Just a simple post
November 25th, 2010 § Leave a Comment
I can’t believe I have not written one word, not a peep, not a nothing in my blog since August. There is so much to say, and yet I say nothing.
Well, I’ll work more on that after December 6 – that being the last of a 6 show run that I have done at the Rrazz Room in San Francisco this year. Had the 6 dates been in one week, that would have been easier. But no, they were once each in March, April, May, June, September and now December. Each show different. Several sharing with other guest headliners. All having new material sung by me.
And this one coming up, 20 new songs. With 1+ weeks to go, I might not learn them all cold, but I’m okay about that for now. Might have to have lyrics with me on stage. I’ll be so charming, no one will notice. Clearly, this is not my preference, but it will work. The songs and arrangements are wonderful and I’ve had the pleasure of sharing the arranging with some fabulous local musicians – Dave Austin, Mike Greensill, Kelly Park, Max Perkoff, and of course, my musical director for this venture, John Simon.
The show itself has a great theme, one that has been in the think tank for years and finally coming to fruition. The show is called “By Any Other Name” – What is that? Songwriters can name their songs anything they want, including the same title of a previously published tune. Think “Time After Time” written in 1947 by Sammy Cahn and Julie Styne. Does it measure up to Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” of 1984? How about “All By Myself”? Which melody do you hear first? Eric Carmen’s from 1975 or the 1921 melody of Irving Berlin?
And my band is awesome, too – John Simon, piano/musical director; John Mader, percussion (just off his one-year + run with Wicked in San Francisco); Tom Shader, bass (the amazing bass player on my Bistro/BMI Award Winning CD Long As You’re Living); and the uber-talented Tony Malfatti, my one-man horn section and back-up vocalist.
Oh, how do you get to see me live next week? Well, come on down to the Rrazz Room – just click here for all the info.
I’ll be posting some videos soon from all my shows this year, the ones at the Rrazz Room, as well as my one-off in New York at Don’t Tell Mama this past September. I’m very proud of the work I’ve done this year and grateful for all the support. And for the opportunity to have played with some great musicians and vocalists. What a blast this has been.
Let’s see what I can figure out for next year.
