At the start of tonight's Salon found and host Mark Janas bounded to the stage to welcome his chosen family to the warm and loving evening. Tonight's theme was "ancestry.song" (a riff on www.ancestry.com) and I was excited to hear what choices people came up with. Would they regale us with songs from their homeland or sing about family? Would there be humor in addition to pathos? One thing was for certain - there were many surprises!
What was also fun about the evening is that Ari asked all of the performers to share some stories about their ancestry, so we got to know Salon guests at a much deeper level than ever before. Thanks for the great idea, Ari!
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| Co-Host Ari Axelrod |
Ari will be workshopping a new one man show at The Jewish Heritage Museum in Battery Park in February and performing his solo show TAKING THE WHEEL, directed by Tony Award Winner Faith Prince and musically directed by Alex Rybeck, in St. Louis in March. He will also be at 54 Below – 254 West 54th St, NYC 10019 - on March 17th at 11:30pm with WEBSTER CONSERVATORY MUSICAL THEATRE CLASS OF 2018. For more information: www.ariaxelrod.com
Salon Spotlight
Our Salon Spotlight featured Mama’s Next Big Act Top Five Finalist Gracie Lee Brown, with her bestie Thomas Hodges on piano. They began with "Sunlight", a beautiful tune written by Thomas and powerfully performed by Gracie. She followed that with a hilarious parody medley from Les Miserables called, "One Gay More" - all about a straight girl falling for gay men time after time. She finished her set with a delicate, original tune, "Brick by Brick" with lyrics by Gracie and music by Thomas, with Thomas adding additional vocals.
Gracie will be at The Duplex – 61 Christopher St, NYC 10014 – in GOODNIGHT, GRACIE – THE MANY FACED GODDESS on January 28th at 4:30pm. For more information: www.theduplex.com
Quick Wrap - Classical Corner
Mark started Classical Corner by holding a mic up to a mini speaker system playing the beginning of Bach's 5th Brandenberg Concerto - a piece produced for a solo instrument with a large group of instruments behind it. Mark said that the 6 concerti Bach wrote essentially noted the beginning of what we know as the orchestra. Back in Bach's day, the harmonies were played much like a jazz player does now - the musician uses the written symbols on the score to know the chord and then fills in the harmony with his own interpretation.
Mark said that there are many unique aspects to Bach's pieces. First, in these concerti there were many solo instruments throughout. Mark demonstrated different ways that notes would be emphasized - either by making them loud or soft, or by changing the tempo of the music at specific times. Also with Bach, the pianist's hands have to talk to one another rather than being independent, because both hands are as busy as one another - there is no dominant hand.
After speaking a bit more about the background of the music, Mark played one of the cadenza's live for the audience to enjoy (which he said that for many years he used as a warm up!) And while he had 6 note-filled pages of music laid out in front of him, he often looked away as the feeling of music went throughout his body. It was thrilling to watch!
He finished the segment by playing a recording of the orchestra leading into the cadenza he just played, with the harpsichord taking the lead. I have a new appreciation for how impressive the musicianship is. He also capped the segment by letting us know that this is the perfect music to play while trying to clean your house - it's THAT rousing!
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: Ari Axelrod (with Alex Rybeck on piano)
Bobbie Horowitz
John Fitzgerald
Kit
Sue Matsuki
Raissa Katona Bennett
David Ballard
Zach Wobensmith
Erin Cronican
Shana Farr
Salon Spotlight: Gracie Lee Brown (with Thomas Hodges on piano)
Classical Corner: Mark Janas
BREAK
Co-Host: Ari Axelrod
Tanya Moberly
Laurel Kallen
Kati Neiheisel
Bill Dyszel
Mark Cummings
Marcia Roney
Lucille Karr-Kaffashan
Angela Leone
Susan Mack
Lisa Yaeger
Barb Malley
Steve Bustamante (also on guitar)
Richie Eisenberg
Jen Bradley
Vince Fazzolari
Co-Host: Ari Axelrod
Friday, January 19, 2018 (7pm): Lisa Yaeger is bringing back her show "Jersey Girl" to Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Friday, January 19, 2018 (8pm): Erin Cronican is going on for the role of Eden in the Off-Broadway musical, THIS ONE'S FOR THE GIRLS, at St Luke's Theater on West 46th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenue.)
