WHAT'S HAPPENING?                             Shoshanna Rosenstein

JUDY BARNETT'S "TOO DARN HOT" IS A TRIUMPH!! Rating: 5 stars.                                                 

By Maximillien de Lafayette

PARIS- Cole Porter's Too Darn Hot is the first song on the CD. In this song, Barnett displayed a captivating innovation characterized by a joyful tempo, a vivacious mood of musical virtuosity...a splendid splash of musical lights and sensual cadence bursted out of the magnificent brass section, the elegance of Ted Kooshian on the piano like drops of diamonds over the face of a lake splashing unrestrained rings of beauty, add to this musical tableau, the intimate and clever touch of Tom Hubbard on the bass... and Barnett's voice, a sound out of this world; it is intelligent, bubbly and powerful without loosing lyricism, depth and substance. This singer has perfected her craft. Barnett loves to be referred to as a Jazz singer. But in this CD, Barnett transcends the dogmatic frontier of traditional Jazz. She is way beyond the "ordinary Jazz". She appears as a world class singer radiating elegance, panache and a perfect command of the lyrics and fabric of music. In this context, Barnett shines as a glowing interpreter of world music, rather than a rigidly defined Jazz singer. Few have accomplished this.

Photo: Maestro Ted Kooshian.

Joe Ascione's drums are powerful and harmoniously blend with the captivating rhythm of the total ambiance. The orchestration of the trumpet, flugelhorn, tenor sax, trombone and alto sax is well crafted and embodies a universe of musical explosion and implosion. A rich, very rich arrangement at the highest level and a world-class performance by Bud Burridge, Jerry Weldon, Aaron Heick, Charles Pillow and Randy Andos. And here and there, Barnett's superb voice enrobes the musical wealth of the CD with sensual lyricism, vitality and stylish finesse. This was evidenced in two songs "My Cherie Amour" and "April in Paris." Usually, we listen to music because we need to create an ambiance for our feelings, our state of mind or perhaps, just perhaps to relax amid turbulent sensations and emotions. Judy Barnett's "Too Darn Hot" goes 2 miles beyond those emotional needs. This CD sets the mood for us before probing our inner feelings. It generates and transmutes moods  to meet and or to create the aura and ambiance of the perfect setting of mind, soul and body. You could feel this enchanting and magic ambiance in the explosive "Summer in the City" and "Bummer Summer" written by Kooshian and Barnett herself. Go back to "It Might As Well Be Spring/It's Delovely" and get yourself lost in a rainbow of elegant drums brushes and nostalgic trombone outcries. Simply fabulous. The arrangements were conceived by Ms. Barnett with additional arrangement by the virtuoso Bud Burridge who did a magnificent job. Mr. Burridge granted each instrument the space and time to echo individual  musical virtuosity  and a rich sequence of sounds rarely heard nowadays. Give him 5 star rating!

Photo: Judy Barnett. A national treasure. Judy Barnett is listed in the WORLD WHO’S WHO IN JAZZ, CABARET, MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT, Volume IV “SHOWBIZ, PIONEERS, BEST SINGERS, MUSICIANS AND ENTERTAINERS FROM 1606 TO THE PRESENT”, published by the Federation of American Musicians, Singers and Performing Artists (FAMSPA)

"That Sunday That Summer" is one of the finest recordings in a decade. In that tune, The violins radiate unmatched musical beauty, an evocative instrumental splendor only witnessed in Mantovanni's arrangements and orchestration. Few  jazz singers used this unorthodox blend of classic flair and  musical free form in their Jazz repertoire, to name two: Nat King Cole and Judy Barnett. I keep thinking about Barnett's Voice; it blends with all the moods and genres of the CDs tunes, ranging from a contemplative/relaxing set of mind to a beautifully and sinfully explosive musical ambiance. To sense this unusual blend, listen to "Nigh and Day"; Frank Vignola's guitar solo reflects this most unique creativity!  In "Walk Between The Raindrops", the sax solo is majestic, powerful, yet it does not violate the sensibility and finesse of the musical cadence. Another knockout is "Indian Summer/Summer Place"; it served as a plateau for the fabulous musical arrangements, the romantically rich whispers of the violins and the silky, intelligent and soul penetrating voice of Ms. Barnett.

Photo: Marshal Rosenberg.

And now pack your baggage and head toward Rio...just listen to "The Coffee Song"; Yes Contessa, you are in Brazil now...Marshal Rosenberg's uplifting and magnificent percussions  capture the Brazilian landscape, and that fabulous brass section bursts again stronger than the sun of the Samba and the Carnival de Rio! And to crown this magnificent CD, "Summer Wind" comes in the right place and right moment.  On violin, Belinda Whitney, Martin Agee and Antoine Sillverman and on cello, Anik Ouilianine added a universe of virtuosity and enchanting beauty....In this particular song, and all of a sudden, Barnett's voice becomes the canvas for  sensual beauty, earthy whispers of a "sweet femme fatale" and a happy Jazz singer. This woman is a pure magic! A phenomenon! Nobody, absolutely nobody can sing like Judy Barnett. Buy this CD. It is a treasure, a triumph. Rating: 5 stars. Judy Barnett is listed in the WORLD WHO’S WHO IN JAZZ, CABARET, MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT, Volume IV “ SHOWBIZ, PIONEERS< BEST SINGERS, MUSICIANS AND ENTERTAINERS FROM 1606 TO THE PRESENT”, published by the Federation of American Musicians, Singers and Performing Artists (FAMSPA)

