LAUREL MASSÉ FANSITE: mayo 2007

29.5.07

MAC/ASCAP Showcase to Feature Hall, Pasek & Paul, Etc.

Continuing its long standing partnership with ASCAP, MAC has announced the next MAC/ASCAP Songwriter's Showcase, Wednesday, June 6th at 6pm at the Laurie Beechman Theater, hosted by Jamie deRoy and featuring special guest, composer and lyricist Carol Hall with singer Laurel Masse and musical director Tex Arnold. The Showcase is produced by Michael Kerker (ASCAP) and deRoy (MAC).
One of the few to write both music and lyrics, Carol Hall received two Drama Desk Awards for The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, which ran for almost five years on Broadway, received a Grammy nomination for its cast album and became a film starring Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton. Parton's recording of Hall's “Hard Candy Christmas,” won an ASCAP Award for "Most Performed Country Song." A recent national tour of Whorehouse starred entertainment legend Ann-Margret.
Her additional work includes the Off-Broadway musicals A… My Name is Alice, A… My Name is Still Alice, To Whom It May Concern & Hats!, which has just opened a third company in Chicago. She was a major composer/lyricist for Marlo Thomas' Peabody and Emmy Award-winning TV Special, "Free to Be...You and Me" and its sequel, "Free to Be...A Family" and was a mainstay writer for "Sesame Street" for ten years. She is presently writing the score for the popular children's series "Max & Ruby." Her cabaret work has earned her two Bistro & MAC Awards, one of them the 2003 MAC Song of the Year, “I Dream In Technicolor.” She also received the prestigious Johnny Mercer Award, given for contributions to the American Song book. Carol has also contributed either music or lyrics to songs written with Bill Evans, Lesley Gore, Michelle Brourman, Shelly Markham, Phyllis Newman, Tex Arnold and Steven Lutvak.
Carol Hall’s songs have been performed by Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Barbara Cook, Margaret Whiting, Julie Wilson, Chita Rivera, Michael Feinstein, Mabel Mercer, Amanda McBroom, Olivia Newton-John, Maureen McGovern, RuPaul, Frederica von Stade & Kermit the Frog.
Other guests on the showcase are the writing teams of Robert Maddock and Joe Iconis, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and Steve Silverstein and Ruth Williamson. Pasek and Paul began their collaboration as freshmen at The University of Michigan and at age 21, as recipients of the 2007 Jonathan Larson Award, became the youngest winners in the history of the foundation. Maddock (a recipient of a 2007 Jonathan Larson Award) & Iconis (winner of a 2007 Kleban Award and a 2006 Jonathan Larson Award) are currently working on two musicals, Plastic! (for which Robert wrote the book and lyrics with music by Iconis & Reza Jacobs) and The Black Suits (with music, lyrics & book by Iconis, with the book co-authored by Maddock).
Steve Silverstein is the composer of the musical The Human Heart (lyrics by Michael Colby), which received a grant from the Billy Rose Foundation. He is currently producing a CD for his Christmas show, The Adventures of the Christmas Elf, which will be presented by ACT Theater Company in Dec 2007. Ruth Williamson has appeared on Broadway in the recent revival of La Cage Aux Folles, the 2000 revival of The Music Man, Epic Proportions, Little Me with Martin Short, Guys And Dolls with Nathan Lane and the original Annie, followed by a tour as Miss Hannigan. She has written Pure Heaven, about the late, great Kay Thompson (of Eloise fame). As a lyricist, her collaboration with Steve Silverstein on the song “A Strong Wind,” was nominated for a 2007 MAC award.
The Laurie Beechman Theater is located at 407 West 42nd Street. The show is free for MAC Members and $10 for guests. Call the MAC Hotline at (212) 465-2662 for more information. There is no reserved seating; seating is first come first served. Food and drinks will be available, and MAC membership applications will be distributed at the door.

22.5.07

Laurel Massé and Julie Gold

Link:http://www.talkinbroadway.com/onthescene/mac2007.html

14.5.07

Clippings

Masse's free spirit transfers to record
From: Chicago Sun-Times Date: January 8, 1987 Author: Lloyd Sachs
There are, not surprisingly, still people telling Laurel Masse to go to Los Angeles, to go to New York, to "make something" of her career. And not surprisingly, Chicago's finest jazz singer still is telling them cheerfully to get lost. And for good reason: She's doing just fine where she is.
Make that just great. Her new album, "Easy Living," is not only wonderful, but it also radiates the kind of personal and artistic growth that chart-oriented talents rarely experience.
"Some people see records as stepping stones to something else," said Masse, who will return to one of her favorite ...
LINK:http://www.highbeam.com/Search.aspx?q=laurel+masse+&st=NL&nml=True&t=&a=&count=10&offset=0&sort=RK&sortdir=D&pst=INCLUDE_ALL&cn=&storage=ALL&display=ALL&sponsor=ALL&docclass=ALL&relatedid=&amp;amp;bid=&embargo=False

13.5.07

AUSTRALIAN TOUR 1977

THE MANHATTAN TRANSFER
IN CABARET
SYDNEY HILTON AND MELBOURNE HILTON

I'd like to extend to you my personal welcome to this performance of "The Manhattan Transfer".Our presentation of this worl-famous musical group marks the second venture into superstar cabaret by Hilton Hotels of Australia.

