The Salon Wrap-Up for October 31, 2021: "It's a Jungle Out There: Halloween with the Animals"

 

Janice Hall and Adam B Shapiro, Co-Hosts

"It's a Jungle Out There: Halloween with the Animals" with Co-Hosts Janice Hall and Adam B. Shapiro 

One of my very favorite events of the whole year is The Salon's Halloween celebration, because NYC audiences get to see the amazing creativity and talent that comes from the brains and bodies of co-hosts Janice Hall and Adam B. Shapiro. Adam informed us that this is the 6th time they have co-hosted the Halloween Salon, and in doing the mental math I'm estimating that we've seen 20+ costumes from the duo in those years. (Some of those were tear-away costumes, morphing from one costume to another in a quick-change flash!) The only interruption in their 6 year legacy was the pandemic, but even then they found a way to create a special online show (which included some Salon favorites as special guests!) You can see that incredible, fully costumed, variety show here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPOxpEXZXrY

To start tonight's event...

Dressed like a farmer, Adam started with "Let's Talk Dirty to the Animals" (made famous by Gilda Radnor) which, with such language, would NOT have been able to have been sung at the Salon's original home - the lobby of the Algonquin Hotel. (We had to be mindful of passing guests!) Adam's performance was complete with visual aids, including a butt. (Don't ask...) He then quickly changed into a bear costume (a Bear in a bear costume!) to begin co-hosting the evening. 

For our mid-show co-host entertainment, Janice - dressed as a cheetah (her newly discovered patronus from the Harry Potter universe), invited Matthew Martin Ward to join her on the piano to sing a wonderful Chita (Cheetah?) Rivera medley. The medley included snippets from "A Boy Like That" (West Side Story), "Spanish Rose" (Bye Bye Birdie), "Kiss of the Spider Woman" (Kiss of the Spider Woman), "Love and Love Alone" (The Visit), and All That Jazz (Chicago). She then changed into a gorgeous peacock costume to continue co-hosting duties. 

To finish out the night, Adam and Janice came back to the stage - Janice (as the aforementioned peacock, the "NBC" peacock, presumably, as the familiar tones were played by Mark on piano!) and Adam (as a not-so-balding eagle) - with a tribute to their fine-feathered friends. But which song? There are so many songs about birds! Not to worry, they said. Lucky for us, they have created a (faux) album of songs all about birds ("Now That's What I Call Birds!"), and sang a medley of it including "Skylark" (Janice), then "Meadowlark," (Adam), then "White Bird in a Golden Cage" (Janice), then "Bye Bye Blackbird" (Adam), then "Green Finch and Linnet Bird" (Janice), then "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park" - interrupted by "Feed the Birds" (Adam), with a big finish of "If We Could Talk to the Animals" - with both Adam and Janice in glorious harmony!

You can download Adam B. Shapiro's debut album, "Let Love In" via all digital music platforms.

Mark Janas/Classical Corner 

When Salon Host, Mark Janas, heard about tonight's theme, immediately what came to mind was "Carnival of the Animals", a humorous musical suite of fourteen movements by the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns. But then he thought, "Perhaps something a little less obvious." Mark then reminded us of the adage - that if you hear "clopping coming over the hill, think horse not zebra." So, what is a zebra's most prominent feature? Stripes (black and white of course!) This led Mark to think of black and white keys, the stripes on a piano. 

A "C" Scale, and also a song in C Major, has all of its whole steps using the white keys with no black keys played. And example of this is Mozart's Piano Sonata #16, which Mark demonstrated beautifully. He then talked about Mozart's Piano Sonata #5, in G Major, which "starts with C sharp so you already know we're onto something different." He demonstrated a bit of that next.

During the pandemic, Mark felt the need to practice as much as possible to keep his hands agile. There is a piece by Chopin, an Etude - which is not only a study (piano scales) but a "harmonically fascinating piece of art." He introduced us to what is known as the "Black Keys Etude" which is a fast, 3-minute song that is only played with black keys except for one in the right hand (in the middle of a chord, which Mark calls the "middle voice.") Mark finished Classical Corner by playing this amazingly beautiful song, fully from memory. Mark never ceases to amaze me.

Mark is bringing back "Mark Janas' Classical Corner" - a full show of teaching and celebration of classical music - to Don't Tell Mama November 8 and December 6, 2021. It's a must see!

