“I Can Cook Too” at the Algonquin Salon’s Happy Birthday Bernstein Celebration
August 23, 2009 was very special at the Salon. Two days after, on the 25th, it would have been composer Leonard Bernstein’s (pronounced BernstAHEEN, there was some confusion) 91st Birthday. Mark Janas, the co-host of the Salon and pianist, was a protege and assistant to Bernstein, so this evening meant a lot to him. It turned out to be part open mic in Bernstein’s name and part rehearsed concert, with many people bringing in solos, duets and trios of his work from shows like On The Town, Candide, Trouble in Tahiti, West Side Story, and many others. I was asked