Monday, December 19, 2011
Robin Greenstein and Cecilia Kirtland perform a culturally rich repertoire of holiday music at the Bloomfield Public Library.
The customary greeting for this time of year has become “Happy Holidays” because holidays mean much more than just Christmas. For over a decade, Robin Greenstein and Cecilia Kirtland have been performing “Songs of the Season”, a multi-cultural holiday music show that celebrates all the holidays, not just the tradtional Christmas. This Saturday they brought their show to the Bloomfield public library. The pair said they met originally at the Guitar Workshop in Roslyn, New York when they were teenagers. They went on to become teachers and put together a concert program based on their holiday traditions (Greenstein is Jewish and Kirtland is half-Chilean). In 2000, "Songs of the Season" was born. For their performance at the library, the…
40.79633
-74.19733
Bloomfield Public Library
90 Broad St, Bloomfield, NJ
/articles/duo-brings-a-world-of-music-to-bloomfield-for-the-holiday-season
742128
/locations/6033519
Monday, December 12, 2011
"Great Songs from Bad Shows" is the winning ticket for the local theater company's 15th season show
Local theater company, 4th Wall, got a boost in fundraising with “Flop of Ages," a one-night-only show put together to help keep alive the company’s mission to expose their audience to interesting and challenging theater. According to artistic director, Kate Swan, the group has a fundraising goal of $15,000 for their 15th season. Swan said they are already two-thirds of the way to that goal with half the season to go. According to 4th Wall Business Manager Bruce McCandless, the concept for “Flop of Ages” was to rediscover (or in most cases discover) great music from unsuccessful musicals. He was inspired by the “Lost in Boston” music recording series which features songs that were cut from various musicals. “Flop of Ages” was split into …
40.794015
-74.196478
Westminster Arts Center
449 Franklin St, Bloomfield, NJ
/articles/the-4th-wall-raises-much-needed-funds-with-flop-of-ages
1902548
/locations/6003327
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Corinna Sowers-Adler’s cabaret series, “Music at the Mansion” is an eclectic melange of comedy, jazz favorites, movie soundtracks and good old-fashioned blues.
The decorated atrium at the Oakeside Mansion once again served as the backdrop to “Music at the Mansion,” a delightful afternoon of musical entertainment. Hostess Corinna Sowers-Adler began with a bubbly welcome to the appreciative crowd. She opened the show with a cover of Garry Novikoff’s “Why Didn’t You Tell Me?”, a comical take on an accidental poisoning that was especially apt just days after Thanksgiving. She then relinquished the stage to the first singer of the event, Bistro Award Winner Deb Berman. Although she appeared to forget a few of the lines in her first song, she actually seemed more comfortable with the twisty, serpentine lyrics and melodies that dominated the middle of her set. Accompanist for the afternoon Sean …
40.79944
-74.19053
Oakeside Bloomfield Cultural Center
240 Belleville Ave, Bloomfield, NJ
/articles/music-at-the-mansion-offers-an-escape-for-the-holiday-overload
741390
/locations/5962492
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
The Montclair Operetta Club (MOC) opens its 87th year with the rock opera, ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ at the Westminster Arts Center
The Montclair Operetta Club's Jesus Christ Superstar scored big with audiences this weekend, as the company brought the classic Andrew Lloyd Weber musical to the stage with a local cast that did it proud. Operetta Club President Richard O’Connor said Superstar was a last-minute, surprise addition to the fall theater line up. “Our season was supposed to have been ‘Anything Goes’ and ‘Evita’," he admitted. "I had a contract for the rights to ‘Anything Goes’ and . . . the next day in my email I had a rescission of those rights. So I lost our fall show." Because local theatres cannot perform shows during their Broadway runs, Evita was also axed. "After finding out that there was an “Evita” revival on the horizon, the original season was …
40.794015
-74.196478
Westminster Arts Center
449 Franklin St, Bloomfield, NJ
/articles/the-montclair-operetta-club-returns-with-jesus-christ-superstar
1902548
/locations/5774914
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Come join in the fun at Bloomfield's 18th Annual Harvest Fest, September 24 and 25.
A gray day couldn’t dampen the spirits of Bloomfield residents who came out for HarvestFest this Saturday. With bands rocking the block on the main stage and the scent of barbecue filling the air, it almost seemed like summer had never left. For almost 20 years Harvest Fest has been one of the biggest events in Bloomfield. Presented by This Is It Productions, the two-day festival features over 100 exhibitors ranging from food vendors, kiddie rides, bands, clubs, organizations and local businesses Henry Salvador, a member of the Knights of Columbus in Bloomfield, explained what he loves about Bloomfield’s Harvest Fest. “I’ve been coming to the Harvest Fest for quite a number of years, and the thing I like about it is that it’s family-…
Monday, September 12, 2011
The United Way invites "Desire" to the Westminster Arts Center, along with former Z100 DJ, John Bell.
