Gelber & Manning Goes Public – Gelber & Manning 2008

Last year, Jesse Gelber & Kate Manning met, fell in love, and like so many young couples, started their own vaudeville act. Billed as the latest musical gaiety and a musical cocktail of fizz, fun and frolic, the troupe has since been performing at venues throughout New York City and Brooklyn, including Drom, Corio, Duane Park, The Triad, Fada, Cafe Steinhof, The Reprise Room at Dillon s and Rodeo Bar. Jesse, a formidable stride pianist in New York s traditional jazz scene and Kate, a veteran of Broadway and national touring musical comedies allied themselves where their two worlds met in raggy time. The result is an act that combines musical improvisation with theatricality and showmanship. Traveling back to the vaudeville era in search of material, Jesse and Kate became the feuding lovers Gelber & Manning: the cantankerous barroom ivory tickler and the sweet singer who dotes persistently on her beau. Along for the ride are Charlie Caranicas on cornet and Kevin Dorn on drums, jazz musicians at the top of their field who just want to play some good music.