The Salon Wrap-Up for July 30, 2017: "Ham and Cheese"

I'm so thrilled to be back at The Salon, my favorite musical home in New York City! It was an amazing night with incredible talent and a delectable theme - "Ham and Cheese." There are so many different ways we can approach this theme: Songs about food. Songs about the simple things. Songs about people being hammy or cheesy... it was fun to hear where everyone's creative mind went.

Our Guest Host/Pianist was Multiple MAC & Bistro Award Winner Steven Ray Watkins! As an actor he has appeared in THE LAST SESSION, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and in the national tours of BIG, SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN and SHOWBOAT. As an arranger and musical director, he has worked with such names as Hugh Jackman, Beyonce, Patti LuPone, John Turturro, Karen Mason, Louise Pitre, Amanda McBroom, Lennie Watts and Sharon McNight, among many others.

Guest Host: Steven Ray Watkins!

Our Co-Host was Bistro & 2-Time MAC Award Winner Georga Osborne!  Georga began her career as an Opera Singer in Cincinnati and has appeared on Broadway in MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS and in the National Tour of MY FAIR LADY. She began working in Cabaret in the early 90’s and is most proud of playing Florence Foster Jenkins in SOUVENIR at The Weston Playhouse.  

Decked out with a red rose and a high B Flat, our co-host began with the hammy and hilarious, "Here Comes the Ballad." For her mid-show set, she started with an all-too-familiar story of traveling for work, "Sweet Kentucky Ham." She then said she wanted to sing "My Favorite Ballad" which began with lilting ah's. A little bit into the song we started to hear a tittering of laughter from the audience, and as she started to sing the lyrics we couldn't quite believe what she was doing - singing a dramatic and slightly suggestive oration of the Woody Woodpecker theme! She finished this mid-show set with a fantastic medley of gypsy songs, which included "Habanera" from Carmen, "Everything's Coming Up Roses" from Gypsy, and "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves" made famous by Cher. For the final performance of the evening, Georga gave us a song in the style of Mrs Miller (recording artist from the 60s/70s) by way of Florence Foster Jenkins, singing a medley of Madonna's "Like A Virgin," "Material Girl," "Papa Don't Preach," and "Vogue" (accompanied by hilarious interpretive dance!)

Co-Host: George Osborne!

Tonight's Salon Spotlight was Multiple MAC, Bistro & Nightlife Award Winner Lennie Watts! Lennie has toured nationally and internationally with productions of "The Music Man" and "The Wizard Of Oz." Other theatre credits: “The Drowsy Chaperone,” “A Funny Thing...,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Guys and Dolls,” and “Forever Plaid.” Theater directing credits: "Godspell," "Dames at Sea," "Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," and “Phantom.” As far as directing in Cabaret, Lennie calls it his ‘day job.’ David Finkle of The Village Voice calls him, "a one man cabaret army!" and Nightlife Exchange recently named him one of “the 50 Most Influential People in New York Cabaret.” Lennie is currently the president of MAC.

Lennie began his set with a hilarious ode to getting older, his rousing and bluesy, "One Rock & Roll Too Many." He followed that with an intimate and swinging arrangement of, "Hard Day's Night." He finished the set with a powerful mashup of "Feels Like Home" by Randy Newman and "Home" from The Wiz. It was wonderful to see such a broad range of arrangements and storytelling.

Salon Spotlight: Lennie Watts!

Quick Wrap - Steven's Corner

This week, Steven chose three songs "that are about entertainers of some sort." He started with a lush and contemplative, "A Song For You" by Leon Russell. He then gave us a fascinating version of "Wow" by the great Kate Bush. He then asked the audience to participate in the next number with lots of applause and screams to mimic the song as it occurs on the record - appropriately so, as it was Elton John's "Bennie and the Jets." It was not too difficult to do, both song and performance were fantastic!

