It’s “A Grand Night for Singing” as vocalist Sue Matthews brings the lyrics of Oscar Hammerstein II to life at The Mainstay in Rock Hall, Maryland on Saturday October 22 at 8:00 p.m. She will be joined by Robert Redd on piano, Tommy Cecil on bass, Frank Russo on drums, Randy Reinhart on trumpet and Gary Wheat on sax. Admission is $25. For information and reservations call 410-639-9133. Information is also available at the Mainstay’s website https://www.mainstayrockhall.org.
Mainstay favorite Sue Matthews continues to work her magical way through the Great American Songbook. This time she brings to life the lyrics of Oscar Hammerstein II who wrote with both Richard Rodgers and Jerome Kern as composers. Hammerstein is credited with a radical transformation of Broadway musical theater when he made the story, not the songs or the stars, central to the musical.
Hammerstein’s classic Broadway songs from shows like South Pacific, Carousel, The Sound of Music and Show Boat defined the Broadway musical for decades and many have become jazz standards.
Sue Matthews is a superb singer with a silky voice, exquisite phrasing and passion for finding every bit of meaning in song. Give her a great song, no matter how familiar, and she will find in it fresh nuance and new depth of meaning.
“I’ll be talking about the life of this remarkable writer, director and producer,” Matthews said, “but mostly it’s about the music. The collaborations of Hammerstein/Kern and Hammerstein/Rogers drastically changed the direction of the American Musical while creating music that will continue to survive the test of time in all musical genres.”
Songs like “All The Things You Are”, “The Last Time I Saw Paris”, “Bill”, “Hello Young Lovers”, “People Will Say We’re In Love” are but of few of the gems we’ll present.”
Matthews will be joined by an all-star jazz quintet: Robert Redd on piano, Tommy Cecil on bass, Frank Russo on drums, Randy Reinhart on trumpet and Gary Wheat on sax.
The Mainstay (Home of Musical Magic) is the friendly informal storefront performing arts center on Rock Hall’s old time Main Street. It is a 501(c)(3), nonprofit dedicated to the arts, serving Rock Hall, MD and the surrounding region. It is committed to presenting local, regional and national level talent, at a reasonable price, in an almost perfect acoustic setting. Wine, beer, sodas and snacks are available at the bar.
The Mainstay is supported by ticket sales, fundraising including donations from friends and audience members and an operating grant from the Maryland State Arts Council.
For information and reservations call the Mainstay at 410-639-9133. More information is also available at the Mainstay’s website https://www.mainstayrockhall.org.
Upcoming Mainstay performances include:
Oct. 24 Mainstay Monday with guests Barbara Parker, vocals and Pres Harding, guitar
Oct. 31 Mainstay Monday with actors from Church Hill Theater
Nov. 3 The Chesapeake Guitar Quartet with Steve Abshire, Steve Herberman, Vince Lewis and Amy Shook
Nov. 7 Mainstay Monday with guest Scott Silbert, sax
Nov. 10 Jane Bunnett and Maqueque
Nov. 12 Karen Somerville with The Bratcher Project
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