There's a Storm Coming

Along with the usual roster of club acts in town, there is a newcomer arriving next week at the Dakota on March 27th. Her name is Storm Large. I am sorry that I will not be in town, but from what I have seen and heard, it might be an offer to take up. I have a feeling she is one of those we all would like to say "I saw her when..."

For starters is the namesake. Nothing timid there. On digging around her website she lists herself as musician, actor, playwright, author and awesome. So much for self confidence. Her new disc is French chanteuse with the kitchen sink thrown in for merit. When not doing her day job, she also gigs with Pink Martini who is known to have their own brand of music as well. She has the theatricality of a drag queen with the powerhouse vocals of a heavy rocker. An original piece that got some attention a few years back was her piece 8 Miles Wide and I will not spoil the mystery of what exactly that alludes to. Just be aware, it is something that would light up a cabaret room.

I am hoping some can check her out and give me the play by play, as it will likely be a bumpy and stormy ride.

Sing My Sister Sing

I am a huge fan of Maureen McGovern and have posted of her work a few times here on the blog. I think many would write her off as a jazz entity, but for any that have seen her in concert, she is just as much cabaret. Even when performing in a concert hall with a full orchestra, she brings an intimacy to a crowd of hundreds. We need to get her booked into a true cabaret venue here in the Twin Cities and behold the great wonder she brings to the stage.

I am pleased to find that she is still pursuing new outlets that are authentically her. I am just reading of her new show with the above title. It is an evening work that celebrates the song cycles of powerful women who wrote powerful pieces of music that have transcended a century now. Most are contemporaries that are familiar like Carole King, Laura Nyro, Phoebe Snow, Melissa Manchester and Annie Lennox. But she also speaks to earlier pioneers like Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and even women from the 1800's Americana songbook like Julia Ward Howe who wrote Battle Hymn of the Republic.

The article quotes "I wanted to really pay tribute to women singer-songwriters because they write very intimately and powerfully,” she says. “It’s a different take on writing and a very rich chapter of the Great American Songbook. This is something I’ve really been wanting to do for a long time.” Where she really speaks to our cabaret audiences - "There are plenty of people who can sing whatever it is that’s on the radio today,” she says. “I’m a storyteller, I want people to be moved by the music, I want people to listen to the music.”

I am hoping this concert is recorded on either disc or for PBS as was her last endeavor - the Long and Winding Road which was a spectacular journey on the political songs of the 1970s.
 

Aging is Optional

Many times I am asked "who do you think is a good example of great cabaret?" And because I love so many styles of music and appreciate so many legendary talents, that is like asking a parent which child is their favorite. But this listing coming up at 54 Below would have to be in the running. Tovah Feldshuh is definitely a singer's singer and when we look at our cabaret criteria - you can cross everything off her bucket list.

She is an actress first with an impressive resume over many years. And yet for some reason she remains an enigma to many. For starters, do you even know who she is? She has racked up an impressive 4 TONY nominations for her stage work in various genres. I wasn't originally even aware she was a singer. She is engaging with audiences. She can handle any sort of material. She transforms into characters and takes us on journeys with each song. She cross styles and genres. She sits in a chair and tells stories with heart and humor. She calls herself a "concert artist", something to think about. Check out this YouTube video and tell me what's not to like?

She has a 2-night stay coming up in NY and if I was in town, that would be my ticket to be had. The title sums it up - Aging is Optional!

Tovah Feldshuh - Aging is Optional

Party: You're Invited

In the spirit of collaboration, you are cordially invited to another Cabaret option in our great Twin Cities. Cast Party is also like TCCAN, in that it hosts a monthly performance opportunity at venues across the Metro Region. Where we are performance based in our monthly shows, they consider their offering an "Event." What they basically do is an open mic with an accompanist. Singers are encouraged to bring their own music or choose from a small library of songbooks available. But in addition, there are great inter-active games & activities that include the entire audience as well as the performers. This brain child is the product of Producer Reid Harmsen and hostess Maria Stuckey. Each month becomes a literal cabaret party in intimate setting much like our own, with the emphasis on having a great time.

They are regulars at Camp over in St Paul. For their February Party, they are planning a festive evening at the new Mattie's on Main. The fabulous OSCAR Awards will be on screen, with games during the commercial breaks and the stage open for singing after. So grab your favorite show tunes from the flicks and head on down to the River for this Star Studded Evening.

