!

Kim Grogg and Lennie Watts in "Hometown Heroes"

Mark Janas/Classical Corner 

Continuing with the birthday boy of the month, Mozart, Mark Janas wished to bring up the musical concept of “Resolution,” which in composing refers to the movement from a dissonant chord to another, more consonant chord. That feeling of suspension before returning to a comfortable ‘at home’ chord is what we’re talking about, and Mark pointed out that Mozart was very good at giving us normal, recognizable resolutions, especially chords that are easy to our Western ears. “Broken” resolutions, on the other hand, deal with atonality. For example, Mark talked about Richard Wagner, who did not adhere to the rules of chord progressions and resolutions. Instead, he added chords and unruly resolutions, with constant suspensions on the 4ths to move to the 3rd, constantly changing keys and cadences where one chord would constantly resolve to another in unexpected ways. Mark then played from Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde, on a solo piano transcription by Frank Liszt. Entitled “Prelude and Liebestod,” it sounded like someone walking on jagged cobblestone; the chord progressions tripped their way up and down, flowing upper passages with low bass trembles below the current, never quite landing until the very end of the piece! After all the broken resolutions, it was great to be back home!

If you love the Classical Corner section each Salon, a reminder that Mark is doing a Classical Corner Series at Don’t Tell Mama; the next is January 27, 2020 at 7pm. Tickets can be reserved here.

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 Lennie Watts
Deborah Zecher
Sean Patrick Murtagh
Bobbie Horowitz (Matthew Martin Ward at piano)
Sally Darling (Matthew Martin Ward at piano)
Teresa Morrison (Matthew Martin Ward at piano)
Al Ro (Matthew Martin Ward at piano)
Andrea Axelrod (Matthew Martin Ward at piano)
Marcia Roney (Matthew Martin Ward at piano)
Matthew Martin Ward (self on piano)
Bruno Giraldi
Lynda Kennedy
Becca Kidwell 
Karen Mack
Katie McGrath
Mardie Millet (Bill Zeffiro at piano)
Nicole Spano
Lynda Rodolitz
Maureen Taylor
Sierra Rein
Zach Wobensmith
Co-Host Lennie Watts
Mark Janas’ Classical Corner
Tanya Moberly
Goldie Dver (Bill Zeffiro at piano)
Angela Leone (Bill Zeffiro at piano)
Liora Michelle (Bill Zeffiro at piano)
Ira Lee Collings (Bill Zeffiro at piano)
Kimberly Neuwirth (Bill Zeffiro at piano)
Abby Hase (Bill Zeffiro at piano)
Johnathan Kuhn
Michele Herman
J. Michael Reeds (Marc Kessler at piano)
Marc Kessler (self at piano)
Richard Eisenberg (self at piano)
Michael Colby
Gerrilyn Sohn
Graeme Lister
Barbara Malley
Joanne Halev
Bruce Clough
Natasha Castillo
Sue Horowitz
Steve Bustamante

David Ballard
Joshua Bennett
Co-Host Lennie Watts

Special thanks to Mark Janas, and pianists Marc Kessler, Bill Zeffiro and Matthew Martin Ward. Thanks also to David Ballard on lights and sound, and to the wonderful waitstaff and thoughtful management at Don't Tell Mama. Finally, a big thank you to our videographer for the evening, Steve Bustamante.

Upcoming Shows

Ongoing: 

Tuesdays 2020 (6-7pm): Join Sarah Rice, Erin Cronican and others 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:

Tuesday, January 21, 2020 (7pm): Bruno Giraldi will be in “This is Bruno” and is offering no cover for MAC Members at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, January 22, 2020 (8:30pm): Al Ro will perform at the Broadway Comedy Club in Times Square, 318 W. 53rd Street, NYC.

Friday, January 24, 2020 (7pm): Mardie Millet and Michael Garin perform “Michael and Mardie and Other Delights” at Birdland Jazz Club, 315 W. 44th Street, NYC.

Friday, January 24, 2020 (9:45pm): Mardie Millet performs with the Habibi Kings at Birdland Jazz Club, 315 W. 44th Street, NYC.

Sunday, January 26, 2020 (7pm): Sierra Rein will sing as part of “Sondheim Unplugged” at 54 Below, 254 West 54th Street, Cellar, NYC.

Monday, January 27, 2020: Marissa Mulder and Kimberly Neuwirth join Bill Zeffiro at La Rivista Restaurant, 313 W. 46th Street, NYC.

Thursday, January 30, 2020 (7pm): Sean Patrick Murtagh in “Mario! A Salute to the Great Lanza” Jan 30 7pm at The Green Room 42, 570 10th Avenue, NYC.

