Jim sees Ann Hampton Callaway in NYC!

On Wed., March 16 I travelled to Manhattan to check out a songwriter showcase sponsored by the Manhattan Association of Cabarets(MAC) & ASCAP, featuring new cabaret-oriented songs performed at the Lighthouse at 111 E.59th St. in NYC. The special guest for the evening was the incredible singer/pianist/composer Ann Hampton Callaway who performed selections from her new CD "Slow"(with a new song she co-wrote with Carole King and the song she wrote for Barbra Streisand's wedding to James Brolin), and a haunting CD single "Who Can See the Blue the Same Again" about the Tsunami disaster[with all proceeds going to the Prasad Project serving the victims www.prasad.org ]. She was interviewed afterward by Jamie DeRoy of MAC and her witty, comedic responses were amusingly self-deprecating and warmed us to this modest, statuesque lady with incredible talent. I had the pleasure to meet and work with Ann several years ago on the sketch-comedy show entitled "Cafe DuArt" that starred comedienne Louise DuArt in a cabaret setting where various perfomers(including Callaway, Lainie Kazan, Linda Lavin and others) would perform--I was part of the "background actors" cast for the show which aired in the late '90's on the Nostalgia Good network. In a meet-and-greet after her performance where she signed her CDs, Ann and I caught up after all these years. Check her out at www.annhamptoncallaway.com and if you have a chance to see her in the future, don't hesitate..her CDs are available at her site as well. In a side note, though he was not present, an old Allentown college buddy Michael Ogborn penned one of the songs featured in the evening's showcase--"Ou Apres La Guerre"--Michael has been increasingly successful as a musical theatre writer in Philly and beyond--he now resides in NYC--here is a link to some of his work: http://curtaincallprod.tripod.com/news.html And before the day was over, I found my way to Sam's Restaurant and Bar at 245 W. 45th St. where I used to play some dinner hour slots a few years ago--my friend singer/actress Tia was behind the bar..when a few guys came in wondering why there was no music, I volunteered to play for them and the crowd and a marvelous time was had by all! God I love NYC...

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