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 Adam B. Shapiro

Gerrilyn Sohn

Nicole Maridan

John Lackey

Julia Landon

Barb Malley (a cappella)

Maria Corsaro (with Gregory Toroian on piano)

Kati Neiheisel (with Gregory Toroian on piano)

Ann Talman (with Gregory Toroian on piano)

Gregory Toroian (also on piano)

Erin Cronican

Classical Corner

Tanya Moberly

Co-Host Janice Hall (with Matthew Martin Ward in piano)

Jeff Flaster (with Matthew Martin Ward in piano)

Goldie Dver (with Matthew Martin Ward in piano)

Bobbie Horowitz (with Matthew Martin Ward in piano)

Stew Frimer (with Matthew Martin Ward in piano)

Frances O'Flynn (with Matthew Martin Ward in piano)

Matthew Martin Ward (also on piano)

Michele Herman (unaccompanied poetry)

Jonathan Kuhn

Richard Eisenberg

Kimberly Dawn Neumann

Mark Corpron 

Scott Raneri

Bennett Silverstein

David Ballard

Co-Hosts Janice Hall and Adam B. Shapiro

Special thanks to Salon Host and lead pianist Mark Janas, Producer Tanya Moberly, and additional fantastic pianists Gregory Toroian 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

ONGOING! Adam B. Shapiro's debut album, "Let Love In," is now available on all digital music platforms.

Wednesday, November 3, 2021 (7pm) - Tanya Moberly directs Amy Beth Williams in "A Thousand Beautiful Things" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC. 

Thursday, November 4, 2021 (7pm) - Tanya Moberly directs Rian Keating (musical direction by Woody Regan) in "time stamps: life fragments in story and song" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, November 6, 2021 (4pm) - Matthew Martin Ward is appearing in "Life Hack with Cathy Taylor" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, November 7, 2021 (2pm) - Maria Corsaro is performing her show, "You Taught My Heart To Sing," with the Gregory Toroian Trio, at Pangea, 178 2nd Ave, NYC.

Sunday, November 7, 2021 (3pm) - Scott Raneri is appearing in "Extra! Extra!" at the Triad Theatre, 158 W 72nd St, NYC.

Sunday, November 7, 2021 (4pm) - Tanya Moberly directs Bruce Sabbath in "Searching for Tevye" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, 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.

Sunday, November 14, 2021 (4pm) - Mark Corpron is doing his show "Moving On - Songs of Journey" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC. 

Tuesday, November 16, 2022 (7pm) - Kati Neiheisel is appearing in "Yesterday Once More" with the Gregory Toroian Trio, at Pangea, 178 2nd Ave, NYC.

Wednesday, November 17, 2021 (7pm) - Tanya Moberly directs Bruce Sabbath in "Searching for Tevye" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC. 

Thursday, November 18, 2021 (7pm) - Tanya Moberly directs Bruce Sabbath in "Searching for Tevye" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC. 

Thursday, November 18, 2021 (7pm) - Tanya Moberly directs Amy Beth Williams in "A Thousand Beautiful Things" at 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" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, November 20, 2021 (8pm) - Tanya Moberly directs Rian Keating (musical direction by Woody Regan) in "time stamps: life fragments in story and song" 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. 

Tuesday, November 30, 2021 (7pm) - Tanya Moberly directs Marnie Klar in "Marnie Klar: A Woman's Prerogative" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, December 5, 2022 (1pm) - Kati Neiheisel is appearing in "Yesterday Once More" with the Gregory Toroian Trio, at Pangea, 178 2nd Ave, 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.

Tuesday, December 7, 2021 - Bob Brady performs "Wonderful, If You Insist" in Naples, FL. 

Thursday, December 9, 2021 (2pm) - Maria Corsaro is performing her show, "You Taught My Heart To Sing," with the Gregory Toroian Trio, at Pangea, 178 2nd Ave, NYC.

Saturday, December 11, 2021 (4pm) - Matthew Martin Ward is appearing in "Life Hack with Cathy Taylor" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Tuesday, December 14, 2021 (7pm) - Tanya Moberly directs Marnie Klar in "Marnie Klar: A Woman's Prerogative" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Wednesday, December 15, 2021 (7pm) - Tanya Moberly directs Marnie Klar in "Marnie Klar: A Woman's Prerogative" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, December 17, 2021 (7pm) - Tanya Moberly is appearing in "I Love NY Songwriters: Part II" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, December 18, 2021 (5pm) - Tanya Moberly directs Rian Keating (musical direction by Woody Regan) in "time stamps: life fragments in story and song" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

December 30, 2021 - January 16, 2022 (16 performances) - Erin Cronican is producing and starring in WIT, with The Seeing Place Theater, 64 East 4th Street, NYC.

