Newsletter VOLUME 38, NUMBER 6 Formerly New York Set Music Society MICHAEL LAVINE & TOM TOCE: GETTING THE MUSIC OUT THERE www.apssc.org MARCH 2017 Pho by Rose Billgs regrd, y shre frustrtion cbret sgers, even those who perform ir own, tryg fshion livg out n rtistic pssion. Accompnyg mselves by performg illustrtions work songwriters such s Aln Chpmn, Jonthn By Jerry Osterberg Couln, Nncy Ford & Gretcn Cryer, This ws not new subject Steven Lutvk; Micl on pino, nyone who hppened be t APSS Tom on guitr, guest sger Ann meetg on Februry 11, 2017. After ll, Kittredge, provided perfect mixture we were founded s New York Set fct, not ll it fmilir. T Music Society, ppelg both delightful revue fetured number songwriters enthusists Americn tunes performed by Micl, cludg populr, with prticulr Como Te Gust Mi Pg (Chpmn), emphsis on collectg ctul bit risqué English, but reltively set. Tre my be mny or hrmless soundg Spnish for those collectibles which people re drwn, who don t spek lnguge; If I Were but few hve rtistic ppel You, Love, I d Jump Right Lke vtge set cover, s well s (Rg Lrdner & Vcent Youmns), prcticl use. Oh sure, one cn spend his One Hippopotmus (Aln Srmn), co collection or use r stmp We ll Never Get Drunk Any More collection send mil, but once y (Rudy Vlle), Wht s Your Nme hve, y ll need fd somethg else Will You Mrry Me? written by Lew do. Spence, fvorite Hugh Mrt. We seem hve survived crisis Spence ws better known for Nice over gretly exggerted predicted Esy Tht Fce, troduced by demise Gret Americn Fred Astire with lyrics by Aln Songbook, such tht most ter Tom Toce, Ann Kittredge, Micl Lve Bergmn, who utilized it s vehicle venues which feture strds propose mrrige his lyricist Golden Age some beyond, collborr Mrilyn Keith. pper hve little difficulty ttrctg n udience. Even cbret, Micl lso performed Old Friend, n stntly whose fortunes hve risen fllen durg pst four decdes, recognizble signture song from I m Gettg My Act Toger prtly due rel estte prices, seems lthy enough se dys Tkg It on Rod (Gretcn Cryer & Nncy Ford), one provide relible forum for sgers ins, young Joe Ppp s erly successes t Public Tter. Tom sng one not-so-young, exercise ir l pssion. his own cretions Becuse I Cn, which contributed Set collecrs hve long been ccusmed fct lyrics Lew Spence, ctchy clever Code tht with publishg busess hs just few Monkey, written by Jonthn Couln, whom met while compnies which re extremely cost conscious, even older pperg on public rdio s Ask Me Anor. T seven chorus songs which re still prt no longer feture cover rt. Indeed it s ditty is open vrious terprettions, my preferred beg tht just s esy get f ternet. Fortuntely for progrmmer whose only reson for styg with borg job is seriously significnt collecrs such s APSS members Sy dmire fice secretry: Code Monkey very simple mn, Mrrone Micl Lve, ir formidble collections re with big fuzzy secret rt, Code Monkey like you, Code Monkey secure, constntly growg through cquisitions. like you lot Code Monkey just keep workg, see your But progrm presented by Micl Tom ws not so st pretty fce. much bout fdg for populr strds, but rr Ann Kittredge, who s midst welcome return songs written by composers lyricists whose work isn t s well scene, is clssiclly tred sger whose diverse credits known, even though y my hve creted n unforgettble tune clude Ioln (Ioln), Kiss Me, Kte (Kte), Music Mn or two. Just s importnt, progrm ddressed songwriters, (Mrin), eight productions Encores! t City Center. especilly those still workg, who struggle identify n outlet S performed I Just Wnted You Know (Steven Lutvk), wre y cn be rd, if not mrket for ir product. In tht Contued on pge 3
