HOORAH HOORAY FOR CANADA DAY

Don Breithaupt and Shelly McPherson

Don Breithaupt and Wallis Giunta

CANADA DAY AT JOE'S PUB



















As a child we couldn't understand why Canada and the United States weren't the same country.  Our South of the Border neighbor was perceived as exotic--different music, different language, different food.  But Canadians spoke the same language, listened to similar music, and ate meat and potatoes (we had not yet heard of poutine).

In adulthood we traveled to Montreal, skied at Whistler-Blackcomb, and visited Toronto which seemed to be just like New York--only cleaner and nicer. They even had lots of immigrants just like us.

Well, we still have no definitive answer.  Perhaps it's just politics that establishes boundaries but being in a crowd of Canadians celebrating Canada Day felt completely comfortable--only the flag is different and we were just as happy to wave the little red and white paper flag with the maple leaf.

Perhaps it's time for embarrassing confessions. At times when the United States was on the world's shit list, we sported a Canadian pin on our parka and pretended to be Canadian. In Paris, our French could not quite measure up but our accent was so much better than the typical American's that we copped to being Quebeçois.

The place to be last night to celebrate Canada Day was at Joe's Pub in the Public Theater where The Brothers Breithaupt presented a concert of music written by Canadians or performed by Canadians or even music performed by American bands led by a Canadian. Such is our international brotherhood that most people would not have observed the distinction.

The artist on the program best known to us is international opera superstar Wallis Giunta who sings at The Metropolitan Opera and all over Europe, as well as in Canada.  What we did not know about Ms. Giunta is that she hails from Ottowa and had a career as a singer in a jazz band before she studied opera. Last night she astonished us with a performance of "Calling All Angels" ( a Train song) that was deeply felt and immensely listenable.  That gal really knows her way around a microphone!

Shelley McPherson likewise knows how to put a song across and did a sensational job with "Heart Beat is a Love Beat". We have heard her do cabaret before and always enjoy her performances.

Jay Sun was also a welcome presence whom we enjoyed previously. Many of the performers were well known to those more familiar with popular music than we are.  But we did recognize covers of songs by several of the bands from our youth--Blood Sweat and Tears, Earth Wind and Fire, The Band, and Guess Who. Also represented was Rufus Wainwright, composer of an opera Prima Donna which we enjoyed far more than other critics had.

Jeff Breithaupt served engagingly as Master of Ceremonies with brother Don as Music Director. His fine work at the keyboard was augmented by a very energetic band with lots of brass.

We would be remiss not to mention the very funny Ophira Eisenberg who warmed up the crowd before the music even began. It was a very lively and happy crowd packed into the room for two shows. We were happy to help celebrate. We feel like a "short stack" with some real Canadian maple syrup right this very minute.  Maybe hold the poutine.

(c) meche kroop

BREITHAUPT BROTHERS AT BIRDLAND

The Palookas: Chris Sullivan, Todd Gearhart, Matthew Saldivar, Drew Humphrey, and Michael Halling. 

It's been a few years since we enjoyed Seeing Stars, a highly entertaining musical comedy which delighted us with it's tuneful score by Don Breithaupt, it's clever lyrics by Jeff Breithaupt, and it's compelling book by Shelley McPherson.  We were thrilled to have the opportunity for a reprise last night at Birdland when a few songs from the show were presented as part of the Broadway at Birdland series.

An excellent cast was on hand to perform the songs with Jeff B. on hand to clue the audience in to the underlying story. It takes place in the 1930's and concerns a love triangle in which two prizefighters are vying for the attention of a woman sports writer.

The tuneful music was played by Don Breithaupt (piano); Pete McCann (guitar); Gregory Ryan (bass); Mark McLean (drums); and Michael Leonhart (trumpet and flugelhorn). The numbers performed by "The Palookas" were wildly entertaining and funny.  There was a cute romantic duet by Todd Gearhart and Nancy Anderson-- "Just Thought You Should Know" and a moving solo by Ms. A.--"In This Corner".  

The show has been worked on since we saw it and oh, how we would love to see it again.  Perhaps some Broadway producer will read this and want to hear more?  It could also work beautifully unamplified in a small theater. It's been a very long time since we heard anything outside the area of opera that so captured our ears!

There were lots more goodies onstage from The Breithaupt Brothers latest CD entitled "PassingThrough". The opening number "Maybe He Loves Me", sung by Heather Bambrick, left quite an impression on us, both because of the catchy tune, truthful lyrics and Ms. Bambrick's spot-on performance.

Shelley McPherson sang--and acted!--"He'll Have Another", the most hilarious enactment of a bibulous bimbo that we have yet to witness.

J'Sun used his expressive tenor in "Where Are They Now". Laila Biali accompanied herself on the piano in "Wonder Boy". Catherine Russell was moving in the bluesy "Between Me and My Heart".  The talented Marissa Mulder sang the touching "Missing Me" accompanied by a droning bass line in the piano and bass, a most interesting arrangement.

Peter Eldridge sang "Any Day Now" and a there were yet further contributions from Carolyn and Jamie Leonhart and yes, they are all related.  In a final family affair, our song-writing brothers performed "Bad Influence", a comic number filled with delightful ironies.

So, if you care to extend your ears beyond opera, we heartily recommend the CD..."Just Passing Through". Trust us!  Good cabaret is a far better thing than bad opera.  It just goes to show that there are only two kinds of music:  good music and bad music.  We do so wish that contemporary opera composers could write good melodies and meaningful lyrics.  Why not?  Let us know if you agree.

(c) meche kroop