The Salon Wrap-Up for March 8, 2015 - "The Way We Are"

March 8, 2015

Theme: The Way We Are

Sally Darling, who is as true to her name as anyone I've met, was our wonderful Co-Host of this past Sunday's evening, singing songs about "The Way We Are." An award-winning audio book narrator, Sally (with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano) sang "Dark Horse" and "Modest Maid" to start out the evening, both revealing songs with a witty lick to them. Later in the evening, Sally sang a glorious medley of "I'm Old Fashioned"/"The Folks Who Live On the Hill" and the hilarious "Bronxville Darby and Joan." To wrap up at the end, she finalized the sentiment of the night with "Stairway to Paradise" and a Dancing-themed medley including "I Won't Dance" and "Two To Tango." Sally and Matthew are excited to present their show "Matters of the Heart" on Sunday, March 22nd and Sunday, March 28th (both at 5pm) at Don't Tell Mama.

Co-Host Sally Darling

Salon Spotlight was multiple album recording artist (having seven under her belt) Stephanie Weems!  Stephanie will present her show "Stephanie Weems in Wildflower in the City – Love, Laughter & Song" as part of the Salon Presents series this Thursday, March 12, 2015 at 7pm and 9:30pm (more information here).  Mark Janas will music direct, and Andy Gale will be Director.  Comfortable in singing Broadway, Stephanie sang three Classic songs in her Spotlight set, starting with "Do I Hear a Waltz?" which featured her lovely exuberance. This was followed by the lilting "Will You?" and her sweet soprano range. And finally, Stephanie closed the set with the Monotony-turned-spicy "One Note Samba."

Salon Spotlight: Stephanie Weems

Quick Wrap: Classical Corner 

Mark Janas took our attention away from the keys and focused them to his feet for Classical Corner, this time explaining how the pedals of the piano work! From the soft left pedal to the middle "bastard child" pedal for some of the bass notes to the right footed pedal that opens up these high notes, the pedals of the piano have caused an evolution of sound and nuance to classical music. Mark showed us how playing some classical pieces without the pedals made them sound childlike and laughable, like "a bizaare ballet class," and how the addition of the pedals - in particular on the Andine by Ravel - allowed "strange notes" to "become a shimmer" and allow an arched pattern, crescendos and phrases.  The addition of pedals by Brahms' age changed a sense of composition, and even created sympathetic notes to vibrate within a piece while the bottom notes played. Mark then finished the Corner with Chopin's Nocturne in E flat major opus 9, which I remember my mom rehearsing at our piano, pedals and all.

Roster of singers for the evening (in order of appearance):

Click link to visit the performer’s website, when available.

All piano accompaniment by Mark Janas unless otherwise noted.

Zach Wobensmith and Anna Marie Sell
Barb Malley
Charles Baran
Donna Kendall Stearns
Ira Lee Collings

Anna Marie Sell
Tom White (with Matthew Martin Ward)
Bill Zeffiro (self on piano)
Brian Allan Hobbs (self on piano) and Sierra Rein
Sierra Rein
David Ballard
Kathleen France*
Tanya Moberly*
Dawn Derow*

Bobbie Horowitz*

Adam Shapiro*
Lauren Stanford
Lynn Henderson
Carly Ozard
Eric Michael Gillett
Steve Bustamante (self on guitar)
Richard Eisenberg (self on piano)
Janice Hall (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Jaye Maynard (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Matthew Martin Ward (self on piano)
* Current MAC Nominee for 2015

Special thanks to tonight’s pianists and musicians: Mark Janas, Matthew Martin Ward, Bill Zeffiro, Brian Allan Hobbs, Richard Eisenberg and Steve Bustamante.

And thank you to Gill Alexandre on lights and sound, and our amazing waitstaff who always handle the demands of a full house with grace and style.

Upcoming Shows: 

Thursday, March 12, 2015 (7pm and 9:30pm) - Salon Presents Stephanie Weems at Etcetera Etcetera.

Thursday, March 12, 2015 (9:30pm) - Charles Baran at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St., NYC.

Sunday, March 15, 2015 - Kathleen France, Dawn Derow, Andrew Sotomayor in "Revolution" at The Duplex - 61 Christopher St, NYC 10014.

Monday, March 16, 2015 (7pm) - Lauren Stanford in the MetroStar Reunion at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St., NYC. .

Friday, March 20, 2015 (7pm) - Tanya Moberly with Ritt Henn in "Songs I Feel Like Singing" at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Friday, March 20, 2015 (7pm) - Barb Malley, feat. Charles Baran, in "Eat! Drink! Be Merry!" At Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Friday, March 20, 2015 (9:30pm) - Lauren Stanford in "More Than You Know" at 54 Below.

Saturday, March 21, 2015 (2:15pm) - Shakespeare Saturday's Cinema with Donna Kendall Stearns, NYPL Inwood Branch, 4790 Broadway.

Sunday, March 22, 2015 (5pm) - Sally Darling with Matthew Martin Ward in "Matters of the Heart" at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Saturday, March 27th - Ira Lee Collings at Dana Lorge's show at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St., NYC.

Sunday, March 28, 2015 (5pm) - Sally Darling with Matthew Martin Ward in "Matters of the Heart" at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Wednesday, March 31, 2015 (9:30 pm) - Tanya Moberly with Ritt Henn in "Songs I Feel Like Singing" at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Saturday, April 11, 2015 (1pm) - Bobbie Horowitz's show "It's Only a Number."

Wednesday, April 15, 2015 - Carly Ozard at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St., NYC.

Thursday, April 16-19th, 2015 - Brian Allan Hobbs conducts the Symphony Silicon Valley Lord of the Rings live.

Tuesday, April 21, 2015 (8pm and 10pm) - David Ballard in Salon Presents: "True North" at Etcetera Etcetera.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015 - Jaye Maynard in Salon Presents: "The Blossom Dearie Songbook," at Etcetera Etcetera.

Saturday, May 9, 2015 (4pm) - Dawn Derow with Mark Janas in "Legit: a Classic Cabaret." Other dates: May 26, 2015 (7pm) and June 19, 2015 (9:30pm).

Saturday, May 9, 2015 (8pm) - Eric Michael Gillett in "Careless Rhapsody" at the Caramoor.

Tuesday, May 19, 2015 - Bobbie Horowitz will speak at the Heiser Group about age and making it work for you.

Tuesday, May 26, 2015 - Jaye Maynard in "The Blossom Dearie Songbook" at Society Cabaret, San Francisco debut.

Wednesday, June 24, 2015 - Carly Ozard at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St., NYC. .

Next Week's Salon:

The co-Host Charles Baran will be guiding us along with the delectable and mouth-watering Theme: "Food, Glorious Food!" Bring your appetite for food, drink and music!

Sierra Rein
Blogette for The Salon
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