Roster of performers for the evening (in order of appearance):
Click link to visit the performer’s website or other links, when available.
All piano accompaniment by Steven Ray Watkins unless otherwise noted.


Co-Host: Georga Osborne
Ira Lee Collings
Marnie Klar
Natasha Castillo
Jerome Weinstein
Michael Colby
Becca C Kidwell
Robin Kradles
Phyllis Mollen
Barb Malley
Adam B. Shapiro
David Ballard
Erin Cronican
Janice Hall
Salon Spotlight: Lennie Watts
Classical Corner: Steven Ray Watkins (on piano)

BREAK

Co-Host: Georga Osborne
Tanya Moberly
Those Girls: Eve Eaton, Rachel Hanser, Karen Mack, Wendy Russell
Julia Breanetta Simpson
Pamela Rief
Angela Leone
Matthew Martin Ward
Louisa Poster
Byron St Cyr
Shari Pine
Jen Bradley
Co-Host: Georga Osborne


Special thanks to tonight’s musicians: Steven Ray Watkins and Matthew Martin Ward!

Thank you to this evening's videographer, Michael Stever, to Gil Alexandre on lights and sound, and to David Ballard and our amazing waitstaff!


Ongoing Shows:

Monday nights (7pm): Opera Open Mic at Shanghai Mong with Mark Janas and Matthew Martin Ward, 30 West 32nd Street, NYC.

This summer: Tanya Moberly is judging Mama's Next Big Act at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC, and a few of our regular Salon members are taking part!


Upcoming Shows:

Thursday, August 3, 2017 (7pm): Angela Leone is appearing in "Under The August Moon" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Thursday, August 10, 2017: Robin Kradles is appearing in, "Gambling On Love" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, August 23, 2017 (7pm): Those Girls (Eve Eaton, Rachel Hanser, Karen Mack, Wendy Russell) are appearing in an new, unplugged set at Pangea, 178 Second Avenue, NYC.

Friday, September 15, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Sean Harkness at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, September 18, 2017 (7pm): Bobbie Horowitz hosts the latest installment in her series "It's Just a Number," (featuring Natasha Castillo and music directed by Matthew Martin Ward) at the Metropolitan Room, 34 W 22nd St, NYC.

Saturday, September 23, 2017: Adam B. Shapiro is directing Steve Bustamante's solo show at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, September 23, 2017 (4pm): Becca C Kidwell is bringing her show, "A Song & It's Girl" to Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, September 23, 2017 (4pm): Becca C Kidwell is bringing her show, "A Song & It's Girl" to Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Tuesday, September 26, 2017: Ira Lee Collings is bringing his show, "Life Is a Song - Why Not Sing It?" to Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, October 2, 2017: Ira Lee Collings is bringing his show, "Life Is a Song - Why Not Sing It?" to Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, October 6, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Ritt Henn at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, October 16, 2017 (6pm): Opening night of the Cabaret Convention features Adam B. Shapiro and Tanya Moberly - Rose Theatre, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Broadway at 60th Street.

Friday, October 27, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Ian Herman at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, October 29, 2017: Ira Lee Collings is bringing his show, "Life Is a Song - Why Not Sing It?" to Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, November 17, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Mark Janas at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, December 8, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Steven Ray Watkins at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, December 29, 2017 (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Sean Harkness at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.


NEXT SALON! Sunday, August 6, 2017, the theme of the evening will be "Multiple Personalities," with your co-host, Dorothy Bishop.

We'll see you then!


Erin Cronican
"Blogette" for The Salon
Questions or Additions? Email me.

The Salon Wrap-Up for July 23, 2017: "Along for the Ride"

Tonight, beloved Salon regular and talented composer Richie Eisenberg took over the hosting duties for the first time. He opened the evening with--what else?--one of his original songs, titled--what else?--"Come Along for the Ride." He had a little help from his friends Adam B. Shapiro, Rob Langeder, and Stacie Perlman Langeder, and venerable Maestro Barry Levitt was Richie's accompanist for this and subsequent numbers.