Monday, January 22, 2018 (7pm): Marnie Klar performs "Bedtime Stories" (directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Monday, January 22, 2018: Shana Farr is appearing with Steve Ross at Birdland, 315 West 44th St, NYC.
Sunday, January 28, 2018 (4:30pm): Gracie Lee Brown will performing "Goodnight Gracie - The Many Faced Goddess" at The Duplex, 61 Christopher St, NYC.
Monday, January 29, 2018 (7pm): Bobbie Horowitz's next "It's Only A Number" tribute is happening at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Thursday February 1, 2018 (7pm): Marcia Roney is bringing back her show, "Letting Go", one more time to Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Saturday, February 3, 2018 (9:30pm): Shana Farr is bringing back her show, "The Songbook of Barbara Cook," to Feinstein's/54 Below, 254 West 54th Street, NYC.
Thursday February 8, 2018 (7pm): Amy Beth Williams, with Tanya Moberly directing and Ian Herman at the piano, performs "A Thousand Beautiful Things" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Saturday February 10, 2018 (7pm): Amy Beth Williams, with Tanya Moberly directing and Ian Herman at the piano, performs "A Thousand Beautiful Things" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Thursday, February 15, 2018 (7pm): Kati Neiheisel (with Greg Tororian on piano) will be bringing her show "Among The Stars" to Don’t Tell Mama, 343 West 46th St, NYC.
Saturday, February 17, 2018 (4pm): Marnie Klar performs "Bedtime Stories" (directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Sunday, February 18, 2018 (4pm): Bill Dyszel is bringing his show, "The Internet Ate My Brain" to Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Friday, February 23, 2018 (8pm): Kit is appearing at Broadway 53rd Above, 318 W 53rd St, NYC.
Our Salon Spotlight featured Mama’s Next Big Act Top Five Finalist Gracie Lee Brown, with her bestie Thomas Hodges on piano. They began with "Sunlight", a beautiful tune written by Thomas and powerfully performed by Gracie. She followed that with a hilarious parody medley from Les Miserables called, "One Gay More" - all about a straight girl falling for gay men time after time. She finished her set with a delicate, original tune, "Brick by Brick" with lyrics by Gracie and music by Thomas, with Thomas adding additional vocals.
Gracie will be at The Duplex – 61 Christopher St, NYC 10014 – in GOODNIGHT, GRACIE – THE MANY FACED GODDESS on January 28th at 4:30pm. For more information: www.theduplex.com
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| Salon Spotlight: Gracie Lee Brown |
Quick Wrap - Classical Corner
Mark started Classical Corner by holding a mic up to a mini speaker system playing the beginning of Bach's 5th Brandenberg Concerto - a piece produced for a solo instrument with a large group of instruments behind it. Mark said that the 6 concerti Bach wrote essentially noted the beginning of what we know as the orchestra. Back in Bach's day, the harmonies were played much like a jazz player does now - the musician uses the written symbols on the score to know the chord and then fills in the harmony with his own interpretation.
Mark said that there are many unique aspects to Bach's pieces. First, in these concerti there were many solo instruments throughout. Mark demonstrated different ways that notes would be emphasized - either by making them loud or soft, or by changing the tempo of the music at specific times. Also with Bach, the pianist's hands have to talk to one another rather than being independent, because both hands are as busy as one another - there is no dominant hand.
After speaking a bit more about the background of the music, Mark played one of the cadenza's live for the audience to enjoy (which he said that for many years he used as a warm up!) And while he had 6 note-filled pages of music laid out in front of him, he often looked away as the feeling of music went throughout his body. It was thrilling to watch!
He finished the segment by playing a recording of the orchestra leading into the cadenza he just played, with the harpsichord taking the lead. I have a new appreciation for how impressive the musicianship is. He also capped the segment by letting us know that this is the perfect music to play while trying to clean your house - it's THAT rousing!
