The Salon Wrap-Up for August 16 - “Broadway - Tin Pan Alley, and Beyond”

August 16, 2015

Theme: “Broadway - Tin Pan Alley, and Beyond”

Mark Janas was thrilled to step up to the microphone to start the evening, having returned from three weeks of teaching high school singers in the Poconos how to interpret songs and - even more important - how to learn proper mic stand choreography.  Spending so much time in the gorgeous cottage they provided him with, breathing the open air, and generally relaxing, made the return to New York even more of a culture shock, but keeping in theme with the evening, he admitted he missed Broadway and all it's history.

A plaque that can be found on a building on 28th street, commemorating the landmark that is Tin Pan Alley.

The theme was "Broadway - Tin Pan Alley, and Beyond," and there wasn't a better Co-Host to fill this than the petite powerhouse Ann Dawson, who belted and strutted her stuff on "Broadway Baby" with such style and panache, you'd think it was written for her and her alone.  Ann, with her curly hair and tiny stature, seems like she could be Annie herself all grown up; like Annie, Ann can raise the roof with her voice and explosively positive energy.  In her spotlight set, Ann painted the picture of Tin Pan Alley, with it's hot summer days and the hustle and bustle of young songwriters vying for a chance to write for Broadway (not much has changed, has it?). Revealing that George Gershwin once auditioned at age 15 to be Irving Berlin's rehearsal pianist, Berlin told him "Kid, stick to your own songs" in admiration of George's skills. In honor of the city she admires, Ann sang through the eyes of tourists with "I Love This Place."  She then sang a beautiful ballad about the missed connections happening all over the city, with "The People You Never Get to Love."  And then, accompanied by a hilarious pair of plastic (and sparkling) red "noisemaking" hands, she performed her ode to the love and passion we have to perform, "Applause." At the end of the evening, Ann read a bit of a letter that Sophie Tucker, one of the great performers of the Tin Pan Alley era, sent to her parents from Paris, 1906.  She wrote "I decided I can do big things...Some of these days." Ann then knocked the song "Some of These Days" out of the park!

Ann Dawson will perform her solo show “Traveling Solo: Tales and Tunes” at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St. on both October 3rd (at 4pm) and October 28th (at 7pm). It is Directed by Barry Kleinbort and with music direction by Don Rebic.

Ann Dawson

Quick Wrap: Mark Janas' Classical Corner

Before it was killed by Video, the Radio Star killed the Tin Pan Alley Star! Ok, let me backtrack: back to 1885, when the era of Tin Pan Alley began. If you didn't read sheet music or couldn't play piano, producers of Vaudeville and Broadway, as well as sheet music publishers, would head over to West 28th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenue in New York City to hear songwriters and/or their rehearsal pianists perform new works.  This street would be alive with the cacophony of dozens of pianos and other instruments banging away for the attention of a few pairs of ears.  However, in 1930, the radio started to become a staple in almost every home and office in the country, and Producers could listen for new songwriters and potential Broadway works from the comfort of their own home. Mark Janas gave us a brief history of this, and included a demonstration of the practice of putting tin or paper on the strings of the piano to make the songs sound more percussive (thus, one of the many reasons how Tin Pan Alley got its name).

Mark then did something fun: with Matthew Martin Ward's page-turning help and eye, he took an old fake book (which actually belonged to his father and had weathered, worn, yellowed pages), and did a "best hits of" Tin Pan Alley medley, jumping from one song to the next, playing only a small phrase before going to the next. In doing so, he invited the Salon audience to sing along as soon as they recognized the piece.  From the 1899 hit "Hearts and Flowers," to the rousing "Yes, We Have No Bananas Today," it was so much fun! Titles included "I Cried for You," " Ragtime Gal," "Swanee," "Sweet Georgia Brown," "And the Band Played On," "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," "Alexander's Ragtime Band," and "After the Ball." I was happy I watched the old MGM movies like "In The Good Old Summertime" and "There's No Business Like Showbusiness"; otherwise, I may have not recognized some of them!

Also, thanks to Richie Eisenberg for bringing a printout list of some of the most famous titles from the Tin Pan Alley era, and sharing it with the group.

And I have to write one more side note: Joe Regan, Jr took a moment to pay respects to songwriter Ray Jessel, who passed away earlier this Summer, by singing Jessel's ballad "Finding Words For Spring." It was a very nice tribute, and I was touched. Thanks, Joe.

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.

