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Celebrate Streisand's Birthday & New Vanguard DVD Release - Special Feature
By: Robert Diamond Apr. 23, 2010
Click Here for More on Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand celebrates her birthday on April 24th and her highly-anticipated new DVD comes out May 4th. To help celebrate the new release, BroadwayWorld.com is proud to present an online exclusive 3500 word piece written by Richard Jay-Alexander, who has worked with Streisand since 2000. This specially written piece is from the upcoming issue of All About Barbra Magazine, which will also feature many other articles, including another 'exclusive' written by Barbra's A&R guy, Jay Landers, who accompanied her on the day of and writes about the recording session of 'We Are the World 25'. Click here for more information on the magazine and how to order the upcoming current issue.
EXCLUSIVE ARTICLE FROM ALL ABOUT BARBRA MAGAZINE
(SPECIAL THANKS TO EDITORS LYNNE POUNDER AND STEVE BAXTER)
DID THAT REALLY HAPPEN LAST NIGHT?
An attempt to describe Barbra Streisand's "homecoming" to Greenwich Village
September 26, 2009
By Richard Jay-Alexander
As I sat there amongst the 123 persons packed into the subterranean, legendary Village Vanguard, in the heart of Greenwich Village, I couldn't help but think to myself, "What could these people possibly be thinking right now?" Not 30 seconds later, Barbra finished singing the Jacques Brel song IF YOU GO AWAY (NE ME QUITTE PAS). There was a dramatic stunned silence ... and then ... a full and spontaneous standing ovation. I pretty much had my answer.
Photo taken at rehearsal the afternoon of the event
I've known Ms. Streisand for quite some time now and seen her perform live many times, but never witnessed anything quite like this. Needless to say, I was one of those people -standing, applauding, and yelling some sort of exclamatory remark, admittedly overwhelmed and moved to tears, myself. I knew I was living and watching history. Another event that would be added to an already extraordinary list of accomplishments in a unique career that could never again be repeated in this or any other lifetime.
There is simply no one like Barbra Streisand ... NO ONE! And this night, a sort of "homecoming" if you will, proved it yet again. A girl from Brooklyn, whose talent was unstoppable and gave the world no choice, but to fall in love with her as they were seduced by a fresh young actress with a unique singing voice in FUNNY GIRL, a Broadway Musical which became a legendary musical motion picture and winning the young Streisand an Academy Award.
But let's go back a little. Everyone has asked over and over, "What was it like, being at The Vanguard on that night?" So ... I'm gonna try to take you there. Most of you, no doubt, saw much of the coverage and could probably imagine (sort of) what the atmosphere was like. But the excitement and build-up to Barbra Streisand's arrival in New York and into the little downtown club was simply wild! Every newspaper, radio station, television stations, entertainment shows, articles and postings on the internet from publications, bloggers and fans, from across the globe were rabid for information or "leaks." You just couldn't go anywhere, without seeing or hearing that "Barbra was coming home." And that was (sort of) true. She wasn't coming home to her native Brooklyn, but to the very neighborhood in which she first began pursuing an acting career and entered the singing contest that would set the stage for everything that what was to happen for her. A sort of "Cinderella story."
Working with Barbra and what I call "Team Barbra" - all those that make it happen - is always exciting, challenging and FUN! I received a call one afternoon from Barbra's manager, Marty Erlichman. I was just expecting a nice exchange of conversation, when Marty asks me to meet him at The Village Vanguard on Friday afternoon and he would tell me more about it when we saw each other, but that everyone would be there - meaning "Team Barbra."
I show up at the club on lower 7th Avenue and walk down those stairs into the well known night spot and it's a nice reunion and find that Marty has brought us all together to see if we think Barbra could sing there for "one night only" to promote her new album, LOVE IS THE ANSWER, and whether or not we could film some of it for promotional videos on the internet and other outlets to give people the "feel" of this unique project, which was both acoustic (with quartet) and orchestral. I couldn't believe my ears. Barbra Streisand in a small nightclub - the way she started. OMG! Everyone was excited and, obviously, this was something that Barbra and Marty had discussed, but WE were learning about for the first time. It was palpable. "Could this REALLY happen?" The other crazy part? We had to keep this "under wraps!"