PAGE 2 AMERICAN POPULAR SONG SOCIETY MARCH, 2017 President s Messge... Ld Amiel Burns, President We hve enjoyed wonderful seson Americn Populr Song Society so fr; it is difficult believe tht we hve only four progrms left before we brek for summer. I wnt thnk Micl Lve Tom Toce for ir gret progrm on Set Music, for ll vluble formtion y shred on how wre fd songs you re lookg for. You cn red ll bout progrm this issue our Newsletter feture sry written by Jerry Osterberg, Edir--Chief. We used hve Fle Mrket before ech meetg, which fd purchse set, books, CD s or memorbili. However, we now hve n excitg new Member Exchnge from 12:30-1:30, I encourge our members brg whtever tresures y would like donte shre with ech or. This pst yer, I brought mny my duplictes set, songbooks, CD s; you will be surprised by how good it feels clen out your collections. It is good know tht your items re gog people who pprecite re hppy use m. Tre is no chrge, but if nyone wnts leve csh dontion Society jr, it is lwys very much pprecited. I vite you donte our bck tble exchnge with or APSS members ech month. We re ll very excited bout our Mrch 11th Progrm An Afternoon with Lee Roy with Richrd Skipper. Lee Roy is mster showmn hs lots fsctg sries bout his mny yers show busess, bout terestg people tht hs worked with over yers. And Richrd is n expert stute terviewer. Don t miss this one! I wnt thnk you for your good wiss for speedy recovery fter my upcomg surgery, I hope be bck with you ll s my lively self t Mrch 11th meetg. See you n! Best Regrds, Ld Americn Populr Song Society Bord Of Direcrs: Ld Amiel Burns President Lynn DiMenn Si Durell 1st Vice Presidents Jon Adms Sy Mrrone 2nd Vice Presidents Glen Chrlow Tresurer & Membership Mrilyn Lester Correspondg Secretry Bill Boggs Will Friedwld Micl Lve ------------------------------------Publicist Richrd Skipper Celebrtes Richrd@RichrdSkipper.com Progrms & Specil Events Elliott Ames Si Durell Tom Toce APSS Officil Phogrpr: Rose Billgs Grphic Designer, Web Guy Glen Chrlow N E W S LE T T E R Pho by Rose Billgs Pho by Rose Billgs Edir/Publisr: Jerry Osterberg osterbergg@ol.com Contributg Edir: Mrilyn Lester mj@mjlester.com Associte Edir: Jon Adms jon.dms@corcorn.com Grphic Designer: Glen Chrlow fo@apssc.org Nncy McGrw, Ann Kittredge, Ld Amiel Burns MEETING LOCATION: Locl 802 Musicins Hll 322 West 48th Street. Progrm: 1:45 3:30PM. Come erly look thru Set Music & CD s & stuff, ll FREE. Membership Milg Address: Americn Populr Song Society P.O. Box 5856 Pikesville, MD 21282 fo@apssc.org (212) 315-3500 (Ld A. Burns)
MARCH, 2017 AMERICAN POPULAR SONG SOCIETY PAGE 3 Micl & Tom... Contued from pge 1 Now You Know (Anis Mitcll), Never Sw Blue Like Tht (Jeff Frnzel, Tom Kimmel & Mrk Lun), Grbge, words by Sldon Hrnick sung by Be Arthur Shoestrg Revue. Bsed on rnge mteril, Ann s verstility ctg skills were clerly evident. Her current project is recordg n lbum previously unrecorded songs Mrv Hmlisch. So, how does one mtch up one who s serch littleknown song, rrely produced Off-Brodwy l, or tune fill out prticulr nic me-bsed progrm? Invribly, quest is more difficult becuse song my be out-prt, unpublisd, or quite simply just hrd fd. Of course, By Les Block Wn Richrd Rodgers ws writg songs like Hve You Met Miss Jones My Romnce, lst thg hd md ws tht his songs would be dopted by jzz ins would become jzz strds. I m not sure how mny jzz ins re wre rich l ritge which composers Americn populr hve perhps dvertently bequed m jzz. I grew up New York City ws fortuntely exposed Brodwy l tre s well s Hollywood film ls, rg