Feature: 30 Days Of Cabaret Gratitude - Day Fifteen - The Virtuosi
Broadway World Cabaret continues its series about the artists for whom our team is grateful.
By: Stephen Mosher Nov. 15, 2022
Photos by Stephen Mosher; visit the Stephen Mosher website HERE.
Yasuhiko Fukuoka, Sean Harkness, Don Kelly, Marissa Licata, Darnell White - The Virtuosi
The cabaret and concert industry overflows with talented musicians that are the backbone of the musical programs being presented. Some of these instrumentalists do double duty as musician and musical director, some headline in clubs and play in the pit on Broadway, others do triple duty as musician-musical director-performer, but all of them are the people upon whom the live music industry relies, the shoulders upon which the art form stands, and the people that make it fun to go to work. Each and every one of these musicians deserves all the appreciation and all the applause but here are five musicians whose gifts have, especially, captured the respect of Broadway World Cabaret.
Musical Director, pianist, composer, piano bar performer.
Yaz Fukuoka is an internationally acclaimed composer whose works have been performed on large stages and in symphony halls, and he is always in the act of creation in his original field of composing. But Yaz is often to be found in the small rooms and on the small stages of Manhattan, serving as musical director for artists like Robbie Rozelle and Edmund Bagnell with parental tenderness, a puckish grin, and constant scrupulous attention. One of the most fun things about watching a show in which Yaz is playing is watching him watch the headliner: it would not be a surprise to learn that he looks at his young son with the same care and affection (Yaz's baby boy, Axel, was born during the pandemic, amidst a flurry of social media attention). If supporting other artists and creating his own art isn't enough for one person, Yaz can also be found playing for the Piano Bar crowds, entertaining strangers late into the night, so that their piano bar experience can be as fun and melodic as it should be. For Yaz, it's all about seeing to everyone else's needs first... and having fun, both of which he does to everyone's great advantage.
Read the Broadway World Cabaret interview with Yasuhiko Fukuoka HERE.
Yaz's online presence is as follows:
Website: Click HERE.
Instagram: Click HERE.
Facebook: Click HERE.
Yaz's pronouns are He/Him
Yaz's upcoming projects include:
Recording
Patti Murin and Colin Donnell's new album "Something Stupid" to be released in November from Broadway Records (co-produced, mixed, and mastered)
Sean Patrick Murtagh's new album "The Mario 101" to be released in November (piano, mixed and mastered)
Shows (Music Directing)
November 16th, 7 PM David Drumgold's Variety Show at Manhattan Movement & Arts Center, NYC
November 18th, 7 PM Sean Patrick Murtagh "The Mario 101 Album Release Concert" at Green Room 42, NYC
November 21st 7PM Steven Brinberg and Rick Skye "Barbra & Liza Live" at Chelsea Table + Stage, NYC
Musical Director, guitarist, bandleader, composer.
Sean Harkness is so in-demand that his presence in the cabaret and concert community has become somewhat ubiquitous, and that is one of the best things about Sean Harkness because having Sean in your show makes it a better show. Sometimes Sean is hangin' with the rest of the band, others he is a special soloist, and when Tanya Moberly began her Moberly At Mama's Monthly series, Sean was one of the musical directors with whom she chose to do two of her rotating shows. The reasons that everyone wants to work with Sean are two-fold: first of all, his skill with his guitars is authentically unbelievable - hearing Harkness play is one thing but watching the mastery of his fingers (and the speed) is a feast for the eyes. Secondly, he just happens to be one of the nicest guys in the world - not just the industry, in the world. It's difficult not to be drawn into an artist, a person who brings so much bounty to the table. When he isn't at the service of the artists in the community, Sean has his own artistic pursuits, playing out with his own band, Sean Harkness AND THE UNUSUAL SUSPECTS, and working with his mates Lina Koutrakos and Marcus Simeone in the combo CLEARLY NOW. Sean Harkness was also one of the first (maybe THE first) artists to turn to virtual entertainment during the quarantine (on either the first or second day) creating one of the OG streaming living room concerts. It probably isn't his intent, but Sean is a leader in the community, and all he does is set the example.
Read the Broadway World Cabaret review of Sean Harkness and The Unusual Suspects HERE.
Sean's online presence is as follows:
Website: Click HERE.
Instagram: Click HERE.
Facebook: Click HERE.
Twitter: Click HERE.
TikTok: Click HERE.
Sean's pronouns are He/Him/His
Sean's upcoming projects include:
Sean Harkness & The Unusual Suspects will perform at 7p on Wednesday, November 30 at Chelsea Table & Stage.
With the Unusual Suspects Sean Harkness's electric guitar becomes the voice. The conversation between he and fellow band-mates is the dance. Inspired by Jam-Bands, John Scofield, and Jeff Beck, the format is Harkness in front of a very strong and colorful rhythm section comprised of keyboards, upright bass, and drums. With new arrangements at every show, you'll hear songs by: The Beatles * The Cars * The Carpenters * Todd Rundgren * Supertramp * Gary Wright * Grateful Dead * Joe Jackson * Willy Wonka * The Eagles * The Doors * Little River Band * The * Zombies * The Who * and many more...
Drummer, percussionist, studio musician.
