As a holiday treat, the Friends of the Charlestown Branch Library will present "I’m Dreaming of a White Xmas: the Music of Irving Berlin" featuring vocalists Bobbi Carrey and Will McMillan, with Doug Hammer at the piano, on Monday, December 4, at 7:30 pm.

Presented at the Charlestown Branch Library, 179 Main Street in Charlestown, the performance is free and open to the public. A reception will follow.

From “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” in 1911 to “Count Your Blessings” in 1954, Irving Berlin was the voice of Everyman, putting into words and music what everyone felt to be true about their lives.

Born Israel Baline, Irving Berlin emigrated as a child with his family from the Ukraine. Because of his life experiences, he was able to bridge many different segments of American culture, understanding old world, new world, military, civilian, downtown, uptown, Tin Pan Alley, Broadway and Hollywood life. 

His songs became so personal to those who sing them that Rudy Vallee once sang Berlin's “Say it Isn't So” on his radio show in hopes that his estranged wife would come back to him.

"White Christmas” is one among the more than 1,500 songs Berlin composed during his 60-year career. The prolific composer created love songs, waltzes, Broadway showstoppers, patriotic classics and novelty songs in many genres, including “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” “Cheek to Cheek,” ‘What’ll I Do?,” “God Bless America” and “There’s No Business Like Show Business.”

"I’m Dreaming of a White Xmas" will feature both songs by and stories about Irving Berlin. Plus, in celebration of the holiday season and the winter solstice, the concert will also include holiday/winter songs by a few of Berlin's contemporaries, including Frank Loesser, Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne.

Bobbi Carrey released her own CD, "Between the Wars: Music from 1918-1941," in December of 2002. She followed that with "If I Loved You" (with vocalist Will McMillan) and in 2003 she was one of thirty-six participants selected from nationwide auditions to attend the Cabaret Conference at Yale University. Her prior musical experiences have ranged from folk singing to summer stock, from Reno Sweeney in "Anything Goes" to soloist with the Mystic Chorale, from "Christmas Revels" to a women’s vocal trio called The Mood Elevators. She has performed throughout New England, including CabaretFest! in Newburyport and Provincetown, Boston Public Library, Encore Lounge, Center for Arts in Natick, Scullers Jazz Club and at many private events.

Will McMillan has emerged as a leading exponent of the passionate, intimate, lyric-driven art of cabaret singing. A singer, songwriter, producer and founding member of BACA (Boston Association of Cabaret Artists), McMillan hosted Will & Company - a series highlighting local singers and songwriters - for three years at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education, and earned a 2002 IRNE award from the Independent Reviewers of New England for Best Cabaret Show in a small venue. In 1999, Will was one of thirty seven performers chosen nationally to be a Fellow at the O'Neill Theater Center's 10th Cabaret Symposium and attended the first year of the Cabaret Conference at Yale in 2003. He has produced five recordings – “If I Loved You” (with singer Bobbi Carrey and pianist Doug Hammer), “Simple” (with guitarist and songwriter Jonathan Keezing), “Whimsy: the Allston Years,” “Will Sings Sondheim” and “Sketchbook 1” with pianist/composer Steve Sweeting.

Doug Hammer is a veteran musician, composer, producer, arranger, and engineer, with clients ranging from corporations to singers to songwriters.  He has composed and produced music for commercials, film, video and theater and works with many vocalists as pianist, arranger, musical director and CD producer. A scholarship graduate of Berklee College of Music, Hammer founded, developed and runs Dreamworld Productions, a full service music production company and recording studio.

For more information on the holiday concert, call 617-242-1248.

-- OnStage Boston

11/09/06

 

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