"VOCAL SUPPORT - SING OUT LOUD AT JILL'S LIVING ROOM"

We're back and blogging with a special GUEST POST about something I have been involved in for five years. And this night never fails to lift my artistic spirits and give me a boost of much needed positive energy...

Red Sandcastle owner Rosemary Doyle and singers bring the house down at JLR.

JILL'S LIVING ROOM 
CELEBRATES WITH SONG

Monthly Open Mic Keeps Toronto's Musical Theatre Lovers Singing For 5 Years

Jill’s Living Room doesn’t take place in an actual living room. The monthly musical-theatre open mic happens in a darkened East End theatre space, replete with showbiz lighting, plenty of seats and a piano.

But like a friend’s living room, the event has a laid-back, friendly vibe that has attracted amateur and professional singers alike since 2010. On Monday, June 29, Jill’s Living Room—which founder Jill Léger bills as a “safe place to sing”—will celebrate its fifth anniversary.

“I started Jill’s Living Room kind of selfishly,” says Léger, who is also a songwriter-lyricist. “In 2010, I had just started taking voice lessons and was looking for a place where I could publicly try out some of the techniques I was learning and not feel embarrassed if I couldn’t hit a note or if I forgot to breathe. And as a songwriter, I also wanted a place where I could sometimes test-drive my own material.”

Léger floated the idea of starting her own open mic with her voice teacher, East End instructor Louisa Burgess Corbett. Corbett liked the idea and agreed to help populate the event with her students.

The first “JLR” took place in a rehearsal space at the Second City Training Centre in downtown Toronto. Attendance was sporadic in the early days but picked up as word of mouth spread. Today, Léger said that a typical evening draws about 15 singers, each performing up to two songs in the allotted two hours.

JLR relocated to the Red Sandcastle Theatre on Queen East in 2012. Not only was the new venue closer to Léger’s Little India home, but owner Rosemary Doyle was especially supportive, agreeing to man the box office and help with set up.

“I always say Rosemary is a friend to all artists,” says Léger, who produced a revue of her own music at the Red Sandcastle in 2012. “She really worked with me, helping ensure it could work from a financial standpoint. She’s also spread the word about what we’re doing.”

Léger knew the event would work only if she could hire top-drawer piano accompanists--musicians skilled enough to make even the most fledgling singer feel supported and comfortable. Her current roster of accompanists includes Stratford’s Michael Barber, impresario Chris Tsujiuchi, the Shaw Festival’s Paul Moody, versatile accompanist Julia Sunay and jazz recording artist Jim Clayton.

Léger said the night continues to attract performers of all ages and levels, and the songs they choose are always an agreeably eclectic mix—though most hew to the musical-theatre genre
 

Jill's Living Room founder Jill Leger takes the spotlight.

“We have kids get up and belt tunes from ‘Annie,’” Léger said. “We have folks in their 60s doing standards. We have first-time performers and people who have sung on Broadway. At a typical JLR, you will probably hear at least one song by Jason Robert Brown, Stephen Schwartz and Stephen Sondheim. But you will also hear material that’s under the radar, maybe a song by Flanders and Swann, Randy Newman or Tom Lehrer. I sometimes think of renaming the event ‘What’s that from?’ because so many times someone performs some obscure, fabulous gem and everyone then wants to know the details so they can look it up.”

Like Léger herself, many also perform original pieces, sometimes tunes slated for SummerWorks or the Fringe. Musicians occasionally accompany themselves on piano, guitar, ukelele or (once) harmonica. The night usually includes at least one singalong, and sometimes there’s even cake.

“It’s always a great time,” said Léger, who added that non-singers are more than welcome. “You don’t have to be one of the singers to enjoy it. For my money, it’s the best show in town for ten bucks.”

But of course, Léger hopes it can be more than that as well.

“JLR is fundamentally about safety,” she said. “It’s about creating a space full of love and support where people can feel safe to sing out—to polish delivery or technique, rekindle a dream or simply share music that’s personally meaningful.”