Friday, January 31, 2020: Lynda Rodolitz and more will perform at “Ricky Ritzel’s Broadway.”

Friday, January 31, 2020: Karen Mack and ”Those Girls sing The Boys Vol 1” at The Laurie Beechman Theatre - use code “girlsten” for a $10 cover - 407 W. 42nd Street, NYC.

Monday, February 3, 2020 (7pm): David Ballard is appearing in Julie Reyburn's show at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Tuesday, February 4, 2020: Liora Michelle is “The Greedy Soprano“ with Director Lennie Watts Music Director Bill Zeffiro at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 West 26th Street, NYC.

Friday, February 7, 2020 (7pm): David Ballard is appearing in Julie Reyburn's show at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, February 8, 2020 (4:30pm): Maureen Taylor repeats an encore of “Cosmic Connections” of Michael Colby’s Music at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

February 9, 2020 (5pm): Michele Herman will have a literary reading at Zinc Bar, 82 W. 3rd Street, NYC.

Tuesday, February 11, 2020: Goldie Dver returns with “Back in Mama’s Arms” at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, February 12, 2020 (7pm): Welcome another edition in Bobbie Horowitz's series (music directed by Matthew Martin Ward), "It's Just A Number" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Thursday, February 13, 2020: Barb Malley is the Featured Singer at Parnells, 350 E 53rd St, NYC.

Saturday, February 15, 2020 (4:30pm): Angela Leone is bringing her show, "Mathis and More" to Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Tuesday, February 18, 2020 (7pm): Maureen Taylor repeats an encore of “Cosmic Connections” of Michael Colby’s Music at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Thursday, February 20, 2020 (7pm): Gerrilyn Sohn returns with “Something Cool” at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, February 21, 2020 (7pm): Tanya Moberly sings “Seals and Crofts: Cat Stevens, and Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young” with Sean Harkness at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, February 23, 2020 (4pm): Johnathan Kuhn and Michele Herman will be “Groovin’ on a Sunday” at 53 Above, 315 W. 53rd Street, NYC.

Tuesday, February 25, 2020 (9:30pm): Ira Lee Collings will be a part of Susie Mosher’s “The Lineup” at the Birdland Theater, 315 West 44th Street, NYC.

Friday, March 6, 2020: Andrea Axelrod in “Sondheim at 90” in  Williamstown, MA.

Friday, March 20, 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.

Saturday, April 11, 2020 (4pm): Becca Kidwell in “Maybe World with Mary Chaplin Carpenter.”

Friday, April 17, 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.

Saturday, April 25, 2020 (7pm): Lynda Kennedy at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th Street, NYC.

May, 2020: Deborah Zecher will perform “Jewish Caroling: The Music of Carole King, Carole Bayer-Sager and Carolyn Leigh.”

Wednesday, May 13, 2020 (7pm): Becca Kidwell in “Maybe World with Mary Chaplin Carpenter.”

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.

NOTE: THERE WILL BE NO SALON FROM January 26, 2020 – February 9, 2020

We will return on Sunday, February 16, 2020 with the Theme "The Gypsy In My Soul" - our Co-Host will be Dawn Derow!

Sierra Rein
Blogette for The Salon
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The Salon Wrap-Up for January 5, 2020: First Impressions

Co Host: David Maiocco as Liberace

It's a beautiful night for some singing, and for new beginnings. I for one feel renewed, as today is my first night back at The Salon in over a year due to, among other things, a substantial vocal injury. The warm welcome I felt was so soothing and also electric - music is a force for healing, and with everything going on in the world we need as much healing as possible. Thank you, Salon, for welcoming me back with open arms.

As Host Mark Janas reminded us, today was the 12th Day of Christmas which is meant to be the biggest party night of the season. Here we were, inaugurating our time in the Brick Room at Don't Tell Mama. And it was an absolutely sold out room for our first night of 2020. So who better to usher in the biggest party night but Liberace himself, brought to us by David Maiocco! David’s busy schedule will be taking him to Jackson, Mississippi in January, Puerta Vallarta, Mexico in February & The Palm Springs Art Museum Gala in Liberace’s house in March. He and Chuck Sweeney as Peggy Lee will be appearing in LEE SQUARED in Kalamazoo & Natchez, Michigan in April and at Birdland in NYC in May. David makes his Netflix film debut as Liberace in Zach Snyder’s ARMY OF THE DEAD in 2020. For more information: www.david-maiocco.com

David Maiocco as Liberace

Liberace started the evening with some riotous stand-up and an enthusiastic medley of classic songs - complete with audience participation and the requisite handsome winks and smiles! For his second song of the night Liberace gave us the most splendid (and classically driven) mashups of "Chopsticks" that I've ever heard! He finished the evening with an absolutely exquisite, "Tea For Two" - with an epilogue of "I'll Be Seeing You" that the entire room sang together without having to be cued. It was an absolutely lovely cap to the evening.

