Co Host: Julie Reyburn
To kick off our special return to live performance, Mark Janas introduced the 3 major reasons for tonight's very special event. Not only are we back after a 16 month pandemic hiatus, and not only are we celebrating Leonard Bernstein's 103rd birthday, but The Salon turned 16 this year! (We can finally drive!)
The show began with our illustrious co-host, Julie Reyburn, singing Sondheim's "Putting It Together" from "Sunday in the Park with George", with Mark Janas on piano and David Ballard on flute (and both on very capable backing vocals!) It was so refreshing to hear Julie's glorious mezzo, with some fun lyric changes to reflect the place that cabaret holds in our artistic community.
For her mid show set, Julie started with "Move On" from Sondheim's "Sunday in the Park with George." Julie got very emotional as she introduced the song. She dedicated it to her daughter, Laila, who was born the same year that Salon was - 16 years ago (on the same day as Mark's birthday!) Again, Julie was supported by Mark Janas on piano and David Ballard on backing vocals and flute.
She then invited Tanya Moberly to join her to sing "A Boy Like That" from Bernstein/Sondheim's, "West Side Story." Their voices blended seamlessly and thrilled the audience with their drama and power.
To close out the evening, Julie brought us two more lovely songs. First, she sang "Anywhere We Are" the title song from her upcoming show - a touching reminder of the beauty of life. The song then segued to Bernstein's "Some Other Time" from "On the Town" with added vocals by Sierra Rein, Adam Shapiro and Mark Janas.
You can hear Julie (and Mark Janas and David Ballard) again on September 25, 2021 (8pm) in her show "Anywhere We Are" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Mark Janas/Classical Corner
I cannot say how excited I was to find out that Mark would be treating us to his fantastic interpretation of Gershwin's "Rhapsody In Blue" - but before he did, he told us a story about his mentor, Leonard Bernstein.One day Mark was listening to Mr Bernstein play "Rhapsody In Blue", and Mark heard something unfamiliar. He knew his mentor appreciated precision, as he had witnessed Mr Bernstein tell his own mentor when something sounded off. So Mark said, "Did you know that you've added a note that isn't in the score?" Mr Bernstein sternly, in his famously deep voice, asked, "Where??" Mark went on to demonstrate the passage with us - what was on the page, and what Mr Bernstein had played. In telling this story, Mark brought up the concept of allowing for artistic interpretation. But, he said, it needs to make sense.
Mark says that for years he's played his own interpretation of the song, but during the pandemic he went back to the original piano score to see what was there that he might be missing, much like his mentor, Mr. Bernstein. And tonight, he performed a brand new interpretation than in previous performances, "with more of the notes on the page." And, he said, he hopes that this is just the beginning and that you'll hear an all new interpretation next time and he continues to think about his contribution to the song.
Roster of Performers for the Evening (in order of appearance):
Click the link to visit the performer’s website or other links, as available.
All piano accompaniment by Mark Janas unless otherwise noted.
Co-Host Julie Reyburn (with David Ballard on flute)
Annie Lebeaux (also on piano)
Liora Michelle
Classical Corner
Co-Host Julie Reyburn (with David Ballard on backing vocals)
Tanya Moberly and Julie Reyburn
David Ballard
Steve Bustamante
Annie Lebeaux (also on piano)
Matthew Martin Ward (also on piano)
Tanya Moberly and Julie Reyburn
David Ballard
Steve Bustamante
Annie Lebeaux (also on piano)
Matthew Martin Ward (also on piano)
Co-Host Julie Reyburn (with Sierra Rein and Adam Shapiro on additional vocals, with Mark Janas on piano and backing vocals)
Special thanks to Mark Janas, and our guest pianists Annie Lebeaux and Matthew Martin Ward. Thanks also to David Ballard on lights and sound, and to the wonderful waitstaff and thoughtful management at Don't Tell Mama. Finally, a big thank you to our videographer for the evening, the amazing Steve Bustamante.
Upcoming Shows
Wednesday, August 25, 2021 (7pm) - Amy Beth Williams will be performing "Beautiful Mystery: The Songs of Leonard Cohen" (directed by Tanya Moberly) at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Saturday, September 4, 2021 (8:30pm) - Adam Shapiro's brand new album, "Let Love In"" is being released with an accompanying release concert, streaming from Easton Mountain. Visit www.eastonmountain.org for tickets.
Tuesday, September 7, 2021 - Sierra Rein is appearing in Susie Mosher's "The Lineup" at Birdland, 315 West 44th St, NYC.
Saturday, September 11, 2021 - Matthew Martin Ward will be performing with Christine Pedi in Provincetown, MA.
Saturday, September 25, 2021 (7pm) - Scott Raneri is appearing in "Extra Extra" at the Triad, 158 West 72nd St, NYC.
Saturday, September 25, 2021 (8pm) - Julie Reyburn is bringing back her show (shut down due to the pandemic), "Anywhere We Are" (with Mark Janas and David Ballard) to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Monday, October 4, 2021 (7pm) - Mark Janas brings his event, "Mark Janas' Classical Corner" to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Friday, October 15, 2021 (7pm) - Tanya Moberly is appearing in "I Love NY Songwriters: Part II" (including a song by Annie LeBeaux) at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Sunday, October 31, 2021 - Sierra Rein and Julie Reyburn are appearing in "Sondheim Unplugged," 54 Below, 254 W 54th St, NYC.
Late October - See Michael Colby's show "Mrs McThing", a benefit for TADA Theater, 15 W 28th Street, NYC.
Sunday, November 7, 2021 (3pm) - Scott Raneri is appearing in "Extra Extra" at the Triad, 158 West 72nd St, NYC.
Monday, November 8, 2021 (7pm) - Mark Janas brings his event, "Mark Janas' Classical Corner" to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Friday, November 19, 2021 (7pm) - Tanya Moberly is appearing in "I Love NY Songwriters: Part II" (including a song by Annie LeBeaux) at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Sunday, November 28, 2021 - Sierra Rein and Julie Reyburn are appearing in "Sondheim Unplugged", 54 Below, 254 W 54th St, NYC.
Monday, December 6, 2021 (7pm) - Mark Janas brings his event, "Mark Janas' Classical Corner" to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Wednesday, December 8, 2021 - Michael Colby's musical, Ludlow Ladd, will be performed at Winter Rhythms at Urban Stages, 259 West 30th Street, NYC.
Friday, December 17, 2021 (7pm) - Tanya Moberly is appearing in "I Love NY Songwriters: Part II" (including a song by Annie LeBeaux) at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.
Next Up at The Salon
We will return on Sunday, September 26, 2021, with the theme, "MORNING, EVENING, NOON, AND NIGHT" with our Co-Host Danny Bacher.We'll see you then!
Submitted by Erin Cronican
Blogette for The Salon
Email me with any additions or corrections.
Submitted by Erin Cronican
Blogette for The Salon
Email me with any additions or corrections.
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