Ann Dawson

Bobbie Horowitz

Natasha Castillo

Marnie Klar

Michael Colby

Joe Reagan

Barb Malley

Ira Lee Collings

Wendy Russell

Lisa Viggiano

Charles Baran (with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano)

Sally Darling (with Matthew Martin Ward at the piano)

Matthew Martin Ward (self on piano)

Sierra Rein

Adam Shapiro

Ann Dawson

Tanya Moberly

Virginia Hill

Richard Becker

Richie Eisenberg

Joan Jaffe

Michelle Zalkin

Ann Dawson

Special thanks to tonight’s pianists: Mark Janas and Matthew Martin Ward!

And thank you to Gill Alexandre on lights and sound, our amazing waitstaff who always handle the demands of a full house with grace and style, and Steve Bustamante who is providing video footage for people interested in that service!

Upcoming shows:

Ongoing: Matthew Martin Ward plays on Mondays at the West End Lounge, 955 West End Ave, NYC.

Ongoing: Bill Zeffiro plays every Tuesday (8:30-11pm) at Millesime, 92 Madison Ave, NYC and every Wednesday (8-12) at La Rivista, 313 W 46th St, NYC.

Ongoing: Metrostar Competition every Monday night until August 17, 2015. At The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St., NYC.

Ongoing: Mama's Next Big Act every Tuesday night until August 25th at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Monday, August 19, 2015 (7:00pm) - Robin Kradles, featuring Wendy Russell and Lisa Viggiano, in "Funny You Should Ask," at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Saturday, August 22, 2015 (9pm and 10pm) - Joan Jaffe will be a spotlight performer at "Parnell's Spotlight Night" with Bobby Peaco on piano, and other special guests. Parnelle's 350 East 53rd St., NYC.

Monday, August 24, 2015 (7:00pm) - Bobbie Horowitz hosts "It's Just a Number" at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St, NYC.

Thursday, September 24, 2015 (7:00pm) - "Somewhere in this Song", The music and lyrics of Nicholas Levin at The Metropolitan Room 34 West 22nd St., NYC. Starring Mick Bleyer, Kristin Maloney, Marissa Mulder, and Adam B. Shapiro. Musical Director: Matthew Martin Ward Director: Peter Napolitano.

Saturday, September 26, 2015 (6:00pm) - Robin Kradles hosts "Saturdays at Six," featuring Lisa Viggiano, Room 53, 314 West 53rd St, NYC.

Sunday, September 27, 2015 (4:30pm) - Barb Malley in "Eat! Drink! Be Merry!" at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Sunday, September 27, 2015 (3:00pm) - Lisa Viggiano will be a featured performer at "Open Mic @ The Met," The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St, NYC.

Saturday, October 3, 2015 (4pm) - Ann Dawson in “Traveling Solo: Tales and Tunes” at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St., NYC.

Saturday, October 10th (6:00pm) - Charles Baran presents "Saturdays at Six," featuring Natasha Castillo, Room 53, 314 West 53rd St, NYC.

Wednesday, October 14, 2015 (7:00pm) - Wendy Russell in "Where Have I Been All My Life?" at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Friday, October 23, 2015 (7pm) - Tanya Moberly in “Songs I Feel Like Singing” (with a rotation of musicians - this date has Mark Janas) at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Saturday, October 24, 2015 (7:00pm) - Wendy Russell in "Where Have I Been All My Life?" at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015 (7pm) - Ann Dawson in “Traveling Solo: Tales and Tunes” at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd St., NYC.

Friday, November 6, 2015 (7pm) - Tanya Moberly in “Songs I Feel Like Singing” (with a rotation of musicians - this date has Sean Harkness) at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Wednesday, November 11, 2105 - Marnie Klar's new show at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Friday, November 13, 2015 (9:30pm) - Tanya Moberly in “Songs I Feel Like Singing” (with a rotation of musicians - this date has Ritt Henn) at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Tuesday, November 17, 2015 - Marnie Klar's new show at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC. 

Friday, November 20, 2015 (9:30pm) - Tanya Moberly in “Songs I Feel Like Singing” (with a rotation of musicians - this date has Steven Ray Watkins) at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Wednesday, December 30, 2015 - Marnie Klar's new show at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W 46th St, NYC.

Next Week’s Salon

Next Sunday is going to be SO EXCITING!!! It's the celebration of "The Salon's 10th Anniversary"! The Co-Hosts will be a majority of the Etceterettes throughout the years, which means a lot of singing and drinking and reminiscing. Come early and grab a seat and a chance to celebrate with us! Sing the first song you ever sang with Salon, or sing about anniversaries, or songs with the number 10 in them, or maybe songs about durability, flexibility, or tin, aluminum, and diamond (which are all representative of the 10th Anniversary Wedding gifts).  See you then!

Sierra Rein
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