HEAVENS CAFE' LIVE!
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SOUND SAMPLES mp3sART ROCK CIRCUS!
As John said in an interview. "First I needed a band..that started "Art Rock Circus"..Then we put together this huge long list of people we would need and it got longer and longer ...and we estimated how much money it would cost and it got crazier and crazier...so we just decided.. let's %*#%#%# do it! Six months later, we started reheasals. I don't think either of us had any idea what we were getting ourselves into!
A NIGHT AT THE....ROCK OPERA!
Amazingly enough it all started in a small coffee shop in Southern Nevada..John had just completed his epic studio project and was discussing it with his long time pal Mike Lewis who was his #1 chess Nemesis at the time. After spinning the disc several times between attacks on the board..the idea came up to actually try and stage it....and why not?...we weren't all that far from Las Vegas!...
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER!
We took our time gathering together the people ..starting with the drummer..."I auditioned over 20 drummers!! Starting there seemed to be the right thing to do..with the complexity of the material and the finesse needed to execute it, I was fortunate to find Jon Weisberg; fresh from New Jersey and Berklee Music College in Boston... He could play odd time..keep the groove happening and just had a lot of really creative ideas!
THE ONE TWO PUNCH!
Kristine Keppel who spent years with Follies Begiere along with teaching at the Performing Arts Academy, brought great directorial experience and also found bass prodigy Jon Cornell...The band's chemistry worked exceptionally well, then fulfilled the promise of the show...to deliver the music in a BIG WAY!.....which was always at the core of the opera..For a behind the scenes look at the album check out
Making the Record!< P>
FILLING THE GAPS!
When Kristine got going on the direction she hired choreographer Charis Wallace who had just finished Jesus Christ Superstar in NY. Her energy and creative genius mixed with Kristine's flair for blocking and visuals was just the right one two punch...Lewis was busy raising money and working the business and PR and Tributary Productions was born! Thank You!!
THE ACTORS!
As far as the actors...we quickly realized that it would be easier to teach a singer to act than teach and actor to sing!!...so we went hard after great vocalists..and boy did it pay off!! With the majestic voice of Lark (Todd Ashmore) the sultrey and sensual Robin (Allison Gifford) the fun and theatrical Classical Man (Sean Critchfield) the sassy and powerful Guardian Angel (Miche') and of course the beloved Kral (Timothy Burris) we really had a cast to die for!....not to mention some truly heavenly voices!
FROM HELL TO HIGH WATER!
We finally settled on the historic Huntridge Theater and with all systems go, what could go wrong?... So it rained...rained...and rained..but we weren't worried ...it was indoors...until the newly renovated roof started to leak....and filled the floor of the theater 2 days before opening night...then the city shut the theater down....and we had no place to play!..
THE MIRACLE!
In a bizzare twist of fate...a cell phone and a sweet talking Mr. Lewis, Heavens Cafe' found a new home at the Flamingo Theater of Performing Arts.. .2 days later... The beautiful acoustics and the home of this recording...with every nerve on edge...the pressure on...the tape rolling ...lightening struck...after the rain stopped!! ...and we are proud to offer up this amazing record... truly a magical night....at HEAVENS CAFE'!
CD $11.95