We dipped our toe into the cabaret waters earlier this year with the exclusive engagement of "the Stylistics",the first time for many years that a major city hotel had attempted to present star quality international performers an intimate,sophisticated atmosphere.

With such encouragement,the Sydney and Melbourne Hiltons are proud to present in cabaret "The Manhattan Transfer",direct from their sellout tour of European capitals.Currently one of the world's most popular recording and performing groups,"The Manhattan Transfer"are renowned for the verve and mobility af their polished act,which can be summed up in one word-entertainment.

ANTHONY D.CARPENTER

Director-Australia Hilton International Co.

Manhattan Transfer have astutely just about mastered every musical idiom there is and have thrown them all out so that the public can decide which bag they prefer them in.This is their Soul outimg,and really it does work.I'd defy anyone except our crypto-Nazis of the soul scene to hear this record "blind" and not in all honesty own up that it is indistinguishable from a black vocal group.Could yet have its day via local radio or progresive discos;it's a nice one to confound the purist Simon Legree's with!,bright and black sounding!And affirmation indeed that it is (and alwais will be)what's in the grooves that counts!And all the rest is propaganda!

So that's it for another year.A good year for Soul music,but not for the soul scene,so let's make sure that in 1976 we get our priorities straight,eh?Because if you're not working for the whole of the Soul spectrum regardless,them you're no way a Soul person,and if you're not working with blak America them move on over and let younger,abler hands keep the faith instead.OK?OK?

BLUES AND SOUL-ENGLAND.2-5-76

Yeah-Manhattan's got them with their perfect blend of style and music and on top of it all-the real bitch is that these kids here have always got their backdoor covered -like when Alan's microphone goes dead and Laurel,even with her back to him,senses it,unclasps her mike from her stand,and has it in front of his mouth just as he needs it for the second verse...

FOUR BROTHERS~1978

9.5.07

JUNE-24-30,2007

FOR MORE INFORMATION:http://www.ashokan.org/ashokan/campwsw.shtml

2.5.07

For your fans you are the winner

The 21st annual MAC Awards were presented on May 1 at B.B. King Blues Club. Among the evening's big winners were Barbara Fasano, who took home three awards, and Lina Koutrakos, who picked up two MACs. Other winners included Judy Barnett, Amanda McBroom, Billy Stritch, John Wallowitch, and Kristine Zbornik.

In addition to the regular awards, Lifetime Achievement awards were presented to singer/actress Dody Goodman and club owner Jan Wallman. Board of Directors Awards were presented to singer Karen Mason, Seth Rudetsky and his Broadway Chatterbox series, and Lincoln Center's American Songbook series. In addition, Adam Feldman of Time Out New York presented that magazine's special award to singer Leslie Kritzer for her acclaimed Patti LuPone tribute show.

John Bucchino, Jamie deRoy, David Friedman, Julie Gold, Carol Hall, Henry

Krieger, Mark Nadler, Lee Roy Reams, Joan Rivers, Stephen Schwartz, KT Sullivan, Alysha Umphress, and David Zippel were among the evening's presenters and performers.

A complete list of nominees, with winners' name listed in bold, follows.

WINNERS:http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/10655

1.5.07

THE MAC AWARDS ARE TONIGHT!!!!!

And The 2007 MAC Award Nominees Are...Click here for full list of MAC nominees

THE MAC AWARDS ARE TONIGHT!!!!! There are still a few tickets left! Don't miss this exciting evening at BB KING BLUES CLUB AND GRILL!!! http://www.bbkingblues.com/Tickets available at BB King's box office or Ticketmaster

Read the latest MAC NewsletterDownload Newsletter

Many of the MAC Award Nominees are Performing During the Month of April We've put together a listing for you. Please take advantage of this opportunity and go see these terrific performers! Click here for a listing of nominee performances during the month of AprilIf you are a nominee and your performance is not listed, please let us know and it will be added.

Click here for listing of MAC Clubs

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LIVE: JaLaLa @ The Egg, 6/5/10

The name JaLaLa is a clever use of the first two letters of the first names of the three internationally acclaimed songbirds fronting the fabulous trio.

Janis Siegel, Laurel Masse and Lauren Kinhan are certainly no strangers to the jazz community. Their considerable vocal talents have long been an integral part of such world-renowned ensembles as Manhattan Transfer (Siegel & Masse) and the New York Voices (Kinhan).

