ENTERTAINMENT the Herald-Palladium Section D Herald Palladium 10/09/2014 Copy Reduced to %D%% from Original to Fit Letter Page

THURSDAY, October 9, 2014ENTERTAINMENT The Herald-Palladium Section D Herald Palladium 10/09/2014 Copy Reduced to %d%% from original to fit letter page

Photo provided Chicago cabaret performer Justin Hayford presents “Things are Looking Up: Unsung Gershwin” on Sunday at The Acorn Theater in Three Oaks. Old songs, fresh ears Justin Hayford’s show at The Acorn shines a light on lesser- known Gershwin tunes

By JEREMY D. BONFIGLIO HP Features Editor

THREE OAKS — The song “I’m a Poached Egg” seems an unlikely addition for a concert touting to reintroduce some forgotten gems of the George and Ira Ger- shwin catalog, but for Justin Hayford, the tune from the 1964 Billy Wilder fi lm “Kiss Me, Stupid,” falls into the it’s-so-bad-it’s- good category. “It is of course an absolute terrible title and consciously so,” Hayford says by telephone from Chicago. “The fi lm is about two very bad songwriters trying to pitch material to a star. This is the song that fi - nally convinces him, and it’s just awful.” The song’s lyrics include lines such as “I’m a poached egg without a piece of toast Photo provided / I’m Yorkshire pudding without a beef to Former “American Idol” contestant Casey Abrams returns to the area on Saturday to kick off the Artists You Should Know Series at the roast / I’m a haunted house without a ghost Lake Michigan College Mendel Center Mainstage Theatre. / when I’m without you.” It also happens to be the last song that Ira Gershwin wrote. “He was an extremely self-effacing man,” Hayford says. “I love the fact that in his very last song he makes fun of his own Casey Abrams clever style of songwriting, which I think is just a beautiful insight into his personali- ty.” Ex-‘Idol’ contestant That’s why Hayford, the Chicago-based cabaret artist, has included “I’m a Poached kicks off LMC’s Egg” in “Things are Looking Up: Unsung finds his voice Gershwin,” which he performs Sunday at rising artists series The Acorn Theater in Three Oaks. For Hayford, the showcase is meant to put the By JEREMY D. BONFIGLIO We go to Cougar Town and it’s just “I’ve learned a lot,” Abrams says. “I spotlight on the forgotten, the lost, and the HP Features Editor this magic journey.” learned to stand up for myself. There’s While it may not be as special as his always going to be people who want See HAYFORD, page D5 BENTON HARBOR — Casey fi ctional “Cougar Town,” Abrams has your music to be a certain way, but you Abrams has cougars on his mind. been on a magical journey himself are the one who has to play it every The subject of his new tune “Cougar since his run on Season 10 of “Ameri- single night so you just have to learn to Town,” however, isn’t the puma, can Idol” jump-started his music say no once in a while. But I’ve also panther or mountain lion variety, but career. Known for his upright bass and learned what it is I want to say. I want What: Justin Hayford presents “Things are the 30- and-40-something women, soulful voice, Abrams fi nished No. 6 to spread happiness and that’s led to Looking Up: Unsung Gershwin” who, as defi ned by the Urban Diction- on the FOX singing competition show this jazzy vibe where I can just sort of ary will “seduce as many game young at age 19. Since releasing his self-titled scat my way out of any problem. It’s When: 7 p.m. Sunday men as she can possibly handle.” debut in 2012 and eventually parting been really fun fi nding that voice on Where: The Acorn Theater, 107 Genera- “It’s really about my love for women with the Concord Music Group label, stage.” tions Drive, Three Oaks who are a little bit wiser than most,” Abrams, who performs Saturday at the Abrams, who was born in Austin, How much: $18 the 23-year-old singer-songwriter says Lake Michigan College Mendel Center Texas, is the son of Pamela Pierce, a by telephone from Nashville, Tenn. “It Mainstage Theatre to kick off the screenwriter and teacher who also Contact: 756-3879 or www.acorntheater. talks about this magical town. I get Artists You Should Know Series, has plays piano and sings, and Ira Abrams, com picked up by this woman and she immersed himself in fi nding his own Artist info: justinhayford.bandcamp.com introduces me to all her cougar friends. musical path. See ABRAMS, page D5