After the break, Richie returned to present Adam, Rob, and Stacie singing numbers from his Metropolitan Room show, "Smile on My Face." First up was "Would you Like to Take a Walk" a breezy romantic number performed by Rob and Stacie. Then the two performers changed the mood with the dramatic, country-western flavored "Sorry is the Saddest Word I Know." To close out the set, Richie introduced "Moishe" and "Esther" (Adam and Stacie), an old married couple reminiscing about how they met and fell in love in the charming "Grandma Meets Grandpa." (No funny business until we are "yesterday wed!")

For his closing number, Richie accompanied himself on one of his signature songs, "Never Too Late." To be sure, it's never too late for the audience to fall in love with Richie's music!


Salon Spotlight:
Tonight's Spotlight performer was the lovely Ann Kittredge, singing songs from her show, "It's About Time," beautifully accompanied by Wendy Cavett. Ann is returning to the stage after taking time away to raise her family, and she said that the most wonderful thing about returning to the cabaret world was the sense of community she has felt at, among other places, The Salon. Thank you, Ann!
Her set began with a lively I Just Wanted You To Know, followed by the tender ballad Stop Time. which obviously has a very deep meaning for her as a mother, watching her children grow up and become independent. She closed out her set with Jim Croce's I Got a Name, with Wendy providing the luminous harmonies.

Quick Wrap - Classical Corner
In tonight's Classical Corner, Mark focused attention on the Barcarolle, a musical form associated with Venetian gondoliers. The barcarolle features a rolling rhythm which is reminiscent of being on the water, almost invariably in 6/8 meter at a moderate tempo. The first example he presented was the well-known Barcarolle from Offenbach's opera The Tales of Hoffmann, sung by Maureen Taylor, and yours truly (Janice Hall). Then he presented a contrasting piece, Barcarolle in F-sharp minor, by Chopin. For the grand finale, Julie Reyburn joined Mark in a special arrangement of the William Finn song I'd Rather Be Sailing, in which Mark incorporated the melodies and rhythms of both the Chopin and Offenbach barcarolles. Truly a stunning creation, evoking summer nights on the water!

 

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

 Richie Eisenberg (with Adam B. Shapiro, Rob Langeder, and Stacie Perlman Langeder, Barry Levitt at the piano)
Sallie Jo Hadley (Barry Levitt at the piano)
Jerome Weinstein
 Zach Wobensmith
Bobbie Horowitz 
Barb Malley
Sonja Stuart
Monica Salvi (Michael Ferreri at the piano)
Janice Hall  (Matthew Martin Ward at the piano)
Matthew Martin Ward
Maureen Taylor
SALON SPOTLIGHT--Ann Kittredge (Wendy Cavett at the piano)
CLASSICAL CORNER--Mark Janas, with Maureen Taylor, Janice Hall, and Julie Reyburn

BREAK

Richie Eisenberg presents his songs, sung by Rob Langeder, Stacie Perlman Langeder, and Adam B. Shapiro (Barry Levitt at the piano)
Tanya Moberly
 Ray Cohn (Richie's uncle!)
Adam B, Shapiro
Julie Reyburn
Bobbie Horowitz 
Barb Malley (Matthew Martin Ward at the piano)
Zach Wobensmith
Maureen Taylor
Monica Salvi (Michael Ferreri at the piano)
Janice Hall (Matthew Martin Ward at the piano)
Matthew Martin Ward
Richie Eisenberg

Special thanks to tonight’s musicians: Mark Janas, Barry Levitt, Matthew Martin Ward, Michael Ferreri, Ray Cohn

Thank you to this evening's videographer, Michael Stever, to Gil Alexandre on lights and sound, and to our amazing waitstaff!