She added that JLR is also about community.

“For those of us in love with the genre of musical theatre, there is really nothing quite like gathering in a darkened space to celebrate the music and the wordplay with like-minded individuals,” she said. “There’s always lots of laughter and hugs, and sometimes tears, but only the good kind. I always leave JLR feeling like Gene Kelly, dancing up the sidewalk.”

Jill’s Living Room takes place the last Monday of every month at the Red Sandcastle Theatre, 922 Queen St. East, 8pm to 10pm. Everyone who attends is asked to pay $10 at the door to cover the space and the accompanist.

Live the adventure!

Rocking My Talk World - New Elvis Costello Talkfest Harnesses the Power of the Co-Pro

Canada's TV landscape just keeps getting better and better with many of my appointment shows originating from north of the 49th parallel. Last night's Academy Awards presentation may have divided people on whether the presentation was successful. But the thing about the awards that excited me the most was CTV's use of the many eyes riveted to their station (some drooping with sleepy boredom) to promote their latest talk fest, "Spectacle, Elvis Costello with..."

I did a classic Little Rascals-worthy double take. Who now, what?!!! At first, it appeared that Costello would be co-hosting the show with Elton John. But it soon became apparent that Elton was one of the executive-producers to Costello, who will play host to an enviable variety of intelligent musicians and world figures.

The closest I've seen to this sort of thing was during the early days of MTV Unplugged hosted by Jules Shear (former paramour of Aimee Mann and author of hits like the Bangles "If She Knew What She Wants", and owner of the whiniest singing voice since Dylan) and Later with Jules Holland, (writer, bon vivant, intense Prisoner fan and keyboard tickling founding member of squeeze who has collaborated with the biggest names in music including Sting, Tom Jones and Bono). But it seems CTV has built a series which will allow the extreemely intelligent Costello to range into topics beyond music.

Elvis Costello is uniquely qualified for the gig. He's one smart and occasionally smart-ass bastard. His long list of accomplishments and reputation for speaking out grant the show instant legitimacy as a go to destination for true artists. When the host is as interesting to the guests as the guests are to him, it makes finding quality people to fill the interview chair that much easier.

Even the brief n' breezy bio accompanying this press release from CTV is enough to make me positively salivate for the show's premiere. Check out the guest list found on a more recent press release:

Rufus Wainwright, John Mellencamp, Norah Kones and James Taylor, Kris Kristofferson, Rosanne Cash (who spent much of last year blogging brilliantly about songwriting for the New York Times), Jakob Dylan, Herbie Hancock, She & Him (Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward), Jenny Lewis and renowned opera soprano Renee Fleming.

And that's just filling out a line-up already fueled by Diana Krall (How'd they get her??),the Police (together), former president Bill Clinton, Tony Bennet, Loue Reed, Smokey freakin' Robinson and the afore-mentioned Sir Elton John.

The CTV is a good fit for the show now that they own the Bravo arts channel in addition to their main station. Of course, Costello and John share a Canadian connection in having wedded Canadians and spending at least part of their time each year in the Great White North. Costello and jazz singer Diana Krall are raising their two sons in New York City while Sir Elton and his partner David Furnish keep a home in the Toronto area.

Like the CBC (The Tudors, Doctor Who and now Being Erica), CTV seems to have caught on to the dynamic synergies that can be created when you team with the well-moneyed Americans. Their Flashpoint series continues to garner strong ratings in a tough Friday slot for both CTV and CBS and we will soon see the debut of a second co-production, The Bridge. Their star-studded, MTV documentary series, 4Real has also been picked up by the CW.

Partnering with Freeemantle Media Enterprises, Britain's Channel Four and the Sundance Channel in the US, means CTV doesn't have to shoulder the expense of producing the hsow on their own and hoping to get a return from Canada's significantly smaller audience pool. I've no insider knowledge of the intricacies of these sorts of deals but the increase in budget is showing up on the screen with prettier shows and with longer commitments to letting new shows find their audience.

Live the Adventure.