** Stoned Soul Picnic: The Songs of Laura Nyro @ Davenport's, 1383 N. Milwaukee, (773) 278-1830, through October.
More than six years since her death, Laura Nyro continues to be a source of influence and inspiration. The musical homage, Stoned Soul Picnic: The Songs of Laura Nyro, celebrates and pays tribute to the prolific lesbian singer and songwriter, with love and respect. Song selections range from instantly recognizable early Nyro compositions such as 'Stony End,' 'And When I Die,' 'Save The Country,' 'Eli's Comin',' and 'Wedding Bell Blues,' to a pair of her later songs. The four vocalists—Allison Bazarko, Jennifer Chada, Jeanne Croft and Keely Nicole, under the guidance of musical director Dan Stetzel—do a stunning job of interpreting Nyro's work, even recreating her distinctive sound, especially on the medley of Motown covers originally performed by Nyro, Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash. I recently spoke with Stetzel about the production.
Gregg Shapiro: The late Laura Nyro is not the typical songwriter whose work one might expect to hear in a cabaret setting. Why did you select Nyro to be the subject of a show?
Dan Stetzel: I love Laura Nyro's music. She seemed like a natural progression in what I've dubbed the Alternative Songwriters Series at Davenport's Cabaret. I call it alternative because the cabaret venue is a place where one would typically hear the music of the American popular songbook. Generally one hears the music of Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, or others. I like the idea of an intimate rock concert, and the owners were agreeable to that notion. We first did an evening of the music of Tom Waits, then the music of Leonard Cohen, and I was then interested in doing a female songwriter. Laura Nyro seemed like the logical choice.
GS: Because the piano is such an essential part of a Laura Nyro song, I was wondering if an evening of playing Nyro's songs is a pianist's dream?
DS: Yes, of course. Playing an evening of Laura Nyro is a wonderful experience because the piano is the centerpiece, figuratively and literally, of a cabaret room. It was logical to choose composers whose work is piano driven. All three of the composers we've paid tribute to are (or were) keyboard players.
GS: With so much material from which to pick, can you describe the process of how you chose songs from Laura's late '60s and early '70s catalog to perform?
DS: First of all, I wanted to perform the songs Laura Nyro fans would expect to hear. In other words, her greatest hits. It's interesting to call them her hits, because in almost every case they were hits for other people who recorded her songs. Artists such as Blood, Sweat & Tears, Barbra Streisand, and the Fifth Dimension, to name a few. And then each singer (in the show) chose their own solos.
GS: There are only two songs from Laura's later work, 'The Japanese Restaurant Song' and 'Mothers Spiritual'. Was it harder to narrow down song selections from that period?
DS: Not necessarily. 'Mother's Spiritual' was a favorite of Jennifer Chada, who sings that song. I think 'The Japanese Restaurant Song' shows Laura's sense of humor, and I wanted to show that side of her. I think if we were to do another evening of her music we certainly could draw more selections from her later work.
GS: What can you tell me about the process of finding singers who were a good match for Nyro's songs?
DS: I wanted to use all women singers. I suppose I wanted to capture Nyro's feminist sensibility. I know all of these singers well, and I think they're all terrific musicians. And I knew it would be fun to hang out with them, too.
GS: Are there other singer/songwriters whose work you would like to explore in a similar fashion?
DS: I'm also very interested in doing the music of Randy Newman, Jimmy Webb, and Warren Zevon. There are two qualifications the writers have to have. They can't tour, or they have to be dead. And if they're dead, they can't tour.
Anniversary
Davenport's is turning five in November. Partners (in life and business) Donna Kirchman and Sue Berry will host singer Ann Hampton Callaway for a special anniversary engagement, Nov. 19-23. (Callaway also performs at Speakeasy in a benefit for the Lesbian Community Cancer Project Oct. 19.)
October: Stoned Soul Picnic, The Music of Laura Nyro, Fridays, Oct. 3, 10, 17 & 31 at 10:30 p.m.
Sharon Carlson: Saturdays, Oct. 4, 11, 18 & 25 at 10:30 p.m.
Megon McDonough: Oct. 1-5, Wed.-Sat. at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m.
The Songs of Irving Berlin-An American Romance: Joan Curto, Tom Michael, MaryMonica Thomas and Dan Stetzel, Oct. 8-18 Wed.-Sat. & Mon. (13th) at 8 p.m. and Sun. (12th) at 7 p.m.
Karen Mason: Oct. 22-27 Wed.-Sat. and Mon. at 8 p.m. and Sun. at 7 p.m.
Sydney Friedman: Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 (Fri. at 8 p.m. and Sat. at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.)
November: Cory Jamison Nov. 5-9.
Baby Jane Dexter: Nov. 12-16.
Ann Hampton Callaway: Nov. 19-23.
Stoned Soul Picnic, The Music of Laura Nyro: Nov. 7, 14, 21 & 28 at 10:30 p.m.
Rob Lindley: Saturdays, Nov. 8, 15, 22 & 29 at 10:3 p.m.