FEDERATION OF AMERICAN MUSICIANS, SINGERS AND PERFORMING ARTISTS HONORS 8 INTERNATIONAL DIVAS AND A POLISH JEWISH GHETTO LEGENDARY PERFORMER

COVERGIRLS' ELEGANCE AND DRAMA

Peggy Judy the ravishing Grande Dame of Musical Comedy on the cover of the book. Peggy all sexy in pink and Parisian Frou Frou. Photo by the master photographer Peter Zakhary. Have you seen anything like it?

A BIG HIT!

Zola, a superb songwriter, singer, composer, producer and author received glowing write-up. She is the daughter of the legendary Chayela Rosenthal, star of Vilna Gettho Theater during the Nazi occupation of Poland.

"Showbiz, Pioneers, Best Singers, Musicians and Entertainers" is the most recent book on Jazz, music and entertainment published by Times Square Press and the Federation of American Musicians, Singers and Performing Artists (FAMSPA). It is generating lots of heat and making waves. Possibly 20 million people have already seen the cover and read about the book. Press releases and articles, news and reviews appeared on the front page of world jazz and music leading publications and newswire services. To name a few, BBC, ejazznews, Allboutjazz.com, European News Agency, Europe Jazz Network, International Herald Daily News, Cabaret Ville Magazine, the London Monthly Herald, the European Journal and World Television, JazzReviews, and every single jazz website. It was reported that 4 million readers read about the book on Amazon.com (They sell and distribute the book), 3 millions on Borders (The same thing), and 2 millions on Barnes&Noble.com.

South African-born Naava Piatka, sister of Zola, portrayed herself and her remarkable mother, the Yiddish performer and comedienne Chayela Rosenthal. Naava is an internationally known actress, writer and director, best known for her captivating one woman musical play BETTER DON’T TALK!- A Daughter Uncovers Her Mother’s Hidden Past, about her actress mother’s past as Star of the Vilna Ghetto Theatre, which has won rave reviews and captured the hearts of audiences worldwide from the USA to the United Kingdom,  South Africa to Germany, Australia to Lithuania.  She is also in Volume IV of the World Who's Who in Jazz, Cabaret, Music and Entertainment.

The book is a large publication containing zillions of names, stars, celebrities, headliners and 800 photos. Showbiz historians and entertainment writers are raving about it. Dr. Etienne Leroux described it as the most important tome on music and performers ever published in the civilized world. London Monthly Herald gave the book 5 stars. Unlike other who's whos, "Showbiz, Pioneers, Best Singers, Musicians and Entertainers" is lively, fun and intriguing. AllAboutJazz.com wrote: "A MASTERPIECE. FUN, UNUSUAL AND AUTHORITATIVE NEW PUBLICATION ." CabaretVille magazine said: "One of the 10 best books of the year." The Globe Weekly News wrote: "This volume is one of the best  entertainment and showbiz books ever published."

GORGEOUS AND MULTI TALENTED DIVAS.  PEGGY JUDY QUEEN OF MUSICAL COMEDY STEALS THE HEADLINES

The cover is unique. And the stars gracing the front and the back of the cover are ravishing and equally intriguing. Peggy Judy, a legend in her own right appeared on the front cover. What a delight! You could say you are watching a frame from a Fellini movie. She looks terrific, mysterious and bubbly. This is the sort of photos that capture your imagination. Seven additional female singers grace the back cover. Last week, because of her photo on the cover of the book, (Photo by the genius Peter Zakhary) Peggy Judy was written up in 7 publications and featured in 200 Internet search engines. She stole the headlines!

Peggy with suave but tone-deaf ex-husband Buddy Judy (Dan Lishner). Their beautiful romance ended after their room-clearing Steve and Eydie-esque duet at Ed's Frolic Room in Hollywood.

Those divas came from the four corners of the universe, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States. Each one with her own personality, smile, diva aura and distinctive elegance. Irene Soderberg is in one million Dollar fur coat. Stephanie Jordan in a silk green outfit made for Monte Carlo highlife receptions. Nichaud Fitzgibbon in a stunning dramatic black dress leaning against a film noire background. Where did they find these mysterious and gorgeous women? Carol Lexter, a veteran publicist and PR guru explained this phenomenon. " We publish 10 volumes of the World Who's Who in Jazz, Cabaret, Music and Entertainment.

The sublime Irene Soderberg appeared on the back cover of the book. NY Cabaret Hotline  wrote about Irene: "The best in the Business, had everyone in the room laughing and applauding." De Lafayette said: "Nobody can match the astonishing talent of Ms. Soderberg. This woman is a national treasure."

