Cabaret Corner with Peter Haas
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January 21, 2011
Remembering Margaret Whiting and Johnny Mercer
NEW YORK - Margaret Whiting died January 11 this year, at the age of 86. A master of popular song, selling 16 million records over her career, she was best known for her early Capitol Records hits, “My Ideal,” “That Old Black Magic,” “Come Rain or Come Shine,” “Moonlight in Vermont” and “It Might As Well Be Spring.” More...
January 18, 2011
Cast of Thousands: Gillet Sings Carnella
NEW YORK - Eric Michael Gillet brings grand gifts to his cabaret evening, “Cast of Thousands − Gillet Sings Carnelia.” One is his rich, trained baritone, offered with consistent power and unflagging energy throughout his 90-minute solo stint on stage. Another is the respect he shows his audience in letting the songs speak for themselves: no introductions, no scene-setting, no patter, but, instead, the simplest, most honest of characterizations as he sits on a stool and draw us in to the experiences the songs project. More...November 18, 2010
Cabaret Guideposts: News and notes on what cabaret shows to see.
With club locations and reservation information.
Janice Hall — “Grand Illusions: The Music of Marlene Dietrich.”
Janice Hall makes an impressive cabaret debut as she pays tribute to the life and legend of Marlene Dietrich. The show – not an impersonation but sung in Hall’s own rich voice – features songs Dietrich made famous, drawn from the worlds of Weimar cabaret, French chansons, the jazz and folk fields, and her films. I’ve seen it; Janice is an elegant discovery. Remaining shows are Sunday, November 21 (4 PM) and Wednesday, December 8 (9:30 PM). At the Metropolitan Room. Cover $15; two-drink minimum.
November 5, 2010
You Sing the Song: a tip from “The Voice”
Cabaret singers! Learning a new number? Refreshing one you already do? Here’s a suggestion from a gentleman who knew how to put a song across – Frank Sinatra:
In a new biography of Sinatra, titled “Frank: The Voice,” author James Kaplan describes the importance Sinatra placed on the story-telling aspects of his singing:
Beginning with a sheet of the lyrics without the music, Sinatra noted that “at that point, I’m looking at a poem. I’m trying to understand the point of view of the person behind the words. I want to understand his emotions. Then I start speaking, not singing the words, so I can experiment and get the right inflections. When I get with the orchestra, I sing the words without the microphone first, so I can adjust the way I’ve been practicing the arrangement. I’m looking to fit the emotion behind the song that I’ve come up with to the music. Then it all comes together. You sing the song.” (From Frank: The Voice by James Kaplan: Doubleday, 2010)
October 20, 2010
Welcome to Cabaret Corner
House lights down, music up—and in clubs throughout the city, a warm and intimate hour of live entertainment begins. It’s cabaret—singers, instrumentalists and audiences connecting through favorite song standards as well as numbers created by today’s finest writers. .
Cabaret dates back to nightclubs that dotted late-19th century Paris. The form spread to Germany, then, decades later, to the U.S. as the Prohibition Era’s clubs needed entertainment for its back rooms. Prohibition died, but cabaret survived; today, through favorite stars as well as steady streams of new talent, cabaret is a staple of New York nightlife. Even more, as the city’s varied stages offer a variety of performances every night of the week, New York has become the capital of cabaret.
Join us at Cabaret Corner for previews of who’s performing where, reviews of recent shows, news, features and miscellaneous musings—as well as tips and tactics for succeeding in the field, based on exclusive interviews with professionals both on and behind the cabaret stage.
Your comments are most welcome. E-mail to phaas@comedybeat.com