Fischoff winners to perform at Andrews University on Sunday

By JEREMY D. BONFIGLIO ber Music Competition at HP Features Editor the University of Notre Dame. Now in its 41st year, BERRIEN SPRINGS What: Telegraph Quartet Fischoff just happens to be — Jeremiah Shaw attri- the largest chamber music butes at least some of the When: 4 p.m. Sunday competition for young mu- success of the Telegraph Where: Andrews Universi- sicians in the world. Quartet to geography. ty’s Howard Performing In addition to the prize “I had met Eric down in Arts Center, 4160 E. Cam- money, the quartet earned San Diego and we were pus Circle Drive, Berrien a spot in the Emilia Ro- playing in another quartet Springs magna Festival in Italy in at the time,” Shaw says by 2015 and is currently on a telephone from Muncie, How much: $5, free for Midwest winner’s tour, Ind. “He knew Joseph and students which includes a stop Sun- Pei-Ling up in San Fran- Contact: 471-3560, 888- day at Andrews Universi- cisco and when we ended 467-6442 or howard. ty’s Howard Performing up moving to the Bay Area andrews.edu Arts Center. it just clicked right away. Artist info: www. The program for the We all really loved chamber telegraphquartet.com quartet’s Sunday perfor- music and decided to form mance features one of Jo- this quartet. It really seph Haydn’s most ambi- worked out for the best.” Eric Chin and Joseph Maile tious chamber string That may be a bit of an recently won the $7,500 quartet pieces, String Quar- understatement. grand prize and the $3,500 tet Op. 76 No. 5; Pulitzer Photo provided After all, the foursome gold medal in the senior Prize-winning composer The Telegraph Quartet, featuring, from left, Jeremiah Shaw, Joseph Maile, Pei-Ling Lin, and Eric of cellist Shaw, violist Pei- strings division at the 2014 Chin, performs Sunday at Andrews University’s Howard Performing Arts Center as part of the Mid- Ling Lin, and violinists Fischoff National Cham- See QUARTET, page D5 west tour for winning the grand prize of the 2014 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. Herald Palladium 10/09/2014 The Herald-Palladium ENTERTAINMENT THURSDAY, October 9, 2014 – D5

