The Cabaret Chronicles: Algonquin Salon, Oak Room Salon, and Sir Paul McCartney!

Hello, everyone!  Sorry for the delay in this week's article; I was computer-less for a few days, which made it kind of tricky to write the article.  My new computer is up and running now, though, so let me tell you about all of the great entertainment I saw last week! 

On Sunday, July 12^th, I headed to the always-enjoyable Algonquin Salon at the Algonquin Hotel.  Hosted by Mark Janas, produced by Peter Napolitano, and featuring a special guest co-host each week, the Salon has really come into its own and found a devoted following of singers, songwriters and musicians, as well as hotel guests and other music-loving folks!  The guest co-host for this past week was singer/songwriter/pianist Bill Zeffiro, who really did an excellent job of running things smoothly and making performers and audience members alike feel right at home.  As usual, the lineup was filled with terrifically talented performers, including Dana Lorge, Vin Martin, Liz Ulmer, Maureen Taylor, Rob Langeder (who was accompanied by fabulous jazz pianist Dan Furman on the piano!), Ray Jessel, and Gretchen Reinhagen.  It was a lovely way to spend a Sunday evening and relax before another busy week!

Tuesday evening found me back at the Metropolitan Room for my fourth and final performance of Jenna Esposito Sings Connie Francis and I had an absolutely fantastic time! It's been such a joy to work on this show, and there was an incredible energy in the air at this last show - what a great night! 

On Thursday evening, I headed back to the Algonquin Hotel for the premier of the Summer Oak Room Salon.  Created by the same team as the Algonquin Salon (with columnist and critic Roy Sander serving as Artistic Advisor), the Oak Room Salon offers many of the same attractions of the Algonquin Salon, plus a few others!  First of all, it's held in the Oak Room, instead of the hotel lobby, so it's a much more intimate space and there are stage lights to use!  Also, there are no optional themes each week, but each week does boast a different guest star (who performs a 3-song set), in addition to the guest co-host!  Thursday evening was a great kick-off to the series, featuring Julie Reyburn as the co-host and the Grand Dame of cabaret, Julie Wilson, as the guest star!  The room was completely sold out , and boy did the audience get their money's worth - for a $10 cover, they were treated to a fantastic lineup of talent, including the two aforementioned Julies, Tanya Moberly, Sue Matsuki, Edd Clark, Kathleen France, Danielle Grabianowski, David Gurland, and Raissa Katona Bennett!

Saturday night, I ventured to Citi Field for the first time (a hard step for a Yankee fan, but I got through somehow!) to see Paul McCartney in concert - and I'm still in awe!  Okay, so technically not "cabaret," but hands-down, one of the best shows I've seen anywhere, ever!  At 67 years of age, the former Beatle still has a simply amazing voice - some of the notes he's singing would be difficult for a man half his age, but his voice just soars.  He played his signature Hofner bass for a good portion of the numbers, but also showed off his skills on piano, guitar, mandolin, and ukulele!  The band was fantastic - he kept it simple by just having two guitarists, a keyboard player, and a drummer, in addition to himself, and that's all he needed.  This show was about the songs people wanted to hear, and boy, did he deliver.  Opening with "Drive My Car," closing with "Hey Jude," and coming back for two extended encores (the first consisting of three songs, the second consisting of five), Sir Paul managed to include just about every major song that Beatles and Wings fans would want to hear, plus some unexpected treats AND a couple of brand new tunes!  It's very difficult to pick out favorites, because they were all so good, but there are a few moments that really struck a chord with me, so to speak!  The first was "Blackbird," which he introduced by saying he'd been really moved by all of the civil rights struggles in 1960s America, and he wrote the song from the point of view of a young black girl growing up in the South.  Now, I'd always liked that song and thought it was a nice little ditty, but hearing the back-story caused me to listen to it in a whole new light.  The song that immediately followed ("Here Today"), was one of my other favorites - standing alone, center stage, with just his acoustic guitar, Sir Paul dedicated the next song to his friend John, saying he'd written it after John's death, thinking of it as a conversation he'd like to have with John.  Well, it brought tears to my eyes - it was simple and sweet, and I can't remember the exact lyrics, but the general idea was that he was telling John that he loved him.  I wasn't the only one that got emotional, either!  At one point during the song, McCartney's voice caught a little, and I thought maybe all of the Heavy Duty singing was taking its toll, but when I looked at his face on the jumbo-tron, I could see that he was just getting choked up - which he acknowledged after the song, saying sometimes that one "catches him out."  And finally, my other favorite part of the show was the last encore - it was a one-two-three punch of "Yesterday," "Helter Skelter" (which had the entire stadium rockin' out!!) and "Get Back" (which was the song I'd been wanting to hear ALL NIGHT!).  Then, he closed it all out with "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (reprise)" which segued, appropriately, into "The End."  What an incredible night - it was definitely something I'm going to remember for a long, long time!

Where I'm going this week...

Monday, July 20^th: Well, if it's Monday, you can almost always find me at Jim Caruso's Cast Party at Birdland.  This fantastic open mic runs from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. - make sure you get there early to sign up if you want to sing!    

Thursday, July 23^rd:  Summer Oak Room Salon in the Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel.  Hosted by Mark Janas and produced by Peter Napolitano, this is a special summer spinoff of the Algonquin Salon, featuring a different special guest and a different co-host each week.  This week, I have the honor of co-hosting, along with the fabulous Rob Langeder.  Our special guest is TBA, but it's sure to be someone spectacular!  The Salon runs from 7-10, but make sure you're there by 6:30 if you want to sign up to sing!  

Friday, July 24^th:  Sharon McNight at the Metropolitan Room.  This L.A. - based, Tony-nominated diva is in town far too infrequently for my liking, so I hustle to see her each time she pays a visit to the Big Apple!  One of the funniest women I know, she's also got a terrific voice and puts on one heck of an entertaining show!  I can't wait!

Pictured: Paul McCartney 

 

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