Ongoing Shows:

Monday nights (7pm): Opera Open Mic at Shanghai Mong with Mark Janas and Matthew Martin Ward, 30 West 32nd Street, NYC.

This summer: Tanya Moberly is judging Mama's Next Big Act at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC, and a few of our regular Salon members are taking part!

Upcoming Shows:

Saturday, July 29th (4pm): Ann Kittredge, with Wendy Cavett at the piano, reprises her show, "It's About Time," at Don't Tell Mama, 345 W 46th Street, NYC

Friday, September 15th (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Sean Harkness at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, September 18th (7pm): Bobbie Horowitz hosts the latest installment in her series "It's Just a Number," at the Metropolitan Room, 34 W 22nd St, NYC.

Friday, October 6th (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Ritt Henn at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, October 7th (4pm): Monica Salvi will bring all her "Mad Women in My Attic" as part of the United Solo Theatre Festival in Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd Street, NYC.

 Monday, October 16th (6pm): Opening night of the Cabaret Convention features Adam B. Shapiro and Tanya Moberly! Rose Theatre, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Broadway at 60th Street.

Friday, October 27th (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Ian Herman at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, November 17th (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Mark Janas at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, December 8th (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Steven Ray Watkins at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, December 29th (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Sean Harkness at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.


NEXT SALON! Sunday, July 30th, the theme of the evening will be "Ham and Cheese," with co-host Georgia Osborne, Steven Ray Watkins at the piano, and Salon Spotlight Lennie Watts.

Janice Hall
Blogger for The Salon
Questions, problems? Email me

The Salon Wrap-Up for July 16, 2017: "The Opposite Sex"

Rick Jensen, seated at the piano, had a bit of fun with the fanfare of the evening, starting with the opening of "Cats," to introduce Mark Janas onto the stage. Mark then got Tanya up onto the stage; after laying out her schpiel of the rules and regulations of the evening, she introduced Mark, who then introduced our Co-Host for the evening. This back and forth from man to woman to man to...well, you get the point...was a perfect segue into the theme of "The Opposite Sex," with versatile drag performer Co-Host Robin Kradles at the helm. As "chanteuse, actress, and emcee," Robin is no stranger to hosting evenings of music and fun. With the excellent support of Rick Jensen at the piano, she started out with the sultry-witty "I Don't Know Enough About You," and then revealed one of the dirty secrets of The Salon: that it's a place where one can choose a song and "shoehorn" it into whatever the theme is, provided you have clever patter (and since she "embodied" the theme itself, she could sing whatever the hell she wanted to!). Robin had lots of clever patter throughout the evening, engaging each singer with sweet repartee and encouragement for the projects they were a part of.

For the mid-show "three razor blade" set, Robin and Rick returned to the spotlight to perform the romantically persistent "You'll See," which featuring witty lyrics and soaring melody. Robin next sang Billy Strayhorn's "Lush Life," which was written when the composer was only 16 years old, revealing a maturity beyond his age. Robin first heard this piece when she was 16, but for some reason didn't heed the warnings within the song's lyrics. To close out the set, she sang one of my favorite songs (which my grandmother used to sing), the wistful "Say It Isn't So," complete with mid-song comedic monologue that placed this classical wistful tune into a very different light. At the end of the evening, Rick returned to the piano and Robin returned to the performer mic to sing the swinging classic little ditty "If I Had You."

Robin Kradles in "Gambling on Love"

Robin Kradles will star in "Gambling on Love" on Thursday, August 10th, 2017 at 7pm on the Don't Tell Mama stage, 343 W 46th St, NYC, with Music Direction by Rick Jensen and Direction by Lennie Watts. $15 cover ($10 for MAC/ICNY) plus 2-drink minimum, cash only.

