Jazz singer and recording artist Barbara Rosene gives Blues Alley audiences a taste of Tin Pan Alley this Friday night, with two shows featuring the holiday music of Irving Berlin and Johnny Mercer. If the juxtaposition of Christmas songs and Irving Berlin sounds a bit out of sync it may very well be; especially back in the 1920s and 1930s when one of the finest Tin Pan Alley composers was writing his distinctive, and now ubiquitous, songs of the season.
“Irving Berlin is Jewish, but he is the one responsible for the secular Christmas songs in American popular music,” explained Rosene who, over the years has built an unequalled reputation for interpreting the great music of Tin Pan Alley. “He was the first one to do that and it set the tone for other songs that became popular.”
| Onstage |
| ‘A Tin Pan Alley Christmas’ |
| » Where: Blues Alley Jazz Supper Club, 1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW |
| » When: 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday |
| » Info: $20; 202-337-4141; bluesalley.com |
And while the spotlight shines on Berlin’s work, and the immortal lyrics, “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas, with every Christmas card I write …” most of the music is of a secular nature and in a retrospective format. Rosene is passionate about lyricists of the Tin Pan Alley period, such as Mitchell Parish, who wrote the words to Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride,” “Stardust” and “Moonlight Serenade.”
Parish also added lyrics to many composers’ great songs including “Star Dust”, “Sweet Lorraine” and “Sophisticated Lady,” In addition to Leroy Anderson, Parish worked with Glen Miller, Duke Ellington and Hoagy Carmichael.
“The second half of the show is Johnny Mercer’s music,” said Rosene, who has been featured on Judy Carmichael’s NPR program, “Jazz Inspired,” and recently on NPR’s “Hot Jazz Saturday Night” program. “There will be songs like ‘Old Black Magic,’ ‘Count Your Blessings’ and ‘Winter Wonderland.’ ”
At Blues Alley, Rosene will be accompanied by Conal Fowkes on piano and locally known Scott Giambuso on bass.
With six albums to her credit and regular appearances with the Harry James Orchestra, Rosene is personally committed to the significant roll of jazz music in American popular song and in America’s roots and spirits. Having played with the late Les Paul at New York’s Iridium Jazz Club and with the Woody Allen Band at the Carlisle Hotel, she claims an early introduction to the music.
“My dad just loved big band music; it was always on in my house,” she recalled. “It’s a connection to my parents. I like what they liked.”