“You know most of the people that I’ve worked with over the years -- although many of them were great entertainers and good people -- didn’t carry with them the tradition, the style, the kind of understanding of what area performance is all about,” said John Bell, former DJ at Z100 and special guest for United Way’s presentation of the Doo-wop group, Desire. Bell, filling in for Shelley Bruce (the originally scheduled guest) said Desire reminded him of the artists from his youth, such as Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennet. Bell said these artists knew how to put on a “show” without the hype and razzle-dazzle associated with today’s artists. "Desire" underlined Bell’s statement throughout their marathon charity performance. Bantering playfully …
40.794015
-74.196478
Westminster Arts Center
449 Franklin St, Bloomfield, NJ
/articles/doo-wop-group-desire-offers-a-blast-from-the-past
1902548
/locations/5321916
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Joseph Nagy, singer/songwriter and prodigal son of New Jersey, returns to play Pianos Bar & Grill, one of the few venues for burgeoning talent.
The crowd was bustling as the Pianos Bar & Grill slowly
started to fill up. The night’s performer seemed to be running late as the waitress was even wondering where he might be. Then, all of a sudden, an unassuming figure steps out of the
crowd and takes a seat behind the piano. Clad in a novelty t-shirt, sporting blonde hair, boyish looks and a beer in hand, Joe Nagy is ready to perform. Nagy, born in Jersey, studied piano and music business at Belmont University in Nashville, before moving to Los Angeles for four years. There, he worked at a piano store and played music at a café on Sunset Boulevard until returning to Jersey a year
ago. After his return, there were, obviously, few places that
would allow an unknown to take the stage. …
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Piano's Bar & Grill
36 Broad St, Bloomfield, NJ
/articles/pianos-bar-grill-helps-nurture-new-talent
742318
/locations/5263026
Monday, August 22, 2011
Corinna Sowers-Adler’s cabaret series, ‘Music at the Mansion’ begins its second season.
Cabaret is not for everyone. The mix of music and humor by performers who speak directly to the audience as they segue into their next number can seem a bit corny to some. But for those who enjoy talented singer/songwriters with a flair for comedy, Corinna Sowers-Adler’s “Music at the Mansion” series is a real treat. Sunday's sunny afternoon served as the perfect setting for the show. With sunlight breaking through the atrium, Sowers-Adler took centerstage to introduce the series, now in its second season. She sang a sexy number called “The Air Conditioner Song” by Christine Lavin, in which the narrator playfully offers to warm up to her lover while cooling down, before turning over the stage. The first guest of the afternoon, Garry …
40.79944
-74.19053
Oakeside Bloomfield Cultural Center
240 Belleville Ave, Bloomfield, NJ
/articles/merriment-ensues-with-music-at-the-mansion
741390
/locations/5158367
Sunday, July 24, 2011
With the guidance of Debra D’Andrea, students and alumni of Bloomfield High put on a fund-raising open mic.
For anyone who may have had doubts Bloomfield is bursting with talented children, the Bloomfield High School’s Book Club, Books4Life, proved it with their open microphone night last Thursday at the Oakeside Manor. Why would a high school book club schedule this for the middle of the summer? It’s part of what this unorthodox organization does to raise funds through bake sales and read-a-thons in addition to performances like this. “We started a book club and it just skyrocketed. I think the reason that the kids are so connected is because we do connect to the arts. These kids are poets and musicians and artists,” said Debra D’Andrea, former media specialist at Bloomfield High and adviser to the book club. By 7 p.m., the children were …
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Rhonda Denét, of the Silver Songs Trio, performs her show “From Jazz to Soul” at the Bloomfield Public Library.
“I’ll be doing everything from Ella to Aretha,” said Rhonda Denét as she opened her show “From Jazz to Soul” at the Bloomfield Public Library. This time she was unfortunately flying solo, as part of her three-piece band was out sick. Luckily, for the cozy midday crowd Denét didn’t let that stop her from commanding the modest stage with her melodious voice. Next to her simple electronic set up Denét launched into her first song, “The Lady is Tramp” by Ella Fitzgerald. She moved on to “Come Rain or Come Shine” by Billie Holiday (especially apt given the sporadic weather) and “I Wish You Love” by Nancy Wilson. Denét really hit her stride with “My Baby Just Cares for Me” by Nina Simone, dropping her voice to match Simone’s low tenor and even …
40.79633
-74.19733
Bloomfield Public Library
90 Broad St, Bloomfield, NJ
/articles/rhonda-dent-making-a-name-in-bloomfield
742128
/locations/4610150
Jaime De Jesus
12:18 am on Saturday, September 17, 2011
Orlando, Desire is so thankful for your kind words. We shared a truly enjoyable evening with a wonderful audience who participated and appreciated every song and every slice of humor. No one, including all the members of Desire wanted to leave the theater that night because we were all having such a good time. We hope to see everyone in the very near future. Again, thank you for this wonderful … more ›