Salon Spotlight: Lina Koutrakos
For our Salon Spotlight, Lina Koutrakos, a multiple award-winning performer, director, and teacher, stepped up to the mic with glamour, sass, and tales of her encounters with men like the one and only Gregory Hines.  With Rick Jensen at the piano, and a grounded, dark, husky voice, Lina started out with her own composition; the rock blues piece, "Gregory Hines Song." Lina has a strong presence, and a soulful rock voice that both soothes and stimulates. She also is a terrific storyteller, and embues her work with a heart-on-her-sleeves and knife-in-her-pocket honesty. After a lovely story about singing the next song at a same-sex wedding, she and Rick sang the moving "Make You Feel My Love" as a beautiful duet. Then, to exemplify her ability to take pop lyrics and transform them into fully invested acting songs, she poured her voice and soul into an introspective and powerful rendition of "Midnight Train to Georgia."

Lina is soon traveling to Mykonos, Greece, to teach her performance workshop, and in the fall, she and Rick will perform the show "Torch" on October 28th at 7pm at The Metropolitan Room, 34 W 22nd St, NYC.

Lina Koutrakos

Quick Wrap - Classical Corner

In 1845, Adolf Bernhard Marx published a book in Germany on musical composition that spread into the musical world the idea of masculine/feminine themes (quoted below). According to him, there is a duality of musical themes within music; one is more forthright than the other; one is more flexible, lyrical...practically more 'curvy' than the other. The masculine cadence ends on the downbeat, where feminine ends on the second beat. While today these terms are somewhat passe (we don't think of those roles necessarily in that way), his idea lived on throughout the following centuries, and influenced German composer and music critic Robert Schumann. Schumann wrote works like Carnavale (as in mardi-gras) and carried with him two characters throughout his life that were considered masculine and feminine: Florestan, the bold and impetuous, and Eusebius, the subtle, introspective, and soft. In fact, Schumann based many of his works upon these two characters, and Mark pointed out how both of these characters are in all of us to some degree. For example, Kreisleriana's opening theme showed off these two in stark contrast, alternating between fast/bold, and flowing/soft movements.

Even harmony and the setting (or accompaniment) can change a piece from the "feminine" to the "masculine." Chopin also engaged in this duality many times. For example, the Chopin Ballades are the most complex and diverse of piano solo pieces, and Mark played thru a number of these works, including the Raindrop Prelude, a piece which is both pleasant and deadly. Mark also remembered how he would play through Chopin's Fm and Gm Ballades while he was in College, and he recreated this experience by playing thru a few sections; one had a dreamy and optimistic mode that melded into a dreamy yet not-so-optimistic feeling. Dramatic sequences with rolling and beautiful canonesque pieces were interspersed within these same dual themes. The final piece he played through, Chopin's 1st Ballade, takes us through the tragically romantic story of Romeo & Juliet, which features a beautiful theme melting into an ominous dissonance, a heart-wrenchingly tragic opening (with plenty of dissonance), and a robust transition that is brought back with new keys, new feelings and both masculine and feminine powers, into crescendo that leads to a deadly finality.

“In this pair of themes… the first theme is the one determined at the outset, that is, with a primary freshness and energy – consequently that which is energetically, emphatically, absolutely shaped… the dominating and determining feature. On the other hand, the second theme… is the [idea] created afterward, serving as a contrast, dependent on and determined by the former – consequently, and according to its nature, the milder [idea], one more supple than emphatically shaped, as if it were the feminine to that preceding masculine. In just this sense each of the two themes is different, and only with one another [do they constitute something] higher, more perfect.”
--Adolf Bernhard Marx (1795-1866)
"A Practical and Theoretical Method of Musical Composition," 2nd edition (1845)

