{"id":27190,"date":"2022-10-27T16:29:50","date_gmt":"2022-10-27T20:29:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=27190"},"modified":"2022-12-30T10:20:10","modified_gmt":"2022-12-30T15:20:10","slug":"composer-singer-songwriter-randy-edelman-performed-heartfelt-compositions-at-city-winery-offering-a-preview-of-his-shows-to-come-in-december","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=27190","title":{"rendered":"Composer\/Singer\/Songwriter Randy Edelman Performed Heartfelt Compositions at City Winery Offering a Preview of His Shows to Come in December"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Report by Brad Balfour

Along with Randy Newman, Paul Williams and Van Dyke Parks among others, pop singer\/songwriter Randy Edelman has established himself as a member of the snarky, eccentric songster sub-genre. The 75-year-old tells tales of failed love, unresolved relationships and unfulfilled dreams. Yet through it all, he sings of hope for the future. 

Edelman recently scored the upcoming film \u201cSkelly\u201d with Brian Cox (\u201cSuccession\u201d) and the demonic thriller \u201cThe Beast Inside.\u201d For the first time, Sony Classical has issued Pink Slime vinyl, digi- and CD versions of his classic score to \u201cGhostbusters II.\u201d New Edelman songs for the musical “Shortcut” are now available. And Post-covid, the single “Comin’ Out The Other Side” is out on Tribeca Records.
 
Along the way, Edelman has made visits to this town, gracing audiences with his uniquely crafted song stylizations and performances. Thanks to a surprise invite last August, I experienced his most recent NYC excursion. Gigging at the re-launched City Winery, relocated to Pier 57 on the city\u2019s far westside, this fabulous space provided the ideal environment for getting close and personal to such a musical talent.

I had seen him before and every time just deepened the experience. Thankfully, there won\u2019t be such a gap between Edelman’s last session and his next shows here. They\u2019ve been booked in December, right before Christmas, at two other fine venues \u2013 Don\u2019t Tell Mama (10 pm, Dec. 22) and Chelsea Table (9 pm, Dec. 23) where I had first seen him maybe a year ago.

Tickling the keys throughout the Pier 57 show I saw, Edelman displayed a low-keyed pride in his achievements while rattling off historic details. The Teaneck, New Jersey native is a fine-honed songwriter\/vocalist whose quirky tunes have a commercial tinge while being fatalistically romantic.
 
As a young boy, Edelman transcribed sounds into piano pieces. As he aged into college, he turned from pre-med to studying piano and composition at the Cincinnati Music Conservatory. He then jump-started his career with an arranging assignment at James Brown\u2019s Cincinnati-based King Records.

By 1970, Edelman had relocated to NYC becoming a CBS Records staff writer while playing piano in Broadway orchestras. Randy also began writing and recording his own LPs granting him an audience and a spot on \u201cTop of the Pops.\u201d 

Then a move to L.A. led him to make several albums. A myriad of artists started covering his originals. Examples: \u201cWeekend in New England\u201d (Barry Manilow), \u201cI Can’t Make Music\u201d (The Carpenters), and \u201cMy Place\u201d (Nelly) which reached Number 1 on the Billboard Hip Hop charts. 
 
Other tracks that have been covered include \u201cDown in the Everglades\u201d (Willie Nelson), \u201cIsn\u2019t it a Shame\u201d (Patti LaBelle), \u201cIf Love is Real\u201d (Olivia Newton John), \u201cBlue Street\u201d (Blood, Sweat & Tears) and Royal Philharmonic\u2019s \u201cGrey.\u201d Additionally, Edelman has opened live in huge arenas for such icons as Frank Zappa and The Carpenters. 
 
Which brings us back to the recent performance. Alternating his patter between self-effacing humor and snarkiness, Edelman sat at the piano as if there were no other place he\u2019d rather be. He opened the show with his forceful yet plaintive tune, \u201cDon\u2019t Forsake Me Now\u201d which tells a story of travel and time. Nice descriptions driven by the pulse of the piano and capturing grit in just a phrase.
 
