Upcoming dates

After many years away from the New York cabaret/club/listening room/boite scenes, I have just been booked for a four-night run at The Metropolitan Room, a lovely new venue in Chelsea. Intimate setting, great sound, real lights, and a fine piano in a really pretty room. I am thrilled - the booking is December 28 through 31, with a special show on the last night to celebrate New Year's Eve. My birthday falls in the middle, on the 29th. I am rather hoping you all will come and sing "Happy Birthday" to me. Tex Arnold will be accompanying me on piano; together we are working up quite a lot of new material for this date.

It is bliss to do several nights in a row at the same venue. I remember (and miss) the long runs of three to six weeks that used to be more common. They were part of what made the early Manhattan Transfer so fine. Every night you can explore and experiment within the music, hone andrefine your performance of the night before, and get better and better and better.This is a most compelling and addictive aspect of being an actively working artist.

There is a great line in the film Babette's Feast that I think of often: "Throughout the world sounds one long cry from the heart of the artist: Give me the chance to do my very best". The line always moves me to tears, as it is absolutely true. Most of the tiime we are trying to do our best "in spite of". In spite of an out-of-tune piano. In spite of a lousy sound system. In spite of a moody side-man, or nasty promoter. All difficulties to be surmounted so that, as much as is possible, the audience does not see the struggles. Every once in a very great while, there is nothing in the way, and then, and then!  At The Metropolitan Room, I may be set up to do my best. Can't wait.

By the way, if you have never seen Babette's Feast, you must rent it. It is one of my favorite films, with one of my favorite actresses, Stéphane Audran in the title role. It is about abundance and generosity, art and food, and go see for yourself!