songs Rodgers, Irvg Berl, Jerome Kern, Frnk Loesser, Hrold Arlen, Jimmy VnHeusen, Hrry Wrren, Cole Porter, George Gershw Duke Ellgn. I becme hooked on jzz while clssicl student t New York s High School Music Art. After rg I ll Remember April plyed by George Srg Qutet, I soon relized tht most wht I ws rg jzz ws relly Brodwy stge Hollywood, modified, course, respect phrsg, melody le improvistion ltered hrmonics rhythms. I ll Remember April ws ctully written by Gene DePul 1941 for Abbot Costello film Ride Em Cowboy. Some composers, however, prticulrly Richrd Rodgers, were upset by wht ws beg done ir nme jzz. I believe best jzz performnces were still re populr Americn songs rr thn origl mes by jzz ins. Tre re exceptions, course, such s I Remember Clifford by Benny Golson or Wltz for Debbie by Bill Evns. Tse songs, which strted out s good melodies beg with, hd lyrics dded t lter dtes, not unlike mny songs by Duke Ellgn Bronislu Kper s two clssics, On Green Dolph Street Invittion. And, by now, both I Remember Clifford Wltz for Debbie hve become strds, lthough underperformed, Americn populr songs. Wn I thk my most memorble jzz listeng experiences, I fd tht virtully ll mteril, fct, cme from Americn populr strds. Just mention severl exmples: Chrlie Prker s Bud Powell s terprettions wht hs been clled most perfect song ever written, All T Thgs You Are by Jerome Kern, written for 1939 Brodwy show, Very Wrm for My; Stn Kenn Orcstr s re s ternet with vrious websites lks y provide, new l ter, collecrs such s Micl Lve Sy Mrrone, songwriters like Tom Toce Songwriters Allince, n orgniztion lped found, Micl Colby, Dennis Livgsn, so mny ors who contue produce impressive work even s y wit be discovered by wider udience. Somewre re is yet unrlded livg strd, which deserves tke its plce mong or high qulity songs. It my hve been written lst week or even forty yers go. T obvious chllenge is get it out re pl sight so it cn be found. As demg s quest my be, pth discovery is not without its joys rewrds. Our thnks Micl Lve, Tom Toce for remdg us. WHERE WOULD JAZZ BE WITHOUT YOU, MR. RODGERS? Bill Evns performnce Yesterdys, nor Kern song written for 1933 Brodwy show, Robert; Bsie b s terprettion April Pris by Vernon Duke, written for 1932 Brodwy show Wlk Little Fster. Music critic Isc Goldberg wrote tht if hd his wy would mke study April Pris compulsory ll hrmony courses. More exmples: John Coltrne s credible performnce My Fvorite Thgs which is Richrd Rodgers melody from 1959 Brodwy show, Sound Music; Sm Most s rendition Jimmy VnHeusen tune, But Beutiful which ws written for film, T Rod Rio strrg Bob Hope Bg Crosby; Bill Evn s ventive terprettion My Romnce written by Rodgers for 1935 l, Jumbo; Miles Dvis s sensitive performnce On Green Dolph Street with tht credible pino solo by Bill Evns. It ws written s me for 1947 film Green Dolph Street strrg Ln Turner Vn Hefl. Anor Bronislu Kper s tunes ws beutiful melodic hrmoniclly terestg Invittion, written for film sme nme, is o rrely performed by jzz plyers. Tn re s Colemn Hwk s clssic performnce Johnny Green s Body Soul, written 1930 for Brodwy revue Three s Crowd. Except for How High Moon, re hve probbly been more improvised solos Body Soul thn ny or Contued on pge 6
