Please let me introduce singer Helene Feldman.
She
is performing a new show, Constant Craving, at a classic cabaret space
at West Bank Cafe in New York City, Saturday, September 27. “Constant
Craving is a great representation of what I want to express. The songs
I chose describe my cravings, in all of their variations”.
She
debuted the show last week (with accompanist/arranger Gerry
Dieffenbach) and shared some things about her love of the genre, the
songs she chooses and reminded me how wonderful it is to sit in the
dimly lit room listening to a woman singing OUT.
Helene: I
began singing on stage at the age of six in summer camp. After high
school, I went to Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass. where I
roomed with Melissa Etheridge. I was mentioned in her autobiography The
Truth Is... My Life in Love and Music (pages 41-42). I sang one of her
songs, "Your Little Secret," in my cabaret debut, and read this excerpt
from her book: "In so many ways, my life started that day, during that
conversation with Helene. After that, it was all different. She showed
me a way to be and I followed it".
Helene’s life has been
filled with this idea of politics and music following in this tradition
of club performing. In addition to making cabaret shows, she also sings
with the world’s first LGBT Synagogue Beth Simchat Torah and in the
nation’s first LGBT chorale, The Stonewall Chorale.
Helene combines the best of her two previous shows, "Sit down, and Keep Quite Please" and "Constant Craving", plus a few new tunes. The show features a diverse blend of songs from popular music, jazz, blues, contemporary theatre and The Great American Song Book. Helene brings to life the music and lyrics of Leonard Cohen, Stephen Sondheim, Irving Berlin, Ira Gershwin, Melissa Etheridge, Kurt Weill, Lincoln Chase and many more.
"Constant Craving" "Saw it...really fun! I particularly like the bluesier tunes on Helene. She has this sound like a young Miss Holiday that took me by surprise. This show is a very eclectic array of tunes which, to me, makes it all the more fun. Gerry Dieffenbach is an amazing accompanist and the affection that Helene and Gerry have for each other on stage is so nice to witness and hear.” ....
Sue Matsuki, Cabaret Artist
“Sit Down, and Keep Quiet Please” "She came on strong, with a powerful Let Yourself Go, following it with a varied song list. Some were little-heard novelties that were handled with panache. The Painless Dentist Song, for example, and Sex is a Misdemeanor (“the more you miss, de meaner you get”). Feldman’s choice of ballads provided contrast, and her renditions of My Ship, Children Will Listen, and I Get Along Without You Very Well, demonstrated her ability to deliver more serious lyrics effectively. As a debut performer, Feldman can bask in the reflection of a job well done.” ….
Peter Leavy, Cabaret Scenes
HIDDEN UNKNOWN TALENTS BROUGHT TO LIGHT
Helene Feldman was on the list of the 500 best singers.
Besides being very authoritative and extremely informative,
“Entertainment Divas Cabaret Jazz Then And Now” has a very special
touch: "giving a public recognition and a wider exposure to talented
singers who need a break. The public must become aware of their great
and hidden talents. This is my job. Writing about them and introducing
them to thousands and thousands of readers around the globe is a
responsibility I take very seriously." explained Maximillien de
Lafayette.
Cabaret Ville Magazine.com
THE GOOD APPLE
Helene Feldman: Lots of class!
The world of music is full of all kinds and sorts of people. Some are considerate, engaging, courteous and wonderful people like Helene Feldman, Paulette Attie, Barbara Cook, etc., and some are rude and lack good manners like Bruce Gaitsch. I wanted to know more about the ramifications of Mr. Lexter's story. Politely, he declined to provide me with additional juice but said: "You can talk to Mrs. Germaine Poitiers, a reporter in England who is also involved in collecting data on jazz singers and musicians." I contacted Germaine. She was very sweet and amicable. Poitiers said: "Yes, I did write to a great number of jazz singers and entertainers in the United States. All were very cooperative and polite. I collected tons of data and biographies. Some were extra, super duper polite and friendly. After all, we are doing them a favor. By writing about them in this new, massive and authoritative book (World Who's Who in Jazz, Cabaret, Music and Entertainment), a maximum exposure is thus given to them. I recall one particular lady who was exceptionally friendly and classy; Ms. Helene Feldman, a singer in New York City. I was touched by her warmth and engaging nature. She even invited me to her show at Danny's in Manhattan." That's right folks, the world of music is full of all sorts and kinds of people. Like a basket of apples. Would I say Bruce Gaitsch is a bad apple? You bet! Could I say Helene Feldman is a good apple? Absolutely!
World Who's Who in Jazz,
Cabaret, Music and Entertainment is a three volume encyclopedic work by
Maximillien de Lafayette, author of the international bestseller
Entertainment Divas Cabaret Jazz, Then and Now.