Sunday, February 20, 2022 - Gerrilyn Sohn is bringing her new show to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Thursday, March 10, 2022 - Gerrilyn Sohn is bringing her new show to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Saturday, March 19, 2022 - Gerrilyn Sohn is bringing her new show to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Monday, March 21, 2022 - Ann Talman is debuting a new show, with the Gregory Toroian Trio (about Elizabeth Taylor) at 54 Below, 254 W 54th St, NYC.

March & April 2022 - Jeff Flaster is doing a show at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Next Up at The Salon

We will return on Sunday, November21, 2021, as we usher in the holidays with Co-Host Deborah Zecher, on the theme, "Favorite Carols."

We'll see you then!

- Erin Cronican
Blogette for The Salon
Email me with oopsies, additions, or comments!

The Salon Wrap-Up for September 26, 2021: "Morning, Evening, Noon & Night"

Danny Bacher. Photo: John Abbott

"Morning, Evening, Noon & Night" with Co-Host Danny Bacher

Singer/Songwriter/Saxophonist, international Jazz singer/writer/player Danny Bacher was our illustrious Co-Host for the evening. A Margaret Whiting Award winner,  he was named in the top 3 best vocalists in the United States in a 2019 National Jazz Times reader’s poll. As Co-Host, he worked the crowd with witty New Jersey-esque humor and jokes, and made sure to get some good banter from all the performers in between numbers. He whipped the theme into action at the top of the evening with a spicy rendition of "Early in the Morning" (by Dallas Bartley, Leo Hickman, and Louis Jordan), switching between smooth and dexterous bari-tenor vocals and sax instrumental breaks. 

Stepping into the "noontime hour"-themed mid-set section, Danny played "Cloudy" and "Nuages" (= Clouds) by Django Reinhardt. He whipped out and gloriously played his soprano saxophone in this wonderful instrumental piece, first playing one melody, and then the other. The sax sang in an expertly smooth tone, like a cloud bouncing and bobbing above Mark's grounded piano. The songs came together in the second half of the piece so wonderfully, a musical rainbow made of water and sun. 

For the last number, Danny sang from the album he created as a tribute to three Louis - a combination of "Just a Gigolo" (composed by Leonello Casucci with lyrics by Julius Brammer adapted by Irving Caesar into English) and "I Ain't Got Nobody" (Roger A. Graham on lyrics, composed by Spencer Williams). He expertly swung vocals and sax equally and got us singing out choruses and in a glorious call and response at the end!

Catch Danny in many of his events throughout the Fall of 2021 and into 2022, and head next door to neighbor Swing 46 on Thursday, September 30th to watch him play from 5:30pm-8:30pm with The Early Set Jazz Quartet. 

Mark Janas/Classical Corner 

Before starting the Classical Corner, Mark made sure to honor one of the greats of Broadway and the American Songbook by having us all sing "Happy Birthday" to George Gershwin, who would have been a s'wonderful 123 years old. HBDGG!

During the Pandemic, Mark knew that he had to keep his hands moving, so he made sure to pull and practice classical pieces that were basically workouts for the hands. Two that he felt were required works to use were by Chopin; The Black Etude - a workout for the right hand, which plays only black keys, and  the "Fantasy Impromptu," which is sort of an etude with left hand playing in 3 and the right hand playing in 4. He also wanted to work on Chopin's famous piece, the 1831 "Revolutionary Etude," which works the left hand almost completely through in 16th notes. Mark also spoke of the need for Classical instrumentalists to find a way through the interpretation of a classical piece without the use of lyrics. Musicians, rather than singers, have to create own their subtext as anchors for their performances, especially when the subtext isn't spelled out by the composer. Chopin wrote this while his homeplace of Poland was full of uprisings, during a time full of uncertainty. Those left-handed 16th notes reflected this uncertainty and unrest. During the last year, Mark would hear the strife and powerful agitation from the Black Lives Movement as they literally marched outside his window, and while he practiced the sounds and rhythm of these marches melded with his private rehearsal. The piece has a gorgeous melody (played simply it has a regal and proud presence, passion and yearning) and to Mark it evoked feelings of struggle and reaching for a new reality. Hairpins of crescendos and decrescendos and swells are emotional feelings, plus the three-beat pulse of the words "Black Lives Matter" helped Mark set his interpretation of Chopin's music into a modern march of protest. He then played the number so we could hear those consistent and agitating 16th notes mixed with that beautiful melody and pulsing notes.

Mark is bringing "Mark Janas' Classical Corner" back to Don't Tell Mama as a full show October 4th, November 8th, and December 6th, and is excited to introduce Robert Schwartz (concert pianist from San Francisco) who will join to perform some of the hardest work of Ravel's (amongst other pieces) to the October 4th performance.