ABRAMS “Idol,” Abrams headed to Nashville right now QUARTET 1967 Pulitzer Prize for London’s Kensaltown writing songs and writing Music. From page D1 Studios to record his debut music that I really want to From page D1 Mendelssohn’s String Who: Casey Abrams album with producer do rather than fi lling a Quartet No. 3, meanwhile, a guitarist who teaches at Martin Terefe, whose quota. It’s really a beauti- Leon Kirchner’s String the fi nal piece of Sunday’s Idyllwild Arts Academy, a When: 8 p.m. Saturday credits include Jason ful thing.” Quartet No. 1; and Felix concert, was composed in private school in the Where: Lake Michigan Mraz, Train and Mary J. In addition to “Cougar Mendelssohn’s String 1838 as part of his set of mountains above Palm College Mendel Center Blige. Town,” Abrams – who is Quartet No. 3 in D major, three string quartets. Like Springs, Calif. Mainstage Theatre, 2755 The album peaked at backed by guitarist Taylor Op. 44, No. 1, part of three all of Mendelssohn’s “My mom taught me the E. Napier Ave., Benton No. 101 on the Billboard Tesler and saxophonist string quartets he dedicat- string quartets, the work piano and my dad taught Harbor 200 with the radio-friendly Jacob Scesney – has been ed to the Crown Prince of has four movements, with me some guitar techniques single “Get Out” reaching road-testing new material Sweden. a typical performance and I just built on that,” How much: $25-$34 No. 23 on the adult describing 2014 as a year “We all tend to look for lasting about 30 minutes. Abrams says. “They Contact: 927-1221 or contemporary chart. The of “pre-production” for the same things musical- For members of the introduced me to The www.lmcmainstage.org album also was highlight- his as-yet-untitled sopho- ly,” Maile says. “We are all Telegraph Quartet, which Beach Boys and The ed by “Wore Out My more effort. kind of hard to please and is the fi rst San Francisco- Beatles and complex Soul,” which shows his “It’s a giant experimen- hard to satisfy so we spend based ensemble to win harmonies that really got that it’s not about what R&B balladeer chops, and tation,” Abrams says. “I a long time trying to really Fischoff, the competition me into music and playing. you play but how you feel “Blame It On Me,” which feel like I’ve written the fi gure out what’s inside the was a chance to gain ex- So I just kind of absorbed and how you feel in the features Abrams’ soulful songs, but I’m constantly music and pull that out posure as a budding en- it all.” moment. It’s all about bass line and vocal agility. arranging them and and share it. So our re- semble. By the sixth grade, subject matter and believ- While most of the tracks rearranging them every hearsals tend to be lengthy “We wanted to chal- Abrams began playing the ing in yourself instead of off his debut album are single night. The plans are because we really want to lenge ourselves and give electric bass and in time let’s get each note perfectly still in rotation in Abrams’ to play the new songs over get to the heart of the mu- ourselves a goal because gained profi ciency on right. He always says current set list, he also and over again and see if sic.” when you’re starting out guitar, double bass, cello, there’s no wrong note, just says his split with Concord people like it and see what Haydn’s six string quar- nobody knows who you drums, even the sitar. It undesirable ones, and I has opened new musical changes I can make to it to tets composed in 1796 and are,” Shaw says. “We was at Idyllwild where still believe that.” avenues. make it better. I think 1797 were commissioned wanted an opportunity to Abrams met jazz instruc- Abrams was a student at “I feel so free. I feel like playing them in front of by and dedicated to Count both hone our repertoire tor Marshall Hawkins, the University of Colo- I can do anything,” an audience and getting Joseph Erdödy. They are and play it in a high-pres- who introduced him to the rado when he auditioned Abrams says. “Obviously their reaction is important the last complete set that sure situation.” upright bass. for “American Idol” back there’s not a big company before putting out the next Haydn composed. The “It was really inspiring “Marshall was such a in Austin, Texas. His run backing you up, but you album.” String Quartet in D major, to see a lot of our peers in big cheerleader,” Abrams on the show certainly don’t really need that to Contact: [email protected], 932- sometimes nicknamed the same age category says. “He made me realize opened doors. After make music. I’m in 0364, Twitter: @HPBonfiglio “Largo” consists of four dedicated to the music movements. Although its that we love,” Chin adds. opening key signature is D “I think it was less nerve- HAYFORD western University, added a his most recent, “It All Be- So not only is it a great song major, the second move- racking and more inspir- master’s degree in perfor- longs to You: Unsung Cole but it was a catalyst for one ment is written in F-sharp ing.” From page D1 mance studies, and spent Porter.” of Hollywood’s greatest ca- major and the quartet Since beginning its Mid- several years directing the- Aside from “I’m a reers.” moves in and out of D mi- west tour earlier this inexplicably obscure Gersh- ater and teaching political Poached Egg,” his “Unsung As for his own career, nor in the third, while the month, the quartet has win songs that deserve to be science before settling into Gershwin” show includes Hayford has found a niche fi nale’s D major in cut played in venues Lin says heard a whole lot more of- dual careers as an arts jour- songs he believes should be mining songs from the