We met the staff of The Vanguard, who couldn't have been nicer, more cooperative or helpful and then we met Lorraine Gordon, the proprietress and widow of the late Max Gordon who started the club - and we all fell in love with her. What a character! And to watch and listen to her and Marty Erlichman regale stories - PRICELESS!
Now, it's important to understand that they don't book singers anymore at the legendary jazz club. It's strictly a music venue now. I've worked in just about every nightclub in New York and was surprised I didn't know The Village Vanguard better ... and that explained why. Furthermore, the reason Marty had his eye on this particular club was because it is the only venue of its kind still standing and in business from the era during which Barbra began singing in clubs like The Lion and the Bon Soir, which no longer exist. Also, Barbra had a friend and acting partner in Rick Edelstein, who got her to showcase there, where he worked as a waiter. You'll learn a lot of this when you see the extraordinary DVD which will take you there and introduce you to the cast of characters in this story. But more on that later.
The club is SMALL ... VERY SMALL and the stage is SMALL ... VERY SMALL! But Marty "knew" this was right and I knew she was gonna take to this like a fish to water, imagining it in my mind's eye. After all, this is the kind of gig she built her house on. I saw the mic on the stage and it was the old wire mic and, as luck would have it, the sound was turned on. I got up on the stage and made some sounds and everyone looked at me on the stage. The sound was great and they knew, too, this could be magic. A mic, musicians, a few lights, the club, an audience and ... you could now taste it! And from where I was standing (on the little stage) - saw what she would see (looking out into the tables and chairs) .. and, no doubt, remember!
"Team Barbra" - all of us - went to dinner and imagined what it might be like if this really were to happen and then went our separate ways and Marty returned to California. He and Barbra spoke and when Barbra and I got to discuss it, to say I was rather "enthusiastic" would be an understatement. But I knew she would own the place and blow the roof off the joint. Talks continued, Barbra, Marty and Jay Landers began discussing repertoire from the new album that would be good choices and then the idea of going back into the material she used to sing in the clubs in the '60's came up and, suddenly, the whole thing got "green-lit!" OMG!
I went to many more meetings at The Village Vanguard with Marty and Lorraine Gordon, as they started to work out the puzzle of the evening. Technical requirements, how to deal with security, seating the audience - who it was now learned would consist primarily of fans who would enter a lottery/contest, being arranged through the record company, etc.
"Team Barbra" would now be in full-force mode. Marty asked me to interview some people who might be the answer to filming and capturing the evening and service the internet and television needs and demands. Everyone wanted to be a part of this and it had now been "announced." Yes, it was really going to happen.
Christian Schraga from Sony Music/Columbia rang me one day. I was in Miami and he introduced me, via telephone, to a guy namEd Scott Lochmus, a television/film producer and director. I liked him immediately and during the conversation, I learned that he had done the TELL HIM video with Barbra and Celine Dion. Bingo! I loved his demeanor, the way he spoke and that he totally seemed to understand and grasp the "assignment" - capturing the event .... NOT re-inventing or bringing in "production." Just like the 2006 STREISAND Concert Tour, which was just Barbra, a set, lights, an orchestra and a conductor ... this would be the girl singer and whatever was there in the nightclub. A few lights, the musicians, a stool, the mic and a small spotlight. Very much looking exactly like all the photos we've looked at from Barbra's early career in those nightclubs in Greenwich Village or in those early dates in Detroit, etc. The Village Vanguard was totally intact ... so you should be able to look at this and not know what year it was - other than seeing Barbra as she is today. Scott and I went to the club together (many times). I was really happy and called Barbra and Marty saying, "We found our guy!" He then assembled a top-notch team of his own and I could tell they knew what they were all going to be a part of, as well.
One of the funniest things that happened after the announcement that Barbra would be singing at The Village Vanguard, was the barrage of telephone calls received from friends and business associates. I remember thinking, "Geesh .. if I'm getting this many calls ... what must be happening to Marty and Barbra and Jay, et. al.? I remember, in particular, an e-mail from someone saying, "I only need four seats." LOL Are you KIDDING me? Hahahaha!
