Happy summer!
What aromatic and vibrant flora blossomed for you in the spring? The entire season bloomed and passed without an Easter peep from me, since jackbenny’s San Diego premiere at Martini's…in March!
In those few months, Benny and I pinched ourselves to support talent including Idina Menzel, Megan Hilty, Andrea Martin, and more as part of the band for An Evening of Wicked Fun, the Wallis Annenberg’s 2019 Gala honoring Stephen Schwartz—an icon to both of us ever since mom played the compilation CD to Snapshots in our tweens. Benny and I also sang and piano'ed in The Piano Men, a concert at California Center for the Arts Escondido spotlighting the hits of Billy Joel and Elton John, which Benny also MD’ed and arranged—the sold-out North County audience responded so rapturously that CCAE will bring us back for two more shows at the end of August. And just the next day, Benny and I celebrated our joint birthday at home, where friends devoured cake, sang and improv’ed at and around the piano, and danced to DJ Bebe Grand (b.k.a. me)’s DJ stylings on my newly repaired double turntable rig.
On Sunday Benny and I returned from a nearly week-long retreat in Lake Arrowhead, whose lush, serene mountains served as a idyllic backdrop for reading and creating. We’re packing many of these new juicy fruits from our vacation to share in another, more enormous fruit—no not me—the Big Apple! Tuesday, July 16, 7p jackbenny parades new New York for one night only to celebrate It’s National See-a-Show Day! at Birdland Theater, the new gorgeous space underneath one of jazz’s most historic musical hubs. The show will feature two never-before-heard numbers, one new to New York, and of course reinvigorated arrangements and sparkling guest artists all revolving harmoniously in the JB universe. Just minutes ago BroadwayWorld announced our Birdland stint; reserve as soon as you can!
Until then, I’m holed up arranging and orchestrating Another Roll of the Dice, playwright Mark Saltzman’s lively new musical that remarries Frank Loesser songs and Damon Runyan short stories to make its world premiere at North Coast Repertory in Solano Beach, Ca July 10 through August 4! Otherwise preparing for a smooth flight into Birdland.
Talk soon!
Jack
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