PAGE 4 AMERICAN POPULAR SONG SOCIETY MARCH, 2017 LEE ROY REAMS LEAVES EM WANTING MORE by Mrilyn Lester er In best trdition show busess, vetern performer rm Lee Roy hs lwys hd n cute stct bility leve udiences wntg more. is clssic c triple-thret thret crft: n ccomplisd sger, dncer cr. He s lso exped choreogrphy directg over yers his rich creer on stge on screens lrge smll. mde his Brodwy debut 1966 Sweet Chrity,, hsn t spped ped sce. Besides Cy Colemn Dorothy Fields, s sung Strouse Adms, Styne Comden/Green, Wrren Dub, Mel Brooks, Menken n Ashmn/Rice Jerry Hermn, for whom hs prticulr feelg, long with mny, mny more. Of Hermn s ( hs performed Hello Dolly,, L Cge ux Folles Hermn tribute revue, mong ors), cknowledges prticulr ffity fi regrd for Hermn s genius melody lyric. In tht respect, s seen quite n evolution on wy ls s songs re written t performed. T shift, observes, hs been from melody rhythm tunes tht re more k opertic recittive not t ll melodic sometimes downright dissonnt. Tse pieces re not relly songs, notes, but bout words. Wht you re gettg, sys, is formtion, not feelg. Comg up Golden Age Musicls, with likes Cole Porter Rodgers Hrt/Hmmerste, mmerste notes tht se writers excelled becuse ir work conveyed emotion melodies, s well s lyrics. Tht s function song is supposed serve wn it comes up show, sys, ddg on second thought, Well, re s no good od or bd, better or worse it s mtter style, just different. fe thus notes evitble process evolution for stge. From trditionl melodic, it hs moved Hir rock phse rp Hmiln.. It s not plesnt my er not my tste, sys, but re s room for everythg. knows chnge will hppen evolution will contue tht s just wy it is. Lee Roy with Pige As cretive rtist, t wht fds most stisfyg is performg. Directg is reltively new O Hr Compny pursuit, is stisfyg, sf but it comes with cert elements tht direct connection ction with udience doesn t clude. Besides beg n observer n udience not prticipnt t with one, direcr r tkes flck if somethg is miss. Like it or not, sys, it s direcr tht s ld responsible if show presents problems nyone. But work is work, not one shirk ny spect his crft, or new chllenge. e. In tht ltter regrd, lthough sys tht sgg g ny given composer s isn t difficult ficult for him, regrds rds Stepn Sondim s requirg higr level concentrtion thn most. Sondim, sys, is tellectul tul wy tht requires performer thk bout wht s comg up next lyric process tht clls for bsolute ttention. n Wn I ws dog Compny, notes, I d get ter hlf hour erlier thn usul go over keep lerng it. cites, for exmple, Beg Alive s n especil undertkg concentrtion. By contrst, Jerry Hermn comes nturlly lly him; Hermn is terriry which sys is esy lose himself. He regrds Hermn s tellectul lso, but very different fe wy thn Sondim. Hermn s lyrics hve focused pot view, observes, y mke gret sense. But, dds, becuse Hermn s is so melodic, lyrics ten get short shrift. He lso notes tht Jule Styne referred Hermn s T Irvg Berl his genertion. In twenty- Crol Chnng, Jerry Hermn first century, hs few kudos for Lee Roy songwriters whose is on bords now. He very much likes work Json Robert Brown Aln Menken, s well s Stepn Flrty Adm Guetell, but sys, Tre just ren t opportunities ter se dys showcse ir work. Tre ren t enough shows work on. Tse writers, ors up--comg, - notes, should be chllenged given opportunity write songs s which h would hopefully fd n udience. Wht would fly on wll r Lee Roy sg his own privte moments? ments T songs tht go through my d re tunes Gret Americn Songbook, s Dolly Levi recent South cknowledges. Mostly mstrem ter numbers so mny m, I love Florid production Hello Dolly. m ll. Tht lucky fly would r one gret enterters ers our time sg timeless works Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, both sets R&H more. Fortuntely, Lee Roy isn t sppg ny time soon; we cn look ok forwrd future full mny more chnces ce be thrilled uplifted by this wonderful rtist s clssic, c, well-honed l tlent t course, be left yerng for more.
