Capathia Jenkins/>, who currently stops the show in the new Broadway hit Martin Short/>: Fame Becomes Me, will join award-winning composer/performer Louis Rosen to celebrate the launch of their debut CD, "Capathia Jenkins/> and Louis Rosen: South Side Stories." They will perform at three Sunday evening concerts at Joe's Pub (425 Lafayette Street), October 29, November 5, and November 12 at 7 p.m. We checked in for the scoop...
You're now well into your run with Martin Short/>: Fame Becomes Me--how has the show been going?
The show is going great. It is the most fun I have ever had on Broadway, and I really look forward to going to work every night.
Who have been some of your favorite guests so far? Any funny stories?Well, we had Bette Midler last night and she was awesome, very funny and kind. The amazing treat was….we have started to raise money for BC/EFA….so, I made the speech after the bows and then
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Marc Shaiman/> says to the audience, 'If you guys promise to donate on your way out maybe I can persuade my friend Bette to sing a song'…. Amazingly, she sang 'The Rose'. What an awesome experience. We have had wonderful guests including
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Jerry Seinfeld/>, Martha Stuart,
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Stanley Tucci/>…needless to say, I am having a ball!
How did you and composer/performer Louis Rosen meet?We met four years ago. My musical director for 'the Look Of Love',
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David Loud/>, recommended me to Louis for his project 'Dream Suite'.I recorded that along with Alton White.
Tell us about your previous collaborations?
'Dream suite'-music set to the text of Langston Hughes for myself and Alton White-premiered at Cooper Union June 2006
'Angelou Songs'-12 songs on text of Maya Angelou for myself-premiered at Joe's Pub March 2005 and now 'South Side stories'.
What is it about him, or his music that keeps bringing you back together?Louie writes in a way that allows me to essentially sing the 'ink'. I like to let the lyric lead me and tell the story, less is always more. So we fit together beautifully because he writes lovely melodies and interesting phrases.
Has the show changed at all from its Steppenwolf incarnation?No, not really. The songs have not changed but since Steppenwolf, we have gone in the studio and recored the cd with bass, vibraphone, percussion, drums, marimba, organ. We did Steppenwolf with piano and some guitar. Of course, having the luxury of time to live with the songs I find myself connecting to them much more and on deeper levels.
When was the CD recorded?The cd was recorded earlier this year over the course of a few months.
How many of the numbers are of the "stop the show" variety?None. This is a different side of what I do. Although you may see glimmers of that,I try to serve the music and not myself. 'Stop the Show' is very specific in style and feel. 'South Side Stories' is jazz, soul, pop, blues all rolled into a musical journey that takes you from 'I was born'…..through life and then rebirth….
Will it strictly be songs from the new album?We will open the evening with songs from the two earlier collaborations,'Dream Suite' and 'The Angelou Songs,' and then present 'South Side stories' in its entirety.
What do you hope audiences come away from the concert with?I hope that they take the journey within these stories because it's stuff that we can all relate to. I hope that they feel something, laugh, cry….I just want my audience to enjoy the experience. That's why I do what I do.
Tickets, priced at $20 with a two-drink minimum, may be reserved by calling (212) 239-6200. For more information, please visit www.joespub.com. "South Side Stories" may be purchased via CD Baby by visiting www.cdbaby.com, beginning Monday, October 30th.
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