MARK JANAS has been the musical maestro behind an open mic series that, in recent times, had been held on Sundays at The Algonquin Hotel on West 44 Street.  The series was M.I.A. for some time, but is landing again, returning this Sunday (November 29), but landing in a new location, further west on the same street, at the restaurant Etc. Etc. 352 West 44 Street (upstairs).  Songs will fill the air from 7pm til 10:30pm.  Singers can sign up at 6:30pm. 

The optional theme is “We gather together,” and I gather that, as always, it’s optional for singers to find a song related to this idea as they gather their sheet music or gather ye rosebuds while ye may. There’s a $10 cover, and a $10 food/drink minimum, and whether you’re a singer or one who’s just listening, make a note (or sing a few).

The next night, Mark will begin as musical director for CYNTHIA CRANE’s new show. Having just spoken to the outspoken lady, and listening again to her most recent CD, Now Is the Time, now is the time that I’ve got Crane on the brain (or Crane-ium). As some in the cabaret world know, she and her family got the shock of a life-time, when they were among those ripped into by the rip-off devastation devil known as Bernard Madoff. It’s been just about a year since their world turned upside down and tested their survival skills. At first, few knew they were victims of this headline story. Gradually, she began to tell people and agreed to talk publicly.  Now, it’s even addressed in her new cabaret show.  When I asked her to reflect on her change of mind, she told me, “Time changes everything!  I’m a WASP, and one is not supposed to do anything but keep mum about one’s troubles and keep a stiff upper lip.  Plus, I was somewhat ashamed – five of us were wiped out financially.”  It happened shortly before Christmas last year, and they went ahead with their annual holiday party in their beloved longtime Greenwich Village home they now have to sell.  Hanging from the ceiling rather than mistletoe was a dummy representing guess who. Yes. “We hung Madoff in effigy. And bit by bit, it was picked up by friend and foe. And all the while niggling in my head was the irony of all the big shots who were nailed by him, like the John Denver estate.”  She’s a fan of Denver’s music and “that voice and that heart!”  So, the title became John Denver, Bernie Madoff and Me. “I really have no business doing a show right now at all, with little wherewithall to pay expenses,” she stated, but admits it is a distraction (and, one suspects, a catharsis). “Writing it certainly has sustained me through these months since then. It’s all me and my doing.”

Cynthia has proven herself to be industrious and successful in the treasure hunt of unearthing unusual and just-right material for her shows and albums, but this was a special challenge. She didn’t want to just pour on the songs about being poor as in penniless OR pitiful. She didn’t want things that would “make me come out gushy and self-pityingly maudlin. I did approach several songwriters, but none seemed interested, inspired, nor did they find the subject funny. Interesting, eh? There were several of those ‘life’ songs. I loved “Cycles,” but there are only so many of those kinds of songs one can do, like ‘There’ll Be Some Changes Made.’” (You can find her doing this one, among others, on Youtube)

Cynthia adds, “I hope the audience will forget the ramifications of Madoff ,and just get a laugh out of his bizarretude, if I can make up a word. I mean, any man who has a mistress, takes money from her AND her husband,  is bizarre and a bizastard! Let’s not even go into his taking money from Elie Wiesel!” But there are other things on her mind, too.  As usual, that includes politics and peace, or lack thereof. “I’m also very unhappy about what will now be Obama’s war and will sing ‘The White Cliffs of Dover.’”

Cynthia Crane appears at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 West 46 Street, on November 30, December 6, 8 and 9.  Shows are 7:30pm, except December 6,  which is a Sunday afternoon, with a 3:30pm start. Reservations are (212)757-0788. www.CynthiaCrane.com www.donttellmamanyc.com

If I’ve convinced you to go to Cynthia’s show, and you want to be at the opening, Monday, November 30, you can come on your way back from an event that needs little convincing about: it’s short and sweet and seasonal and FREE!  That’s MARIEANN MERINGOLO at her 6pm mini-concert, with songs from her Christmas album, In the Spirit. It came out last year, just barely in time for Christmas, sneaking in just under the wire, so it may have been lost in the shuffle of snow and silver bells when it’s Christmastime in the city. This half-hour presentation is part of the ongoing free series at Barnes & Noble on West 66th Street and Broadway (Lincoln Triangle), and the album is a particularly gorgeous holiday collection, more lush and hush than mush (mush ,being a danger with holiday albums that can be stickier-sweet than an overdose of candy canes). Hers is mostly reverent with some lighter fare. Be “warned” however, that the CD or the free live preview will make you want to see the whole repertoire performed.  This you can do on December 5 or 12, at the Laurie Beechman Theatre in The West Bank Café, at 407 West 42 Street.

An older Christmas album to keep in mind—and of special interest to those of us who like our songs sung by cabaret performers rather than some anonymous insipid fa-la-la-la-la-ing chorus, is ‘Tis the Season from  Jamie de Roy & friends who make this column possible and make the season bright.  Follow this link to purchase at CDbaby: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jderoy2

Photo Credit Jana/Crane: Maryann Lopinto