Don Kelly walks in the room with a confident, lackadaisical stride, ready to work and Ready to Play. He is absolutely ego free, pliable, and collaborative, poised to listen to the artist's vision and prepared to offer suggestions that could, that may make that vision more resplendent. Do you want drums? Do you want percussion? What if this were played on a different instrument? What about adding a different rhythm? These are always artistic suggestions, never an attempt to insinuate his opinions or style onto the headliner's vision. Don is on hand to make art, to make music, and to make people happy. He is much sought-after and plays with the finest performers in the business, both his fellow musicians and the headliners whose show is being presented. Don is a dichotomy - friendly, loving, easygoing, shy, reserved, quiet. He is the strong silent type and he has a devilish sense of humor that comes out when he is comfortable with his colleagues, and he has a work ethic that cannot be bought or taught. As a show musician Don makes every show he works on better, as a studio musician his contribution to all projects is the highest it can be, and as a music educator he teaches his craft to those who wish to grow in their own work, and although he remains, mostly, hidden from view by his drum kit and the shadows of the light, whenever a headliner announces the names of their band, Don stands up and waves to the audience as though this were his show, a thing that would never happen because Don loves his work as a teammate, a band member, and one of the guys.
Don Kelly is The Man.
Don's online presence is as follows:
Website: Click HERE.
Don's pronouns are He/Him/His
Don's upcoming projects include:
12/10, Frank McDonough 7 pm, Don't Tell Mama
Marissa Licata
Violinist, concert musician, Broadway musician, nightclub and concert headliner.
A violinist with an impressive educational background and years of experience, Marissa Licata was enjoying a healthy career touring the world with other music acts, acting as First Violin and featured soloist. After logging many hours in the recording studio, gigs in Broadway Theaters, and several television appearances, the artist with a growing visibility and fanbase decided to test the waters of the nightclubs of New York City, and when she did, you could almost hear the roar of the industry changing.
The cabaret and concert scene of NYC is primarily vocal acts. Whether it's a Broadway belter, a jazz stylist, a crooner, or rock and roll act, it's a lot of singing. But at Birdland, people go to hear pianists, jazz combos, guitarists, horn players, and a whole lot more. So Marissa Licata has been making Birdland her artistic home-away-from-home with regular appearances at Jim Caruso's Cast Party and The Lineup With Susie Mosher. And then she did her nightclub debut STRINGS ON FIRE and she truly did set the club on fire. This woman, this artist, this force of nature has such style, such flair, and so much talent that it is impossible to watch her without finding yourself slack-jawed, wide-eyed, and screaming like you are at a rock concert. Marissa Licata is one of the most thrilling, most exciting, most intellectually stimulating musical artists to be put into the spotlight in, maybe, ever. She's also hella funny, and watching her interact with her band is a natural way to keep your audience member's feet on the ground because, without that jovial respite from the drama of her playing, a person might find themselves at a fever pitch for her entire concert. Marissa Licata is an original and the industry, the community, and Birdland are lucky to have her. She's in the pit at 1776 until 2023 but, hopefully, she will be making her rock star appearances again on stages around the country, even the globe, because this Lady and her violin are, truly, on fire - one has only to watch her play LIBERTANGO (this writer's favorite piece of music, ever) to know that. Fire.
Read the Broadway World Cabaret review of Marissa Licata Strings On Fire HERE.
Marissa's online presence is as follows:
Website: Click HERE.
Instagram: Click HERE.
Facebook: Click HERE.
Twitter: Click HERE.
Marissa's pronouns are She/Her
Marissa's upcoming projects are:
No solo shows on the books right now. Busy with 1776 through the new year. I am a featured soloist with the Chrysalis Orchestra a 40-piece rock band founded by Terry Ellis, US tour to begin in Spring 2023.
Musical Director, pianist, composer/lyricist, cabaret and concert performer.
Remember when Warner Brothers and Looney Tunes put out Saturday morning cartoons? And there would be occasions when an animated character was starving and they would look at their friend and that friend would become the vision of a steak or a drumstick? If Darnell White were a character in one of those classic cartoons, eventually he would shapeshift and the shape would be that of a heart. That's because Darnell White is all heart, and he is everyone's heart, no matter what show he is doing or who he is working with. Everyone loves him, and that is because he is the most loving and lovable person anybody knows. An accomplished musician, Darnell is an oft-employed Musical Director for many artists, and audience members at the shows he leads would be advised to take their eyes off of the headliners and watch Darnell because his conducting style is worth catching. Audiences are lucky if they get to hear Darnell sing from time to time, and the truly lucky are those who get to hear him sing something he, himself, has written - he is a poet with the words and with the notes.
During his debut solo show, Aaron David Gleason told the story of how he asked Darnell to teach him how to sing the way Darnell does, and Darnell replied by offering to teach Aaron to sing as the best, most authentic version of himself.
Authenticity within artistry: that is Darnell White.
Read the Broadway World Cabaret interview with Darnell White HERE.
Darnell's online presence is as follows:
Website: Click HERE.
Instagram: Click HERE.
Facebook: Click HERE.
Darnell's pronouns are he, him, his, she, her, them, they, or whatever else you wanna call me - I know who I am.
Darnell's upcoming projects are
Upcoming on tour currently with Respecttour.com
Friendsgiving Leftovers show, 54 Below, November 28th
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