Member Microphone Mania

This short post is due to a tip from Education Director Vicky Mountain. We have had at least two good mic workshops in the last years. Both were very informative for the type of singing we do. The microphone becomes of an extension of the stories and song we are performing and it is imperative to make sure we use them to our advantage and not against our intent.

This web link is a great summary of all things amplified that would be a good resource to hold on to.

Microphone Techniques 

Also - I saw an ad in the current VitaMN that caught my attention to piggy back on. EMI Audio which is all things sound and lights is having their annual Year-End blow out sale. All rental and some new equipment is on a clearance from January 12-17. So if you are looking for a great mic, stand or cables - this is the prefect excuse to do some after holidays shopping. Check out their website for details and location.

EMI Audio

the State of Cabaret

This is a forward from Mary; a very pertinent piece in the NY Times if you did not catch it. We continue to have conversations at length about what exactly cabaret is... We come to a general agreement that it goes back to the storytelling as well as the song and keeping it real in a small setting. We often refer to "New York style cabaret." But this article finds it interesting that they wrestle with some of the same semantics.

The article refers to Cabaret as being "the struggling stepchild of Musical Theater and the first cousin of Jazz" which I find quite true. Certainly look at our members here and this is the case. It goes on to point out that with swanky venues like 54 Below, the Cafe Carlyle and Joe's Pub there seems to be a revitalization much like the revival of Times Square. There is a wealth of talent coming to the forefront; Annaleigh Ashford, Jeremy Jordan, Sutton Foster & our own Laura Osnes are all fabulous performers who bring exactly the right touch to these audiences. There is only so much longer that Marilyn Maye & Julie Wilson can carry the torch forward.

But also on display is a mixed bag with a wide range of talent. It speaks to the generation gap that is still in place wanting the Classic American Songbook. This small market is more willing to take a risk on Buster Pointdexter or Debbie Harry doing their take on standards as they try to age gracefully from their years in punk rock. Does this make an evening of Cabaret based strictly on pedigree and material? All this instead of newcomers like Lauren Fox or Marissa Mulder who are trying to bring something new to the table and do so in a fresh way. It finishes by saying that in spite of a great adrenaline rush of talent, our beloved Cabaret genre comes down to the cost of doing business and who & what will bring money into the seats.

Saucy Newcomers, Graying Punk Rockers 

Give the full articale a read.

Cabaret Artist of the Year

Again - we all know the entire civilized world of cabaret & culture centers around New York City. We, ourselves have gotten caught up in "new york style" cabaret which we try to emulate. So it is no surprise that there is a list compiled by Broadway World for the Artists of the Year in our field.

If you are connected to anyone in the theater world, you are aware that their media has taken on a massive PR blitz in the last few years to nominate locals for their Best of List. This is not meant to demean if this applies to any of you... but the nominating and voting process is circumspect with actors from Lakeshore Payers up against stallwarts like Sally Wingert at the Guthrie. I mean really! The voting procedure is then like a campaign for Dancing With the Stars or homecoming queen and I am guessing therein lies the rub of how Broadway World racks up some revenue with sponsored hits to their website.

Broadway World Awards

But I digress. We have problems defining exactly what it is we do, but they seem to have ease. Cabaret Performer of the Year seems it would suffice. But this is the last listed category. How about Best Female Vocalist? With 14 women competing for the Title! Not to be confused with Best Female Celebrity Show or Best Female Jazz Vocalist. Who decides this? When did Ute Lemper become a Jazz star? I think I would certainly see a show by Stacy Sullivan before I would pay to see Lucie Arnaz? Who is Julie Budd and what makes her a celebrity? I would be upset if I was Mark Nadler who has been pounding the keys for decades and is still labeled an amateur under Jeff Daniels who has decided he is now a cabaret star. How about Best Debut? Best Non-Piano Instrumentalist? There must be over 200 nominees in all which makes the Oscars look like a bake sale comparitively. I think the idea is maybe that everyone is a winner and can go home with a prize.

It is great that there are so many names and options to choose from. We should be so lucky in the Twin Cities. But I don't think these awards are what the art of cabaret is really intending to find. My Two Cents.