Last Saturday night, vocal sparks ignited the pyrotechnic vocal-fun at The Egg in Albany when these three distinct voices joined forces to sing, swing and scat their way through an uninterrupted set of originals, American jazz, Broadway standards and the classic Johnny Mercer songbook. (JaLaLa’s debut album is a tribute titled, “That Old Mercer Magic!”)

Backing the three chanteuses was a crack rhythm section featuring bassist Steve LaSpina, drummer Deric Dickens and long-time Manhattan Transfer music director/pianist Yaron Gershovsky.

http://www.nippertown.com

Birdland

JALALA = Janis Siegel, Laurel Masse and Lauren Kinhan…three gals who know from vocal groups. Janis has been with the Manhattan Transfer since the beginning. Laurel was part of the original Transfer. Lauren is one of the New York Voices. Happily, they have joined forces for this fabulous vocal klatch called JaLaLa. They sold-out Birdland on Monday night, showing off with their signature harmonies and gorgeous solo vocals, but a dazzling highlight came during the encore. The trio had planned a re-interpretation of the Lambert, Hendricks & Ross masterpiece, “It’s Sand, Man,” but Janis had spied the song’s creater and King of Vocalese, Mr. Jon Hendricks, sneak into the club to catch the act. They invited him onstage (left) to add some extra-special hip to the scene, making it one of the more historic moments we’ve witnessed! Thanks, Ja, La, and La for an amazing night!

http://castpartynyc.com/

LAUREL MASSÉ

Laurel Massé, founding member of Grammy award-winning vocal group Manhattan Transfer, toured internationally for seven years with the group and recorded five albums. In 1979, a serious automobile accident forced her departure. After two years of convalescence, she began touring again both in the States and in Europe. She has released four solo CDs. The first two, Alone Together and Easy Living, both hit the Billboard Jazz charts; the third, Again, was a People magazine pick. Feather and Bone, her 2000 release, was picked by audiophile magazine The Absolute Sound as "a recording of extraordinary musical and sonic value". In 2002 she released Ballads.

Coming Out nº1 in Europe

COMING OUT/BRITISH BPI GOLD LP AWARD 1977

Coming Out sold millions of copies in Europe, where a single from the album, "Chanson D'Amour," hit #1 in France and in England, a chart-topper on both sides of the English Channel. On the strength of "Chanson D'Amour," the Manhattan Transfer toured Europe again, including a show at the MIDEM music business convention in Cannes. In a 1977 interview, Alan Paul remembered how that song was chosen and recorded. "The song was written in 1957. We'd been recording all day and we hadn't gotten that far. Just as we were about to leave, Laurel shouted, 'Hey wait a minute, I've got an idea.' She used an Edith Piaf sound in her voice and we recorded it in one take. She wanted to get a romantic French feel behind it."

The Manhattan Transfer Show/CBS TV

Because of the lack of rehearsal time to learn new material, the Manhattan Transfer mined their catalog for over 30 different songs during the show's four-week run - they went through all their recorded material, the stuff that hadn't been recorded yet, enough music to record a new studio album every Sunday night. "We didn't want to get picked up for another season," said Tim, "because we knew that we couldn't do another season. These shows are put together in a week, and this is why television is what it is.

PASTICHE

Pastiche (Atlantic 19163), lived up to its name - a mixture of various musical styles and genres. By this time, the Manhattan Transfer were experimenting with more open voicings and less block harmony, adding new depth to their vocal precision. Between Pastiche's list of Cole Porter and Duke Ellington songs, the Manhattan Transfer collaborated for the first time with JonHendricks, the vocal jazz legend and one-third of the Lambert, Hendricks and Ross vocal jazz group. The collaboration, "Four Brothers," was originally written by Jimmy Giuffre for Woody Herman's Second Herd. For this song, the Manhattan Transfer replicated - using only their voices and Jon Hendricks' lyrics - the melodies of Zoot Sims, Stan Getz, Herbie Steward and Serge Chaloff, Woody Herman's sax section.

Pastiche Nº10 in UK and nº 1 in Norway

Pastiche sold well in Europe, but could climb no higher than #66 on the American album charts. Tim, Alan, Janis and Laurel toured Europe, playing concerts in support of Pastiche, and listening to different music in anticipation of using some new ideas for a new album. "We had just come back from Europe," said Alan, "we were in Europe for a couple of months touring, and we were scheduled to open in the Roxy Theater in Los Angeles, and we had all these new ideas and things that we wanted to present to the public."

THE BEGINNINGS

The Manhattan Transfer re-emerged as a four-piece, with Janis Siegel (alto), Laurel Massé (soprano), and Alan Paul (tenor), who found each other in a series of happy accidents. Tim Hauser was driving a cab at the time, and picked up passenger Laurel Masse; they got to talking. Tim met Janis Siegel through a drummer acquaintance. Janis had been performing at the Greenwich Village coffeehouse scene with a group called "Laurel Canyon." Alan Paul had been appearing in the musical "Grease!" (Laurel's boyfriend was a musician in the production, and referred him).