The Salon Wrap-Up for May 22, 2016 - "Blood and Guts"

We had an interestingly intro'd Salon this past Sunday - the last in the Spring 2016 session while we take a Summer break for six weeks. Rick Jensen was first to the piano and "Phantom'd" on Mark Janas, then "Hey, Old Friend'd" Tanya Moberly up to the stage to introduce the theme of "Blood and Guts." Mark introduced our Co-Hosts for the evening - Lina Koutrakos (she explained that her Greek heritage allows everything she does to be done in blood and guts-esque yearning and drama) At the piano - to aid her musicality - was the aforementioned Rick Jensen. They began with a song straight from the lower depths of Lina's voice and soulful raw innards, an original blues song "I Made a Mess Outta Love." For Act II, Lina described how she used to be a Navy brat in Europe and the Southern United States (for the most part), finding herself singing at a music volunteer for Vietnam vets in a psych ward in Germany. She sang the pop song she performed then, "Ode to Billie Joe," which covered the concept of "Grief." To express the theme of "Pain of Love," Lina then sang the mournful "What is this Thing Called Love?" and then to bring about the taste of "Bittersweetness" she sang "My Favorite Year." To complete the evening, and heading back to the theme of having a song "stick to her ribs," Lina sang the Southern song "Walkin' In Memphis." As Anne Dawson later said of Lina, "You know how to kill an audience."

Quick Wrap: Classical Corner:
In the spirit of education, Mark first reminded us about listening to a little bit of every type of music to expand our horizons and allow multiple musical areas to enhance our personal musical expression.

Mark Watson, one of our Salon regulars of yesteryear, returned to us to perform in this week's Classical Corner. He reminded us why we missed his voice all these years, as he and pianist Mark explored one particular Italian-to-English composer - Francesco Paolo Tosti. Born in a small town, his early songs were unpublished and he lived on "stale bread and oranges." But he was eventually acclaimed by composers like Giuseppe Verdi, and soon every venue would feature a Tosti piece in their repertoire. Often his work was done in concert halls and actual home-based Salons (hey!). They were considered Neopolitan songs - folk tunes that were codified and made with classical structure, modal, like "O Sole Mio." Tosti's work in particular was tasteful, very pretty, often arranged for multiple kinds of orchestrations depending on the needs of the orchestra or musical family arrangement. He was "The Andrew Lloyd Webber of his day," as Watson explained.

Mark Watson first sang "Serenata (Serenade)," which depicts a man under a girl's window, imagining out loud to himself what the lady may be doing on her own in her room. "Go my song, my beloved is by herself" is how he started, and who knows how the lady herself ended! Mark's gorgeous rich baritone (without mic) soared and certainly serenaded all of us at once. "Malia" was next sung by Watson, expressing the Italian words "what was in the flower that you gave me? Maybe it was a potion...the smell of it made me crazy...an enchantment comes from you...when you walk down the street, flowers bloom at your feet." Enchanting indeed is the song, and forever charming is Mark Watson! The third song was in the Neopolitan mode, a romantic yet devilish meditation on the rose-like shape of girl's lips entitled "A'vvucella." It featured some raised eyebrows and some absolutely gorgeous held notes. Finally, the Italian version of "Pretty Woman" was sung, a song about a sailor sending amorous intentions to a passing lady entitled "Il pescatore canta," which featured some wonderful low notes and fabulously expressive passages. If Mark Watson sang that song to me on the street, I might be very slow in passing him by...

A cheeky caricature of Paolo Tosti

Roster of performers for the evening (in order of appearance):
Click to visit performers' website or other links when available.  All piano accompaniment by Mark Janas unless otherwise noted.

Lina Koutrakos (with Rick Jensen on piano)
Emily Ireland (with Rick Jensen on piano)
Doris Dear (with Rick Jensen on piano)
Tom Cote (self on guitar)
Jerome Weinstein
Courtney Williams
Harriet Bellner
Derek Williams
Lynda Rodolitz
Sally Darling
Marie Sassi
Bobbie Horowitz
David Ballard
Sierra Rein
Maureen Taylor
Mark Watson
Lina Koutrakos (with Rick Jensen on piano)
Tanya Moberly
Rian Keating
Ann Dawson
Ira Lee Collings
Richard Eisenberg
Rob Davis
Karen Gross (with self on piano)
Dorian Woodruff (with Rick Jensen on piano)
Lisa Yaeger (with Rick Jensen on piano)
Steve Bustamante (self on guitar)
Barb Malley
Adam Shapiro
Kathleen France
Lina Koutrakos (with Rick Jensen on piano)

Big thanks to Gil Alexandre on lights and sound, and more for our amazing waitstaff who have talent and skill and smiles galore for us each Sunday! Thanks also to Steve Bustamante who provided video footage service!

Special thanks to tonight’s musicians: Mark Janas, Rick Jensen, Tom Cote, Karen Gross and Steve Bustamante!

Ongoing Shows
Monday nights starting May 23rd (7pm): Opera Open Mic at Shangai Mong with Mark Janas and Matthew Martin Ward, 30 West 32nd Street, NYC. www.shanghaimongnyc.com

Upcoming Shows:

Wednesday, May 25, 2016 (rain date May 26th) (6:30pm): Carole Demas, Tanya Moberly, Mark Janas and others in Music and Art For City Greens at Tudor City Park, South Park of Tudor City (East 41st Street and Tudor City Place).

Wednesday, May 25, 2016 (8pm): Adam Shapiro and others sings in "Richard Skipper Celebrates" at The Triad, 158 W 72nd St, NYC.