MARCH, 2017 AMERICAN POPULAR SONG SOCIETY PAGE 5 Member News... If you hve ny member news, or or items you would like hve considered for this newsletter, plese send it by e-mil coedir, Jerry Osterbergg: osterbergg@aol.com. It will be subject editg, dependg on size content, plese remember tht we try go press two weeks before ech monthly meetg. We ten get very good items tht get us fter newsletter hs been prted miled. ppernces t 14 th Street Y Tter durg Jnury Februry. To ctch up on ll Sue s mny ctivities visit www.drsue.com. Crol J. Bkowski s new book, Openg Crnegie Hll: T Cretion First Performnces Americ s Premier Concert Stge ws just publisd by McFrl & Compny. Detils re vilble t www.croljbkowski.com. Hilry Kole s newest CD: T Judy Grl Project (Mir Music) is now onsle. T remrkble performer conjures spirit beuty Judy Grl stunng rrngements songs mde fmous by legendry sger, cludg T Trolley Song, T Boy Next Door, A Cottge for Sle, T Mn Tht Got Awy, Over Rbow. Ld Amiel Burns, APSS President, is celebrtg four decdes T Sgg Experience. A number APSS members hve tken this workshop, some more thn once. For those us who hve, we cn ssure you tht you ll feel like pro by night performnce. Although mny students hve never sung public before, supportive environment hs prepred m well for ir debut. Cll Ld t 212-315-3500 sign up. T Sgg Experience Cble TV show contues on MNN Time Wrner: Chnnel 56 or RCN: Chnnel 111. T progrm brodcsts re every Sundy t 5:00 PM. You cn lso see your fellow NYSMS members on YouTube t ny time. Middy Jzz Midwn contues on Wednesdys (1:00 PM 2:00 PM) t St Peter s Church (Est 54 Street (entrnce) @ Lexgn Ave), NYC, Hosted by Ronny Whyte. Progrms: Mrch 8 Art Lillrd s Hevenly Big B; Mrch 15, Mry Foster Conkl sger, Denn Witkowski pino; Mrch 22, Vlerie Cpers sger/pinist, John Robson bss; Mrch 29, John Collini Jzz Orcstr; April 5, Judy Niemck sger. Suggested dontion: $10. Prkg: Icon Prkg, Est 51 St, between Third Lexgn Ave. $15 cludg tx for five hours with vlidtion @ St Peter s reception desk. www.ronnywhyte.com/ www.stpeters.org/jzz/midwnjzz.htm. T Sgg Experience will return with Workshop #481, Silver Lg, begng on Mondy, My 15 contue on Mondys, My 22, June 5, June 12. All clsses re from 6:30 9:30 PM @ Studio 353 on West 48 th St. Performnce t Trid on Mondy, June 19 followed by DVD cst viewg prty on June 26. Cll Ld Amiel Burns t 212-315-3500 or write: ld@sggexperience.com. Ann Kittredge, who grced our stge on Februry 11, will be presentg r new show, It s About Time, t Metropolitn Room on Tuesdy, Mrch 7 @ 7:00 PM, Sturdy, April 1 @ 4:00 PM. Ann s Musicl Direcr is Wendy Cvett. Cover chrge for 3/7 is $24, for 4/1 is $50 order benefit SYTA Youth Foundtion. Tre is $25 food & beverge mimum for both dtes. To purchse tickets, go www.metropolitnroom.com or cll: 212-206- 0440. Alexis Cole will be mkg r solo debut t Birdl with Now s Time, on Sundy, Mrch 5 @ 6:00 PM. Tedd Firth is Musicl Direcr, Dvid Fck on bss, Eric Hlverson is on drums. Cover chrge is $30. Food or drk mimum is $10 per person. For tickets go www.birdl.com. APSS member Dr. Sue Horowitz is thrilled hve hd r origl songs fetured on WOS Rdio s segment Women Substnce on Februry 15. In ddition, r fns were delighted, s were reviewers, ttend one r Do you seek n elusive song? If you do, write APSS Bord member Sy Mrrone @ smusy@ol.com or cll 856-829-6104. You cn lso visit Sy New Jersey see thouss thouss sets, most which cn be yours very resonbly. S is mrvelous resource super-gret ldy! Si Durell is Publisr-Edir TterPizzzz.com, vitl website tht presents up dte ter reviews, news, terviews previews, long with cbret reviews videos. Tre is lrge contributg group writers who fer discerng pressionl reviews formtion. Si is Drm Desk Outer Critics Circle Awrds Voter, member Americn Ttre Critics Assocition, Legue Pressionl Ttre Women, T Lmbs, T Dutch Tret Club. Visit: www.terpizzzz.com. Surprise! Author Dvid Hjdu mkes his songwriter debut with Witg for Angel, culmtg five yer collbortion with esteemed multi-genre composers Jill Sobule, Fred Hersch, Renee Rosnes, Mickey Leonrd. Fetured