Sequenza21/The Contemporary Classical Music Weekly

�Best and Brightest� at Thalia

Folks out there have been racking their brains for ways to freshen up the traditional format of classical concerts. Some take Bach into bars, others use fancy lighting and video art. Still others like to chat with the audience. Joel Kramer and Daniel Beliavsky�s series "Best and Brightest" certainly falls into this latter category, but in ways I haven�t experienced before. Here�s what they did at Symphony Space�s Thalia Theater last night.

Kramer, a businessman who is the creator and producer of "Best and Brightest," opened the concert by explaining how the series got its start and introducing some of the musicians who have been involved with it along the way. As he was announcing the first act, he was interrupted by "Professor Ulysses Kidgi." Kidgi (Beliavsky donning an enormous beard and overcoat) took the stage, took credit for "Best and Brightest," then took off for "an emergency conference in Zurich."

Ooo-kay.

First up was the Cowings family � a husband and wife who sang old Tin Pan Alley standards, their chick-with-a-guitar daughter, Emily, and their tap-dancing son, Alexander. Once they were finished, they all took places at the edges of the stage, and Kramer moderated a question-and-answer session wherein they discussed their musical mentors and their sometimes difficult lives as musicians.

Beliavsky was then summoned, and he played a set of four piano pieces by Lukas Foss, which he interspersed with engaging commentary on the man and his music. After Beliavsky�s set, the musicians, guided by Kramer once again, took part in a conversation about the relationship between jazz and classical music.

Next up was jazz trombonist Michael Dease. After playing around with a two-part Baroque invention he wrote based on "Cherokee," he played some old standards with the help of the excellent jazz trio � John di Martino, piano; Lee Hudson, bass; Bruce Cox, drums � that chipped in throughout the evening.

Then cabaret-singer Ingrid Saxon treated the audience to some Petula Clark, the audience was invited to ask the musicians questions, and the entire ensemble combined for a rendition of "How High the Moon." A complimentary wine reception at Vintage New York ended the evening.

Hmm.

"Best and Brightest" aims to establish a salon-like atmosphere, but, with all the genre-hopping, last night�s program felt more like a show than a concert. But the social, playful environment established by Kramer, Beliavsky, and their cast of genial musicians worked wonderfully, and the evening � if a bit long � moved comfortably from music-making to conversation and back again. Beliavsky in particular has an excellent stage personality and sense of humor and could easily do radio if he wanted to. One left the Thalia with the sense of having gotten to know some interesting folks while having heard some good music at the same time. Bravos all around.

posted by David Salvage 6/21/2005