Marty was headed out on a European holiday with his wife Miko and Barbra and Jim were also heading to Europe for a holiday. They would all later meet in London for press and television appearances, in anticipation of the release of LOVE IS THE ANSWER.
In New York, via e-mail and telephone (from L.A. to Vegas to Turkey and Spain) "Team Barbra" continued to have logistical meetings. This was REALLY happening!
I'll never know exactly HOW Marty Erlichman negotiated the date with Lorraine Gordon, since the club is booked way in advance, but it couldn't have been more perfect. The day and event were now rapidly approaching and the contest winners had been alerted. They would be going through a screening and instruction process in preparation for meeting in New York and being transported to The Village Vanguard on the night of the gig.
Scott Lochmus was fine-tuning his stuff with his team and the biggest challenge was being sure no cameras were on the floor or among the audience or distracting in any way whatsoever to Barbra and the performance. We also now had a couple of new wrenches thrown into the mix. The U.N. would be in session, as would be the Clinton Global Initiative, so there was now the possibility that former President Bill Clinton, Hillary and Chelsea may be coming to the show. This meant the necessity for Secret Service men, etc. in an already crowded room. We were also now going to do a LIVE feed to another location where friends and family could view the event in "real-time", which meant having a truck and doing a "line-cut" for broadcast to a venue that would be turned into a cabaret space at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, where guests would be seated at tables and watch on flat screen televisions, while having drinks, hors d'oeuvres and dessert. Barbra, Jim and all of us would join them afterwards to celebrate.
The day before arrives and all of us are there for rehearsal. The band shows up for the first time, having rehearsed the "set" of songs the prior day at a rehearsal studio and prepping more songs than we need, awaiting Barbra's final choices, after a rehearsal. Tamir Hendelman led the quartet. He played on the album of LOVE IS THE ANSWER and had just returned from London, where he played for Barbra's television appearances. I must tell you he is just fantastic, as were the other members of the band, all from New York.
The fans were starting to assemble across from the back entrance and I'm happy to say I visited with them many times over those two days and into the evening of the event. It's really all about the fans and they couldn't have been nicer or more noisy .... just perfect! I loved it ... and so did Barbra, when she arrived. Barbra got to The Vanguard with her husband, James Brolin and her assistant, Renata. Marty ushered them into the club. The fans went crazy. And Barbra waved "Hello!" to them. I hadn't seen Barbra or Jim for while, so the hugs were long and warm. I adore Barbra. I always tell her that I like her so much that I forget she sings. Then she opens that mouth and those notes come out ... and it's over for me. Her skill set sends me off the edge. I love working with her and for her because she's so fast and smart and astute .. and I love knowing we she thinks. It's always so helpful to me to make it easier for her. AND she's so funny! I thoroughly enjoy her and certainly admire her accomplishments - in all aspects of her career. She remembered the club from back in the day and the minute she sat on the stool and grabbed the mic ... she was in charge and all of us just watched. It was emotionally warm in the room, as she hadn't seen so many of us in a while and was being introduced to the technical team who would be around to capture this. Me .. I kept my eye on Marty Erlichman ... because when Barbra started singing some of the old tunes from their club days together, I could see him time travel in his mind. This experience we were embarking on REALLY belonged to Barbra and Marty and my heart was right there.
As I write this I must also confess my great affection for James Brolin. He is the greatest guy. I love him and Barbra together and individually, but I always love having Jim around. He's such great energy and funny and warm and loving and, most of all, I love watching HIM watch HIS WIFE sing. I just love it! During the U.S. and European Concert tours, I had so much fun with both of them and remember, with particular fondness, celebrating their wedding anniversary onstage in Berlin, where Jim came out on the stage with a cake, all pre-planned and unbeknownst to Barbra. When the audience saw him ... they went crazy. He didn't have to do that .. and was "game." Barbra was quite moved and we hijacked the show from her in the Q & A section and Bill Ross, our Musical Director and Conductor, led the orchestra, as a gift, in playing the theme from THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE , which he knew to be a favorite of hers, from THE MOVIE ALBUM. She was visibly overwhelmed and, after that, proceeded to sing EVERGREEN - the most moving I had ever seen. You see .. the greatest thing (which turns me on, being from theatre) about Barbra singing, is that she never does the same thing twice. It's awe-inspiring. And that would also be the case at The Village Vanguard show, in addition to the fact that some of the songs she would be doing, she'd never sung, other than recording them or not since the '60's. Yes .. it was going to be that kind of night!