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

Co-host: Robin Kradles (with Rick Jensen on piano)
Elaine St. George
Jerome Weinstein
Richard Eisenberg
Monica Salvi
Laurel Kallen
Pam Edgar
Patti Botino-Bravo (with Rick Jensen at the piano)
Fred Aiese (with Rick Jensen at the piano)
Bob Diamond (with Rick Jensen at the piano)
Doris Dear (with Rick Jensen at the piano)
Sally Darling
David Ballard
Sierra Rein
Marnie Klar
Salon Spotlight: Lina Koutrakos (with Rick Jensen on piano)
Classical Corner: Mark Janas
BREAK
Co-host: Robin Kradles (with Rick Jensen on piano)
Tanya Moberly
Becca Kidwell
Ira Lee Collings
Joan Jaffe
Newbern and Co. - Meryl and Wade Newbern (with Wade Newbern on piano)
Co-host: Robin Kradles (with Rick Jensen on piano)

Special thanks to tonight’s musicians: Mark Janas, Wade Newbern and Rick Jensen!

Thank you to James Eden for offering his videography services, to Gil Alexandre on lights and sound, and to David Ballard and our amazing waitstaff!

Ongoing Shows:

Monday nights (7pm): Opera Open Mic at Shanghai Mong with Mark Janas and Matthew Martin Ward, 30 West 32nd Street, NYC.

Monday and Wednesday nights (8pm): Bill Zeffiro performs weekly at La Rivista, 313 West 46th St, NYC.

This summer: Tanya Moberly is judging Mama's Next Big Act at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC, and a few of our regular Salon members are taking part!

Upcoming Shows:

Friday, August 4th (7pm): Sally Darling and other 2017 Cabaret Award-Nominated Vocalists sing "Together" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Thursday, August 10th (7pm): Robin Kradles will star in "Gambling on Love" on at Don't Tell Mama 343 W 46th St, NYC, with Music Direction by Rick Jensen and Direction by Lennie Watts.

Friday, September 15th (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Sean Harkness at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, September 23rd (4pm): Becca Kidwell brings back her show "A Song and It's Girl" to Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Tuesday, September 26th: Ira Lee Collings returns with his show "Life is a Song So Why Not Sing it - Plus Weed Songs" to Don't Tell Mama, 45 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, October 2nd: Ira Lee Collings returns with his show "Life is a Song So Why Not Sing it - Plus Weed Songs" to Don't Tell Mama, 45 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, October 6th (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Ritt Henn at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, October 7th (4pm): Monica Salvi will bring all her "Mad Women in My Attic" as part of the United Solo Theatre Festival in Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd Street, NYC.

Friday, October 27th (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Ian Herman at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, October 28th (7pm): Lina Koutrakos, with Rick Jensen at the piano, will perform "Torch" at The Metropolitan Room, 34 W 22nd St, NYC.

Sunday, October 29th: Ira Lee Collings returns with his show "Life is a Song So Why Not Sing it - Plus Weed Songs" to Don't Tell Mama, 45 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, November 17th (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Mark Janas at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, December 13th: "The Doris Dear Christmas Special" starring Doris Dear at The Metropolitan Room, 34 W 22nd St, NYC.

Friday, December 8th (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Steven Ray Watkins at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, December 20th: "The Doris Dear Christmas Special" starring Doris Dear at The Metropolitan Room, 34 W 22nd St, NYC.

Thursday, December 21st: "The Doris Dear Christmas Special" starring Doris Dear at The Metropolitan Room, 34 W 22nd St, NYC.

Friday, December 29th (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Sean Harkness at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

NEXT SALON! Sunday, July 23rd, the theme of the evening will be "Along For The Ride"! So get out your travel bag and roller-coaster-relationship songs and sing with composer-turned-Co-Host Richie Eisenberg at the wheel. In the passenger seat will be our Salon Spotlight, Ann Kittredge! Have fun as only The Salon performers can!

-Sierra Rein
Blogger for The Salon
See an oops? Email me.