Next, Edelman followed that one with \u201cThe Farmer,\u201d the opening cut from his first album of 50 years ago. A fine composition which encapsulates a feeling of loss, its rich cascade of piano chords drives his point home.
 
Edelman then related a story about two kids who heard his album and took him on tour. That brother\/sister duo, The Carpenters, loved a song of his, \u201cYou,\u201d so much that they recorded it, becoming a hit for them. Edelman\u2019s version is singularly touching, thanks to his emotive piano playing. 
 
After beginning with songs that convey such an air of innocence, his next tune more cynically tells of a downtown guy who finds his uptown woman. It turns into a story of a doomed relationship, flawed but hard to let go of. As Randy sings, he leaves his \u201cUptown, uptempo woman\u201d because he\u2019s just a \u201cDowntown, downbeat guy.\u201d
 
Then Edelman told of going back in the day to the offices of song publishers on West 56th Street. While schlepping his songs around, he met a guy who had worked with Joan Rivers and had a close relationship with Clive Davis. As Edelman noted, although the song was in 3\/4 waltz time (which no one seemed to think would work), it got sent over to that guy, Barry Manilow, and was perfect for him. His hit, \u201cWeekend in New England,\u201d was a tune of yearning, about the pain of love and the need that goes along with it.
 
Surprisingly, Edelman next performed a cover \u2014 Unit 4+2\u2019s 1965 hit, \u201cConcrete and Clay.\u201d A classic \u201860s pop tune not often heard, it\u2019s likely been an influence on Edelman\u2019s composing style. With a sweet-as-roses feeling, it\u2019s romantic and tender but with an edge.
 
From this set of tunes Edelman turned to performing, strictly on piano, his comedy movie medley which demonstrated another striking element of his career. Besides song-smithing, he\u2019s a remarkably successful composer of symphonic soundtracks and other cinematic compositions.

Edelman has been creating many of the world\u2019s best known soundtracks such as \u201cGhostbusters II\u201d, \u201c27 Dresses,\u201d \u201cWhile You Were Sleeping,\u201d \u201cThe Last of the Mohicans,\u201d \u201cKindergarten Cop,\u201d \u201cXXX,\u201d \u201cTwins,\u201d \u201cMy Cousin Vinny\u201d \u201cThe Mask\u201d \u201cBeethoven,\u201d \u201cDragon: The Bruce Lee Story,\u201d \u201cAnaconda,\u201d \u201cMummy 3,\u201d \u201cBilly Madison,\u201d \u201cLeap Year,\u201d \u201cEdTV\u201d and an array of others. 
 
In addition, he\u2019s scored numerous TV shows and series including \u201cMacGyver,\u201d \u201cMr. Sunshine,\u201d Netflix\u2019s \u201cBackdraft 2\u201d and HBO\u2019s \u201cCitizen X.\u201d He\u2019s also written music for HBO\u2019s NASA\u2019s final shuttle launch \u201cDare Mighty Things,\u201d ESPN\u2019s \u201cWimbledon, Grand Slam Tennis Series,\u201d \u201cESPN Sports Century\u201d and even NBC\u2019s on-air Olympic theme. 
 
After a few more songs, the busy-haired pianist performed another instrumental medley \u2014 this time, of his adventure films scores. Again, they demonstrated his composing power. Tight and driven by a broad melodic range, he illustrated why he\u2019s been so successful at getting on-going scores. 
 
Aside from Edelman\u2019s skill at crafting and orchestrating cinematic compositions, his song set demonstrated a sweep that displays a cinematic narrative. As he wound down his show with a few other tunes, he did another cover \u2014 of the classic \u201cMack The Knife\u201d \u2014 that further illustrated his unique flair. Despite having presented a show loaded with a range of moods and styles, the entire playlist fell under the distinct banner of \u201cAn Evening with Randy Edelman.\u201d 

For a discography and other details, check out:
randyedelman.com<\/a>

For details on his up-coming shows go to:
www.donttellmamanyc.com<\/a>
www.chelseatableandstage.com<\/a><\/p>\n

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