THE GRAPEVINE By David Blum
New York Monthly Herald
KEEP YOUR NAME ALIVE! MAKE WAVES!
THE GOOD NAMES: JOHANNE BLOUIN, AMY BAKER, HELENE FELDMAN, STEVIE HOLLAND, DARIA, APRIL BARROWS, SHERRI ROBERTS, MELISSA ERRICO, MARLENE VERPLANCK, GRETCHEN PARLATO...
THE
BEST OF THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS...GREAT TALENTS REGARDLESS OF FAME AND
FORTUNE…Stars, mega stars, legends, icons, famous chanteuses...all are
in de Lafayette's Entertainment Divas Cabaret Jazz Then and Now new
book, the latest international best-seller. Names like Marlene
VerPlanck (She is on the cover and almost everywhere in the book!!),
Roseanna Vitro, Eartha Kitt, Shirley Bassey, Barbara Cook, Amanda
McBroom, Toni Morrell. But Lafayette included a fleet of rising stars
and newly discovered "mega talents" like Francine Morin, Carol Mennie,
Randa Ghossoub (A new jazz sensation), Pamela Luss, Helene Feldman, etc... Read his book. It is stunning, rich, entertaining and an ESSENTIAL.
WORLD ART CELEBRITIES JOURNAL. Extra Edition.
DIVAS' WORLD
“One
of the strongest debut shows I’ve seen in my 20 years of cabaret going.
... a sophisticated blending of songs from the Great American Song
Book, the contemporary theatre and the realms of novelty and pop music.
She vamped playfully with Berlin’s Pack Up Your Sins and Go to the
Devil in Hades. She certainly made Hades sound heavenly!”
---Michael Nelsen, MN On Line
"I
was instantly charmed by this lady's opening song, a bright and bouncy
rendition of Berlin's "Let Yourself Go." Ms. Feldman has so much energy
and enthusiasm, plus a lot of self confidence, I was surprised to learn
that this was her cabaret debut.” “...she certainly seemed far too
young to have been a roommate in college with Melissa Etheridge, who's
song "Your Little Secret" sort of marks a turning point in the theme of
the show...” “Very cleverly funny songs and stories are sprinkled
through the show, and Helene showed great comic timing and delivery.”
“Another high point was a "bling-bling" medley that included a
performance of "Glitter And Be Gay" that was absolutely unique..."
---Stu Hamstra, Cabaret Hotline Online
"She
came on strong, with a powerful Let Yourself Go, following it with a
varied song list. Some were little-heard novelties that were handled
with panache. The Painless Dentist Song, for example, and Sex is a
Misdemeanor (“the more you miss, de meaner you get”). Feldman’s choice
of ballads provided contrast, and her renditions of My Ship, Children
Will Listen, and I Get Along Without You Very Well, demonstrated her
ability to deliver more serious lyrics effectively. As a debut
performer, Feldman can bask in the reflection of a job well done.”
---Peter Leavy, Cabaret Scenes
"As charming as Secunda's theatrical songs are, however, the real revelations of "Beyond 'Bei Mir Bist Du Sheyn'"
lay in the liturgical and concert works presented. For example,
most people are probably unaware that Secunda was responsible for the
standard version of "Shabbat Shalom" sung at synagogues and Hebrew
schools around the country. Performed by Helene Feldman,
Henry Carrey and the CBST Community Choir, the tune immediately
summoned a nimbus of childhood nostalgia; it's likely that many in the
audience were seized by the urge to sing along. (Fortunately, no one
did.)
--- Alexander Gelfand - The Forward
“
Helene’s set list was impeccable and she worked so well with Gerry, who
is a consummate accompanist, arranger and musician. She couldn't have
been in better hands. I loved Helene’s voice on many numbers. It's
very flexible between legit ("My Ship"), novelty ("Painless Little
Dentist Song", vamp (several!) and even rock ("Your Little Secret").
But NOTHING trumps watching someone who obviously has a joy and passion
for performing - and who does it so honestly and without pretense.
THAT'S Helene’s ace in the hole. As long as she retains those
qualities, I know I'll be at every show she does!”
- Hector Coris
"I
always enjoy seeing Helene on 'the scene' in New York City. She
radiates a positive enthusiasm (can you have a negative enthusiasm?),
and when I heard she was doing a show of her own that I could check out
(even with my busy schedule), I gladly attended. And I'm glad I
attended, for that sense of her joy you get when hanging out with her
was right up there on stage too. Dredged up some wonderful tunes
as well. The only thing the show was missing? Why, me
playing bass, of course. Then I would have been able to make it
to all the dates in the run. "Oh, and that picture on the post
card? Two words, babe: Hubba, hubba."
- Ritt Henn
“
I really enjoyed the show; well crafted and well paced. I really
enjoyed the song list and the choices on each one, acting and
musically.”
- Julie Reyburn