The Salon Wrap-Up for July 9, 2017: "When I Go, I’m Going Like Elsie – Honoring The Songs Of Kander & Ebb"

Mark Janas welcomed everyone back from our 6 week break with a four-bar introduction to the song "All That Jazz." The unmistakable chords were a great introduction to the theme of the evening, "When I Go, I'm Going Like Elsie: Honoring The Songs of Kander and Ebb." Mark then played a medley of some of Kander & Ebb's most famous themes to bring on Co-Host Kathleen Stuart, who stepped up to the mic and sang "Yes" from Kander & Ebb's 70 Girls 70, showcasing her optimistic and bubbly personality and crystal-clear soprano voice. Kathleen is a sincere story-teller, and made sure to take all the moments as a strong actress with the work in front of her. There's no better way to do Kander & Ebb than with such strong acting chops!

After a costume change, Kathleen brought in the second act with "Ring Them Bells," complete with props and hats and glasses and little airplanes to tell the story. Switching to a different mode, she then performed the sweeping "First You Dream" from Steel Pier, which featured her beautiful lyric range. To close her Act II set, she sang "How Lucky Can You Get?" from the movie Funny Lady by Kander & Ebb, where she switched from materialistic joy to desperate and pointed anger. To end the evening, she jumped headlong and full of verve into one of the most famous Kander & Ebb anthems to theater, life, and friends named Elsie...."Cabaret"!

If all goes well, Kathleen will soon return to her home state of Hawaii to play Anna in The King and I. She will soon also recreate a past Bette Midler show from archive materials, to be announced soon (watch her website for news).

Kathleen Stuart

A treat of murderesses - Cell Block Tango!

One fun moment of note last night was a group number - "Cell Block Tango" from Chicago, featuring Tanya Moberly, Sierra Rein, Janice Hall, Marnie Klar, Jaye Maynard, and Lauren Stanford as the six murderesses of Cook County Jail. We had fun!

Quick Wrap - Classical Corner

Jumping off the melody of "Cell Block Tango," Mark started a discussion of dissonance. After all, the audial journey between the "He" and "ing" of  "He had it coming" flips the melody into dissonance by the end of the sentence. We think of consonance (major chords) as having a positive side, and minor chords tend to play with tension using the minor second against the major, creating a harsh feeling in our ears. This harsh feeling can be found all over jazz, musical theater, as well as classical work. Classical music utilizes this same tension and emotion that Kander used (and still uses), switching between major and minor and adding dissonances to play with our expectations, hopes, and into the disappointment of tragedy and anger. 

To illustrate the classical side of things, Mark played through a Chopin Nocturne that contained a beautifully sad melody that twisted between variant dissonance in both harmony and rhythm. He showed how the lowest common rhythmic denominator began with 16th notes, but then Chopin added a 5 and 7 against the lovely waltz 3/4 beat, creating tension in the rhythmic story.

A Prelude by definition is the use of a single sense by the composer, and Chopin sought to bring harmonic and emotional dissonance to his Second Prelude, especially within the bass line. In a previous Classical Corner, Mark had illustrated how falling seconds create the concept of loss; this time, he played through Chopin's E minor Prelude as an example for the audience of how these fallings seconds can create the despair of dissonance in a truly moving way.

Salon Spotlight: Niki Sorrentino
Our Salon Spotlight was the sassy Niki Sorrentino, who did a fun trio of songs with the help of piano stylings of Jeff Cubeta. With a sweet voice that had a lovely edge to it, she started up with the peppily sarcastic journey through New York City and the perils of Times Square, "I Think of You" by Andrew Koss. Putting a twist on her "8th Grade Audition song," Niki did a jazzy version of "Black Hole Sun" by Soundgarden, allowing Jeff to show off his walking bass piano skills. She finally raised the roof with a hot rendition of "Filthy/Gorgeous" by the Scissor Sisters.

Niki can be seen being "Filthy Gorgeous" with Jeff Cubeta at the piano at The Metropolitan Room on July 16th at 7pm. Bring your Grindr app and have fun! 

Nikki Sorrentino

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

Click link to visit the performer’s website or other links, when available.
All piano accompaniment by Mark Janas unless otherwise noted.