Mark Janas/Classical Corner 

Mozart's Birthday is this month! So of course Mark Janas wanted to give us a Classical Corner full of the gorgeous textures of this influential composer. Mozart was known for reviving the Classical themes of Bach (and others), but with "modern" flair for his own era. "I mean, he practically invented the piano concerto," Mark says. Mark demonstrated Mozart's use of the "Alberti Bass" (the art of breaking up a chords into individual parts.) He also shared how you can use the piano pedal to keep that "Clarity, Balance and Transparency" of the music - so important when interpreting work like this.

Interesting to Note: Beethoven idolized Mozart, and as they were only about 15 years apart, it is possible that they may have met (Scholars have not met eye to eye on this.) Mark demonstrated using music from both Mozart and Beethoven to show the influence that Mozart had on Beethoven.

The final piece that Mark played for us, sometimes grouped with a Sonata 476, was "Fantasia in C Minor" - written in 1785. And it was gorgeous. I had to stop typing while I listened, because I couldn't keep my eyes off of Mark while he was playing. He feels the music through his whole body - he truly is the epitome of who an artist is.


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 Liberace (on piano and vocals)
Richard Skipper (with David Maiocco on piano)
David Sabella (with David Maiocco on piano)
Wendy Scherl
Monica Allan
Deborah Stone
Ellen Allan
Bobbie Horowitz
Rian Keating
Ira Lee Collings
Alex Marchesani
Maureen Taylor
Erin Cronican
Classical Corner
Co-Host Liberace (on piano and vocals)
Tanya Moberly
J Michael Reeds (with Marc McMarron Kessler on piano)
Marc McMarron Kessler (on piano and vocals)
Matthew Martin Ward (on piano and vocals)
Ann Talman (with Greg Tororian on piano)
Maria Corsano (with Greg Tororian on piano)
Kati Neiheisel (with Greg Tororian on piano)
Bob Simonello
Richie Eisenberg
Barb Malley (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Angela Leone
Phillip
Ruben Olvera
David Ballard
Joshua Bennett
Co-Host Liberace (on piano and vocals)


Special thanks to Mark Janas, and our guest pianists David Maiocco, Greg Tororian, Marcus and Matthew Martin Ward. Thanks also to David Ballard on lights and sound, and to the wonderful waitstaff and thoughtful management at Don't Tell Mama. Finally, a big thank you to our videographer for the evening, Ruben Olvera.

Upcoming Shows

Ongoing: 

Tuesdays 2020 (6-7pm): Join Erin Cronican and others 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, January 11, 2020 (9:30pm): Deborah Stone is appearing in "Here I Am" at the Beach Cafe, 1326 2nd Avenue, NYC.

Thursday, January 16, 2020 (7pm) - Wendy Scherl is bringing back her show, "Town and Country" to the Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 42nd Street, NYC.

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

Sunday, January 19, 2020 (5pm): Matthew Martin Ward is music directing Bob Diamond's show, "The Game of Life" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, 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.

Monday, February 3, 2020 (7pm): David Ballard is appearing in Julie Reyburn's show at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, February 7, 2020 (7pm): David Ballard is appearing in Julie Reyburn's show at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, February 12, 2020 (7pm): Welcome another edition in Bobbie Horowitz's series (music directed by Matthew Martin Ward), "It's Just A Number" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Thursday, February 13, 2020: Barb Malley is the Featured Singer at Parnells, 350 E 53rd St, NYC.

Thursday, February 13-Sunday, February 23, 2020 (14 performances): Erin Cronican is appearing in a world premiere theatrical adaptation of George Orwell's famous novel, ANIMAL FARM with The Seeing Place Theater, 64 E 4th Street, NYC.

Saturday, February 15, 2020 (4:30pm): Angela Leone is bringing her show, "Mathis and More" to 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.

Saturday, February 29, 2020: Bob Simonello is bringing his show "Rollin' A7" to the Magnolia Room in Norwalk CT.

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.

Spring 2020: David Sabella sings "Illegit: the Cabaret Countertenor Conundrum at TBA.

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.

NOTE: THERE IS NO SALON JANUARY 12, 2020. 

We will return on Sunday, January 19th, 2020, with the theme, "BREAKING RESOLUTIONS"
Co-Host: Lennie Watts.

We'll see you then!


Submitted by Erin Cronican
Blogette for The Salon
Email me with any additions or corrections.