Rehearsal in the club went great and we all had a lot to do before the show tomorrow night. Marty Erlichman, Marty Hom, J.J. Erlichman, Ken Sunshine, Shelley Lazar and the rest of the team were in total overdrive on everything that had to be taken care of in the next 24 hours. Scott and I had our list of things (including as minute details as shopping for thin black ties for the boys in the band) and I was all about the spotlight. Seriously ... I knew what this should look like and it couldn't and shouldn't look "produced." It had to be raw and real .. because Barbra was simple and honest and that had to be captured. "Capture The Event" was the mantra. It was the same assignment, in a different way, for the 2006 concert ... just capture it. Someone actually referred to this particular gig as Barbra Unguarded .... Nice. I like it.
When the issue of the live-feed came up .. that was the first time we thought it might become a DVD because we now had to shoot the entire thing and not just a few songs. Scott and his team were totally up to it and he assigned 5 cameras inside (which you had no idea were there) and one outside to capture arrivals, the fans, etc.
As you're reading this, you have NO IDEA, what you will see when you get the DVD. However, I can assure you - it's ALL there. It's in real-time and Barbra Streisand was ON HER GAME! It was an extraordinary evening, which I won't anytime soon forget .. nor will anyone who was there. I've tried to be "judicious" in my story-telling, so as not to have any "spoilers" in the piece, before you view the DVD. But you are in for a treat when you see this.
It is now the night of the event and lower Seventh Avenue and around the block is over-flowing with fans. It was really exciting and their peer fans are arriving in buses and now being taken downstairs into the club. Everyone is having drinks and meeting each other and mingling and sharing stories. I mean ... the place is SMALL! Barbra is outside in a trailer getting ready. The energy around the building and around the town is palpable.
It finally happens. It's show time. And, boy, does it happen! And you can see Barbra is enjoying herself. It's almost too much to bear... seriously. Just imagine if you can - being at the back of the club would still be closer than being the front row at one of her arena shows! That's how close everyone was!
The song titles and who was there have been printed everywhere, so I won't bore you with any of that. But I had many favorite moments and one of them would surely be Marty Erlichman addressing the audience and bringing Barbra onto the stage. Another would be this French guy sitting in front of me crying and responding to Barbra when she refers to a certain song being on an early recording that wasn't so popular. He raised his voice in disagreement of her assessment and the whole audience laughed. Bill Clinton was directly in front of him and turned around laughing and patted him. It was that kind of night. The audience was ONE - which is what happens. And we ALL knew we were lucky to be there.
The entire experience had CINDERELLA written all over it. The show, the after- party, even the mood in the suite at the hotel where the assemblage of footage, songs and material to be given out to press was being put together. Dave Reitzas in his room, Scott in his. ... and all the rest of of us running around, too. There was also the immediate need of footage for CBS Sunday Morning News, which would be airing just hours from now. Barbra came and joined us in the suite and sat by Scott and watched what was assembled ... loved it and went to bed. It was just that kind of magical day and achievement.
Again ... a TRIUMPH for Barbra and her longtime manager, Marty Erlichman ... a sort of "full-circle" if you will. I felt it a privilege to be a part of their rich and accomplished history.
So ... it is now Sunday .. the DAY AFTER. I was gonna go by Barbra's hotel to pick up some stuff she signed to raise money at the BC/EFA Flea Market (that afternoon). I'm a board member and she was being more than kind and generous to do this for us during this hectic time. I pick up some newspapers on the way - all with glowing comments from the weekend and night before and a huge "love letter" feature on the cover of The New York Times Arts & Leisure section. I get to her suite. Renata, Barbra's long-time personal assistant and another person I love and adore, opens the door and Barbra walks in with the stuff she had signed for us. We're ALL dazed still and look at each other and almost at the same time say, "Did that really happen last night?" Yes, it did. And in a matter of days ... you all get to be there, too.
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