past time is unusual for a ma- have been a welcome ten. nalist and legal advocate for remembered for their style, to perform in the present. jor key quartet. change from what they “Sine I was a little kid people with AIDS. Al- character and place in his- While he has a love for the Leon Kirchner’s String have been accustomed. I’ve always been a fan of though he owned a piano, tory. Another favorite is Great American Songbook, Quartet No. 1, written in “Every time you get to the underdog,” Hayford he never thought he would “The Half of it, Dearie’ which has become part of 1949, like most of his ear- play in concert halls it’s a says. “I’ve always wanted to perform in front of people. Blues” from the 1924 Broad- the musical fabric of so lier works, features strong- luxury,” she says. “You re- champion the things over- A friend who happened to way musical “Lady be many of his peers, it’s these ly contrasting textures and ally get to enjoy the looked and neglected. I’m own a small cabaret theater Good,” which starred lesser-known tunes that he tempos. It, along with his sound.” also genuinely jealous of fi nally convinced him to get brother-and-sister perform- looks on most fondly. second String Quartet, “We’re enjoying the my parents’ and grandpar- up and perform during his ers Fred and Adele Astaire. “I think it’s very diffi cult which was written in 1958, fact,” Shaw adds, “that we ents’ generations for hear- 33rd birthday party. “They were just making a for us to honestly know if both won the New York aren’t just practicing in ing all these classic Gersh- “I fi gured my friends name for themselves and we actually like a song such Critics’ Circle Award. The our living room.” win songs when they were would be forgiving so I did,” the Gershwins wrote the as ‘Love is Here to Say’ be- third, “For Strings and Contact: [email protected], new and weren’t fossilized Hayford says. “A friend of song specifi cally for them,” cause we’ve all been condi- Electronic Tape,” won the 932-0364, Twitter: @HPBonfiglio into standards. For me, mine very wisely said, ‘You Hayford says. “It made all tioned to believe that song fi nding these lost songs is did not make a fool of your- four of them stars.” is a masterpiece,” he says. like hearing the Gershwins self,’ and that was the high- “The Half of it, Dearie’ “Is it really a great song? for the fi rst time.” est praise he could give me. Blues” also included a solo Who knows? You can’t Hayford’s own story is a It wasn’t perfect, but at least dance number for Fred even hear it anymore. With bit of an underdog tale as they weren’t embarrassed Astaire, which, at the time, these forgotten songs you well. Born and raised in for me. It was the perfect was his fi rst. can hear them with fresh Rochester, N.Y., he was the way to start and I realized I “Previously he had al- ears and honestly assess reluctant musician in a could build from there.” ways danced with his sister, what do I think of this Copyrighthouse (c)2014 full The of talent.Herald-Palladium His fa- 10/09/2014A fervent song researcher, who at the time was theOctober star 9,song. 2014 For1:33 me,pm /it’s Powered as close by as TECNAVIA ther, John Hayford, played Hayford says, he gave him- of the pair,” Hayford says. I can get to hearing them the piano, clarinet and self permission to perform “So it was the song that lit- new.” -+)!&(3%+-+. +,". trombone; his mother, regularly after discovering erally put Fred Astaire front Contact: [email protected], 932- *!2"/%"--",+-/./+/%" Charlotte Cain, was the Matt Dennis, a 1950s-era and center for the fi rst time. 0364, Twitter: @HPBonfiglio -&*/&$&/(0 . -&,/&+* (/"./.,+-/. +1"-$" youngest of the singing singer-songwriter who (+ ("1"*/. )-'"/*"2. Cain Sisters, who had their made six albums and is best $ 00 *!2+-(!%"!(&*". 2" own radio program on Chi- known for his 1953 song 25 '"",3+0 0--"*/2&/% Oktoberfest! *(3 (% -"(& ("-",+-/&*$*! cago’s WLS before moving “Angel Eyes” with lyricist ' ( $ ) & ) #& "*/"-/&*&*$ +1"-$"/+ up to the Climalene Carni- Earl Brent. .,-'3+0-&*/"-"./ val on NBC Radio. “He wasn’t a virtuoso like SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11TH %+0-.!3 “There were four kids in Sinatra,” Hayford says. “He 0 . -& "+!3 !3.2""' the family and every one of had just an OK voice, but Featuring - Ken & Mary "- %#+-%""-(!((!&0),,/+!3 my siblings had real serious what he could do with it Turbo Accordion Express music lessons with real seri- was extremely expressive Music ous music teachers,” Hay- and that was instrumental ford says. “I didn’t, and I to me.” 7pm to 11 was very intimidated be- Since then, Hayford has cause we were the family become a regular in Chica- Doors Open at 6pm *((("$ "$ ! ! adnum=60551714 that when we had a birth- go’s cabaret scene. He’s re- Dinner at 6:30 day party you had to sing leased three CDs on the Join Us October 18th for ‘Happy Birthday’ in as LML Music label – his 2001 Food Service Extra & Cash Bar ROCKTOBERFEST many part harmony as peo- debut, “A Rare Find: For- admission - $8 per person ple at the table. It just gave gotten Gems from the with Shock Roxy me hives so I stayed away American Popular Song- St. Joe Kickers Club Between St. Joe & Berrien Springs from music for a long book,” followed by “Look Old 31 Hwy. Berrien Springs, MI www.stjoekickers.com time.” Who’s Been Dreaming: Ne- He fi rst pursued a degree glected Treasures from Hol- in astrophysics at North- lywood’s Golden Age,” and No Tricks, Onlyy Treats at Visit Us & Experience whatt Michigan has to Offer! 406 State St | St Joseph | 269-983-3300

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