Co-host: Kathleen Stuart
Bobbie Horowitz 
Barb Malley
Jerome Weinstein
David Auxier-Loyola
Suzanne Sorrentino
Monica Salvi
Eshaka Varshney
Annie Lebeaux (self on piano)
David Ballard
Sierra Rein
Zach Wobensmith
Lucille Carr-Kaffashan (with Jeff Cubeta on piano)
Salon Spotlight: Niki Sorrentino (with Jeff Cubeta at the piano)
The Six Merry Murderesses of Cook County: Jaye Maynard, Sierra Rein, Tanya Moberly, Janice Hall, Marnie Klar, and Lauren Stanford
Classical Corner: Mark Janas
BREAK
Co-host: Kathleen Stuart
Tanya Moberly 
Becca Kidwell
Janice Hall (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Marnie Klar
Anne Kittredge
Jeff Cubeta (self on piano)
Angela Leone (with Bill Zeffiro on piano)
Bill Zeffiro (self on piano)
Sally Darling (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Matthew Martin Ward (self on piano)
Steve Bustamante (self on guitar)
Richard Eisenberg
Jen Bradley
Co-host: Kathleen Stuart

Special thanks to tonight’s musicians: Mark Janas, Jeff Cubeta, Steve Bustamante, Bill Zeffiro, and Matthew Martin Ward.

Thank you to Steve Bustamante for offering his videography services, to Gil Alexandre on lights and sound, and to David Ballard and our amazing waitstaff!

Ongoing Shows: 

Monday nights (7pm): Opera Open Mic at Shanghai Mong with Mark Janas and Matthew Martin Ward, 30 West 32nd Street, NYC. 

Monday and Wednesday nights (8pm): Bill Zeffiro performs weekly at La Rivista, 313 West 46th St, NYC.

This summer: Tanya Moberly is judging Mama's Next Big Act at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC, and a few of our regular Salon members are competing!

Upcoming Shows:

Sunday, July 16th (7pm): Niki Sorrentino in "Filthy Gorgeous" with Jeff Cubeta at the piano at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.

Sunday, July 16th (8pm): Matthew Martin Ward plays piano for Christine Pedi in "Great Dames" at Barrington Stage Company (Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center), 36 Linden Street, Pittsfield, MASS.

Sunday, July 17th (8pm): Matthew Martin Ward plays piano for Christine Pedi in "Great Dames" at Barrington Stage Company (Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center), 36 Linden Street, Pittsfield, MASS.

Saturday, July 29th (4pm): Anne Kittredge in "It's About Time" with music director Wendy Cavett at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Thursday, August 3rd (7pm): Angela Leone, with Bill Zeffiro at the piano, in "Under the August Moon" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, September 15th (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Sean Harkness at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, September 18th (7pm): Bobbie Horowitz's "It's Just a Number" at The Metropolitan Room, honoring Meg Flather, Ben Frank Dain, John Krapowski, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC.

Saturday, September 23rd (4pm): Becca Kidwell brings back her show "A Song & It's Girl" to Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC. 

Saturday, September 23rd: Steve Bustamante will perform his own show at Don't Tell  Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, October 6th (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Ritt Henn at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, October 7th (4pm): Monica Salvi will bring all her "Mad Women in My Attic" as part of the United Solo Theatre Festival in Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd Street, NYC.

Friday, October 27th (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Ian Herman at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, November 17th (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Mark Janas at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, December 8th (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Steven Ray Watkins at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, December 29th (7pm): Tanya Moberly and Sean Harkness at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.

NEXT SALON! Sunday, July 16th, Co-Host Robin Kradles will bring wit and undoubtedly some faboo makeup tips on the Theme of "The Opposite Sex." We will also have on Salon Spotlight the lovely Lina Koutrakos. See you there!

-Sierra Rein
Blogger for The Salon
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