Each volume must have a very particular cover and a THEME. For Volume IV, we had to pick the best singers in the business for the cover. Talent alone is not enough. We were searching for striking, innovative and multitalented stars. And we found them. We took into great consideration, the personality and integrity of the star to appear on our cover. Sure, Madonna is a great name...Sure Bono is terrific, but this is NOT what we were looking for. We needed fresh blood, exciting singers, intriguing personalities, stars who have a story to tell. And we found them." The honorees and chosen ones are Australia's biggest Jazz singer Nichaud Fitzgibbon, a new Blues sensation by the name of Antoinette Montague, Katie Bull, a very creative recording artist with extremely pleasant personality, Maria Gentile winner of tons of Jazz and Cabaret awards, Stephanie Jordan, one of the classiest and most accomplished Jazz singers in the business, the one and only, the powerhouse performer Irene Soderberg who said "This is my heart I share with you. So, Darlings enjoy your life; live it to the fullest! Share you dreams, your love, your joy. In Love, light, and Music..." Zola, a favorite of the author.

The honored stars who appeared on the back cover of the book from the left to the right, Antoinette Montague, Katie Bull, Stephanie Jordan and Nichaud Fitzgibbon.

FAMSPA REMEMBERS AND HONORS THE LEGENDARY CHAYELA ROSENTHAL

In the chapter "In Memoriam", the following article was published: (Data submitted by Naava Piatka and Zola, daughters of the legendary Star of the Vilna Ghetto Theater)

Chayela  Rosenthal (1924-1979)

Photo: The late great Chayela Rosenthal in black satin gloves. She was loving with a heart bigger than the world we live in, down to earth, and also… super duper elegant and classy on stage.

The sun shines brighter and warmer, the valleys get greener, and the world becomes happier, lovelier and more meaningful, when people and artists like Chayela Rosenthal inhabit the earth. She is gone now, but her talent, her persona, her generosity, her smile and the artistic beauty and pioneering spirit she brought to the world of art and entertainment are still around us. We still feel her presence and warmth, her beauty and talent. This ethereal memory brings joy to my heart and pain to my soul. How majestic and mightier, the hand of God would and could be, if that hand had written a longer life for people like Chayela Rosenthal! But what do I know? Chayela Rosenthal was an extraordinary human being; singer, actress, comedienne, and stage pioneer. She was born in 1924 in Vilna, Lithuania, became known as the Star of the Vilna Ghetto Theatre, when at age seventeen, during the  brutal Nazi occupation, she sang her lyricist brother Layb's songs and starred in his satirical musical plays written especially for the theatre established to boost morale in the tiny overcrowded ghetto. Even when deported to Kaiserwald labor camp and Stutthof Concentration Camp, Chayela made special concerts to inspire and uplift her fellow inmates with her soulful singing. At war's end, she endured the infamous Death March, miraculously spared from the Nazi enforced drowning in the Baltic Sea by the liberating Russian army. In 1945 Chayela joined the State Yiddish Theatre, performing in DP camps in Germany and Poland. Visiting American Yiddish star Molly Picon spotted her there, in turn urging her friend, impresario Sol Hurok to help Chayela leave anti-Semitic Poland. After an audition in Warsaw, Mr. Hurok arranged for Chayela to perform cabaret in Paris, where she recorded her first singles and where impresario Sarah Sylvia engaged her for a Yiddish theatre tour of South Africa. 

Photos from L to R: 1-Chayela posing as Yisroilik, in 1946. 2-Chayela in her youth. She was larger than life, both on and off stage.

Chayela and her fellow Holocaust Survivor husband, Xavier Piatka settled in Cape Town, South Africa in 1951, where she recorded her first full length, self titled album.  The petite and effervescent Chayela was a popular and beloved Yiddish entertainer and cabaret performer, adored for her comedy routines and international singing.  She appeared twice on Broadway at the Billy Rose Theatre as guest artist with Jacob Jacobs.  She courageously played her final role as the quintessential Golde in "Fiddler on the Roof". One week later, she died of cancer in 1979 at age 55.  Her two daughters, Naava and Zola are both entertainers and singers living in the USA. Naava's one woman show, "Better Don't Talk!" is a tribute to Chayela's life. Website: www.naava.com 

Read the book. It is fascinating. You will enjoy it for years to come. Rating: 5 stars all the way.

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TOO TOUGH AND TOO SUSPICIOUS: BAD FOR BUSINESS!

I don't know much about Ms. Roberts. Never heard of her name before. Howard Reich wrote in the Chicago Tribune "her uncounted engagements in hotel bars and noisy saloons have tended to obscure the melodic beauty and tonal sheen of her work..." The Los Angeles Times said "...at the piano she smiles...The smile isn't forced and it isn't faked..." I visited her website to get acquainted with her work and read her bio. To my astonishment, no biography of Ms. Roberts was to be found.  This  is very strange for all singers usually, post their bios on their websites, with one exception, Blossom Dearie. After all, everybody knows who Blossom Dearie is!