voclists re Jo Lwry, Micl Wr, Kren Oberl, with ins Steve Wilson, Steven Bernste, Chrles Pillow, Peter Bernste, Dve Eggr, Sen Smith, Crl Allen. www.mir.com, www.cdbby.com. Dennis Livgsn, cbret songwriter, ws honored by Bosn Assocition Cbret Artists s one two songwriters ( or ws Will McMilln) chosen hve his works performed t BACA Invittion Songwriters Performnce Showcse on September 25 @ Amzg Thgs Art Center Frmghm, MA. In ddition Will, fe sger s well s composer/lyricist, Dennis cst cluded Brin De Lorenzo Jny Sgor. Dennis hs lso begun performg publicly this yer s n improvisg jzz flutist with T Alcmists, Bosn bsed b pressionl ins devoted collective improvistion. He ok occsion BACA showcse ccompny severl his songs on flute, long with pinist Doug Hmmer. You my recll tht stellr revue Dennis s songs T Sries My Md, ppered t APSS 2014. Correction: In Februry newsletter s rticle bout Rebecc Kilgore, we referred Becky s recent ppernce t Middy Jzz Midwn t St Peter s Church. In it, we mistkenly identified r bss plyer s Tom Wkelg. Accordg APSS member Joe Lng, Tom wsn t ble mke trip New York City from Portl, Oregon this time. Actully, Becky s bss plyer ws Joel Forbes. Given tht Joe sw Ms. Kilgore perform three times over two dys, we ll tke his word for it. Thnks for ctchg error Joe, thnk you g for your gret piece on Ky Strr couple months go. Send Member News Osterbergg@ol.com no lter thn 15th ech month for next issue.
Americn Populr Song Society P.O. Box 5856 PIKESVILLE, MD 21282 Mr. Rodgers... Contued from pge 3 song. And one lst exmple, Chrlie Prker Bud Powell terprettions How High Moon which virtully becme bop hymn 50 s. For yers, it ws most plyed tune jzz, its chord progressions supplyg hrmonic bsis for number new bop tunes such s Prker clssic Ornithology. It ws written by Morgn Lewis for Brodwy revue, Two for Show. I believe tht if songs Americn composers populr hd not been vilble s ripe plums for jzz ins pickgs, jzz would not hve been ble develop extent it hs, nor would gret jzz ins like Miles Dvis, Bill Evns, Oscr Peterson, etc. hve been ble develop mture plyers y becme. Unfortuntely, er 20s, 30s, 40 s 50 s populr is over. To sy tht y re not writg songs like y used is not tlly true. T problem is tht mny good songs which were written decdes sce hve not been mrketble chnged dustry. People like Murry Gr, Ruppert Holmes, Cy Colemn, Dve Frishberg, Johnny Mel, John Wllowitch, Blossom Derie wrote some gret songs, but who rs m? For those younger jzz ins who did not grow up with sounds Gershw, Porter, Kern, Arlen, Rodgers Ellgn, who wnt know wht y ve missed, I suggest tht y pick up mrvelous book by Alec Wilder titled Americn Populr Song T Gret Innovrs 1900-1950, publisd by Oxford University Press. Wht mkes this book unique pproprite for ins is tht ctul nottions portions songs Wilder nlyzes re terspersed with text. Ech mjor composer s work is represented by full chpter or section chpter, best composer s songs re discussed nlyzed. Only Irvg Berl s songs re not lly notted sce Mr. Berl did not llow nyone but his own compny publish even mute portions his. For those you who decide pick up on my suggestion, I wish you very best meetg mkg new friends. Edir s Note: This rticle origlly ppered Jzz Notes, publiction Tw Cities Jzz Society. Les Block ws pinist bleder t New York s nightclubs bllrooms prior movg Mnesot. He hs mde it his mission keep songs Golden Age Americn populr song live Tw Cities, producg directg mny progrms tributes songwriters who creted. Les is foundg member Tw Cities Cbret Artists Network, which provides forum for locl performers. Did you know every issue this newsletter is COLOR onle t www.apssc.org Our Remg 2016-17 Seson Plese mrk your clendrs for second Sturdy ech month. Mrch 11, 2017 An Afternoon with Lee Roy Produced by Richrd Skipper April 8, 2017 Duke Ellgn s Music for Tter Produced by Mrilyn Lester My 13, 2017 "Songwriter Showcse" "Keepg Americn Populr Songs live growg with emergg estblisd songwriters Produced by Si & Tom June 10, 2017 Richrd Skipper Celebrtes An ll-str cst celebrtg Judy Grl s Birthdy.