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: Ari Axelrod (with Alex Rybeck on piano)
Bobbie Horowitz
John Fitzgerald
Kit
Sue Matsuki
Raissa Katona Bennett
David Ballard
Zach Wobensmith
Erin Cronican
Shana Farr
Salon Spotlight: Gracie Lee Brown (with Thomas Hodges on piano)
Classical Corner: Mark Janas
BREAK
Co-Host: Ari Axelrod
Tanya Moberly
Laurel Kallen
Kati Neiheisel
Bill Dyszel
Mark Cummings
Marcia Roney
Lucille Karr-Kaffashan
Angela Leone
Susan Mack
Lisa Yaeger
Barb Malley
Steve Bustamante (also on guitar)
Richie Eisenberg
Jen Bradley
Vince Fazzolari
Co-Host: Ari Axelrod
Special thanks to Zach Wobensmith on lights and sound, the amazing David Ballard & our waitstaff, and the management at Etcetera Etcetera.
Ongoing:
Monday nights (7pm): Opera Open Mic at Shanghai Mong with Mark Janas and Matthew Martin Ward, 30 West 32nd Street, NYC.
Upcoming Shows:
Ongoing:
Monday nights (7pm): Opera Open Mic at Shanghai Mong with Mark Janas and Matthew Martin Ward, 30 West 32nd Street, NYC.
Upcoming Shows:
Friday, January 19, 2018 (7pm): Lisa Yaeger is bringing back her show "Jersey Girl" to Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Monday, January 22, 2018 (7pm): Marnie Klar performs "Bedtime Stories" (directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Monday, January 22, 2018: Shana Farr is appearing with Steve Ross at Birdland, 315 West 44th St, NYC.
Sunday, January 28, 2018 (4:30pm): Gracie Lee Brown will performing "Goodnight Gracie - The Many Faced Goddess" at The Duplex, 61 Christopher St, NYC.
Monday, January 29, 2018 (7pm): Bobbie Horowitz's next "It's Only A Number" tribute is happening at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Thursday February 1, 2018 (7pm): Marcia Roney is bringing back her show, "Letting Go", one more time to Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Saturday, February 3, 2018 (9:30pm): Shana Farr is bringing back her show, "The Songbook of Barbara Cook," to Feinstein's/54 Below, 254 West 54th Street, NYC.
Thursday February 8, 2018 (7pm): Amy Beth Williams, with Tanya Moberly directing and Ian Herman at the piano, performs "A Thousand Beautiful Things" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Saturday February 10, 2018 (7pm): Amy Beth Williams, with Tanya Moberly directing and Ian Herman at the piano, performs "A Thousand Beautiful Things" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Thursday, February 15, 2018 (7pm): Kati Neiheisel (with Greg Tororian on piano) will be bringing her show "Among The Stars" to Don’t Tell Mama, 343 West 46th St, NYC.
Saturday, February 17, 2018 (4pm): Marnie Klar performs "Bedtime Stories" (directed by Tanya Moberly with Stephen Ray Watkins at the piano) at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Sunday, February 18, 2018 (4pm): Bill Dyszel is bringing his show, "The Internet Ate My Brain" to Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Friday, February 23, 2018 (8pm): Kit is appearing at Broadway 53rd Above, 318 W 53rd St, NYC.
Saturday, March 10, 2018: Angela Leone is having a Champagne CD release party for her album, "All My Tomorrows" at Don't Tell Mama, 345 West 46th Street, NYC.
Thursday, April 26, 2018: Raissa Katona Bennett is doing a CD release show, "Can't Hep Singing: The Music of Jerome Kern" at the Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 West 42nd St, NYC.
Thursday, May 3, 2018: Raissa Katona Bennett is doing a CD release show, "Can't Hep Singing: The Music of Jerome Kern" at the Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 West 42nd St, NYC.
NEXT SALON
We'll see you January 21, 2018 with our theme: "Your Cheating Heart" with our Co-Host: Andrea Bell Wolff. Looking forward to it!
Written by Erin Cronican
Thursday, April 26, 2018: Raissa Katona Bennett is doing a CD release show, "Can't Hep Singing: The Music of Jerome Kern" at the Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 West 42nd St, NYC.
Thursday, May 3, 2018: Raissa Katona Bennett is doing a CD release show, "Can't Hep Singing: The Music of Jerome Kern" at the Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 West 42nd St, NYC.
NEXT SALON
We'll see you January 21, 2018 with our theme: "Your Cheating Heart" with our Co-Host: Andrea Bell Wolff. Looking forward to it!
Written by Erin Cronican
Blogette for The Salon
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