Wednesday, May 25, 2016 (7pm): Bobbie Horowitz celebrates Jim Speake in "It's Just a Number!" series, Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, May 29, 2016 (7pm): Sierra Rein (as part of Marquee Five) will be featured in "Sondheim Unplugged" at Feinstein's/54 Below, 254 West 54th Street, NYC.

Sunday, May 29, 2016: Bobbie Horowitz in the Lower East Side Festival.

Tuesday, May 31, 2016 (7pm): Rob Davis in "This Is Your Song" with guest artists Stephen Hanks and Lisa Viggiano, The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.

Sunday, June 5, 2016 (7pm): Tanya Moberly brings "Tanya Moberly Sings Nilsson with Jon Weber" to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, June 6, 2016 (7pm): Lynda Rodolitz is "Off Her Rocker" with Director Lennie Watts and Musical Director Steven Ray Watkins at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, June 8, 2016 (7pm): Tanya Moberly new 4-show series, starting with "Moberly Sings Nilsson with Weber" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, June 8, 2016 (6:30pm): Rian Keating in "This is All I Give: Songs of Love and Life" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, June 10, 2016 (7pm): Tanya Moberly brings "Tanya Moberly Sings Nilsson with Weber" to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, June 12, 2016 (3pm): Rian Keating in "This is All I Give: Songs of Love and Life" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, June 13, 2016 (8pm): "A Life Behind Bars" written and performed by Dan Ruth, Directed by Tanya Moberly, at The Gutter Williamsburg Brooklyn, 200 North 14th Street, Brooklyn, NYC.

Wednesday, June 15, 2016 (7pm): Tanya Moberly brings "Tanya Moberly Sings Nilsson with Weber" to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, June 15, 2016 (7pm): Ira Lee Collings in "Simply, Ira Lee: Through the looking glass - warts and all! - an 80th 'Gay Geezer' Celebration" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Thursday, June 16, 2016 (7pm): Lynda Rodolitz is "Off Her Rocker" with Director Lennie Watts and Musical Director Steven Ray Watkins at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, June 17, 2016 (8pm): David Ballard in the NYC GMC Concert "It's Complicated," NYU Skirball Center, NYC. www.nycgmc.org.

Saturday, June 18, 2016 (4pm): Adam Shapiro sings and hosts "Gone Too Soon - Howard Ashman" at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.

Monday, June 20, 2016 (7pm): Ira Lee Collings in "Simply, Ira Lee: Through the looking glass - warts and all! - an 80th 'Gay Geezer' Celebration" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, June 27, 2016 (8pm): "A Life Behind Bars" written and performed by Dan Ruth, Directed by Tanya Moberly, at The Gutter Williamsburg Brooklyn, 200 North 14th Street, Brooklyn, NYC.

Monday, July 4, 2016: Adam Shapiro opens in the all-Yiddish "The Golden Bride" from The National Yiddish Theatre, at The Museum of Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Place, NYC.

Wednesday, July 6, 2016 (7pm): Tanya Moberly brings "Tanya Moberly Sings the Blues with Ian" to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, July 8, 2016 (7pm): Tanya Moberly brings "Tanya Moberly Sings the Blues with Ian" to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, July 13, 2016 (7pm): Maureen Taylor in "Taylor Made Bob Merrill" at The Metropolitan Room, 34 W 22nd St, NYC.

Wednesday, July 20, 2016 (7pm): Marnie Klar in "Tuned In" (directed by Tanya Moberly) at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, August 3, 2016 (7pm): Tanya Moberly brings "Tanya Moberly Sings the Blues with Ian" to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, August 12, 2016 (7pm): Tanya Moberly brings "Tanya Moberly Sings the Blues with Ian" to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Tuesday, September 8, 2016 (7pm): Ann Dawson in "Traveling Solo" at The Metropolitan Room, 34 W 22nd St, NYC.

Wednesday, September 7, 2016 (7pm): Tanya Moberly brings "Tanya Moberly Sings Amy, Ani, Ricki, Joni with Ritt" to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, September 16, 2016 (7pm): Tanya Moberly brings "Tanya Moberly Sings Amy, Ani, Ricki, Joni with Ritt" to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, September 30, 2016 (7pm): Tanya Moberly brings "Tanya Moberly Sings Amy, Ani, Ricki, Joni with Ritt" to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016 (7pm): Tanya Moberly brings "Tanya Moberly Sings Amy, Ani, Ricki, Joni with Ritt" to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, October, 2016 (7pm): Ann Dawson in "Traveling Solo" at The Metropolitan Room, 34 W 22nd St, NYC.

Wednesday, October 19, 2016: Maureen Taylor and others at the Cabaret Convention (Sondheim Night).

Wednesday, November 2, 2016 (7pm): Tanya Moberly brings "Tanya Moberly Sings Loggins with Watkins" to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, November 2, 2016 (7pm): Tanya Moberly brings "Tanya Moberly Sings Loggins with Watkins" to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, November 11, 2016 (7pm): Tanya Moberly brings "Tanya Moberly Sings Loggins with Watkins" to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, December 7, 2016 (7pm): Tanya Moberly brings "Tanya Moberly Sings Loggins with Watkins" to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, December 9, 2016 (7pm): Tanya Moberly brings "Tanya Moberly Sings Loggins with Watkins" to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

NEXT SALON, Sunday July 10th, 2016:
Take a six week break, then come back to us bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for "The Eyes Have It" with Co-Hosts Richard Skipper and Salon Spotlight Peggy Eason! Sing a song with "I" in the title, or about someone creeping around as an observer (Sting's "Every Breath You Take," anyone?), or maybe sing a song from an artist whose eyes you've always fallen into. See you after the break!

Sierra Rein
Blogette for the Salon
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