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 Danny Bacher

Graeme Lister

Jeff Flaster

Bob Brady

Charlotte Libov

Johnathan Kuhn

Alicia Terry

Bob Simonello

Richie Eisenberg (self on piano)

Annie Lebeaux (self on piano)

Sierra Rein

Maureen Taylor

Classical Corner

Co-Host Danny Bacher

Tanya Moberly

Bobbie Horowitz

Goldie Dver

Michael Colby

Scott Mayfield (self on piano)

Sara Laursen

David Ballard

Co-Host Danny Bacher

Special thanks to Mark Janas, and pianists Annie Lebeaux, Scott Mayfield, and Richard Eisenberg. 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, September 29, 2021 (7pm) - Sara Laursen Produces and Directs "The Comeback Cabaret" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC. 

Saturday, October 2, 2021 (4pm) - Sara Laursen Produces and Directs "The Comeback Cabaret" at 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 8, 2021 (7pm) - Sara Laursen Produces and Directs "The Comeback Cabaret" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC. 

Saturday, October 9, 2021 (8pm) - Tanya Moberly Directs Amy Beth Williams in "A Thousand Beautiful Things" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC. 

Sunday, October 10, 2021 (8pm) - Tanya Moberly Directs Rian Keating (musical direction by Woody Regan) in "time stamps: life fragments in story and song" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC. 

Monday, October 11, 2021 (7pm) - Sara Laursen Produces and Directs "The Comeback Cabaret" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC. 

Wednesday, October 13, 2021 (7pm) - Tanya Moberly Directs Stephanie Trudeau in "Becoming Chavela: Songs & Stories of Chavela Vargas" at 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 17, 2021 (3pm) - Sara Laursen Produces and Directs "The Comeback Cabaret" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC. 

Friday, October 22, 2021 (9:30pm) - Scott Mayfield is Music Director for "Feelin Myself: A Musical Journey with Cheyenne Walent" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, October 24, 2021 (4pm) - Tanya Moberly Directs Amy Beth Williams in "A Thousand Beautiful Things" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC. 

Sunday, October 24, 2021 (7pm) - Sara Laursen Produces and Directs "The Comeback Cabaret" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC. 

Monday, October 25, 2021 - Graeme Lister with Music Director David Pearl performs "Femmes Fatales and Other Distractions" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Friday, October 29, 2021 (7pm) - Goldie Dver will be a part of "Ricky Ritzel's Broadway" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC.

Sunday, October 31, 2021 (2pm & 7pm) - See Michael Colby's show "Mrs McThing", a benefit for TADA Theater, 15 W 28th Street, NYC.

Sunday, October 31, 2021 - Sierra Rein and Julie Reyburn are appearing in "Sondheim Unplugged," 54 Below, 254 W 54th St, NYC. 

Wednesday, November 3, 2021 (7pm) - Tanya Moberly Directs Amy Beth Williams in "A Thousand Beautiful Things" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC. 

Thursday, November 4, 2021 (7pm) - Tanya Moberly Directs Rian Keating (musical direction by Woody Regan) in "time stamps: life fragments in story and song" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, 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.

Thursday, November 18, 2021 (7pm) - Tanya Moberly Directs Amy Beth Williams in "A Thousand Beautiful Things" at 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.

Saturday, November 20, 2021 (8pm) - Tanya Moberly Directs Rian Keating (musical direction by Woody Regan) in "time stamps: life fragments in story and song" 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.

Monday, December 6, 2021 - Michael Colby will present as part of "Winter Rhythms."

Tuesday, December 7, 2021 - Bob Brady performs "Wonderful, If You Insist" in Naples, FL. 

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.

Saturday, December 18, 2021 (5pm) - Tanya Moberly Directs Rian Keating (musical direction by Woody Regan) in "time stamps: life fragments in story and song" at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC. 

Next Up at The Salon

We will return on Sunday, October 31st, 2021, with our favorite Halloween costume-a-thon Co-Hosting duo, Adam Shapiro and Janice Hall on the theme, "It’s A Jungle Out There – Halloween With The Animals."

We'll see you then!

-Sierra Rein
Blogette for The Salon
Email me with oopsies, additions or comments!

The Salon Wrap-Up for August 22, 2021: Welcome Back! Salon’s Sweet Sixteen & Bernstein at 103

 

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)

Sierra Rein
Michael Colby (with Matthew Martin Ward on piano)
Matthew Martin Ward (also on piano)

Annie Lebeaux (also on piano)

Scott Raneri

Liora Michelle

Erin Cronican
Adam Shapiro

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)

Scott Raneri

Sierra Rein
Erin Cronican

Adam Shapiro

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.