I have a concert coming up. It’s quite a special concert. It’s me performing my comedy songs with a symphony orchestra on Sunday November 24, and I’m calling it The Mid-30s Guide to the Orchestra.
The Oistrakh Symphony of Chicago and their music director Mina Zikri have given me this extraordinary opportunity. I’m the composer, lyricist, arranger, host, singer, pianist, bass guitarist, and very occasionally conductor and ukuleleist ukulelist string-strummer.
You’ll hear songs from my album Pumpkins with technicolor sound: “Symphony No 1 in Eb”, the “Root Vegetable Opera”, “Book Club”, and “Love is a Four-Letter Word” are all in there.
I’ve written some brand new songs specially for this show, I’ll teach you some questionable musical history, and yes I will do “I am a Cat” with violins emulating the scratching of claws.
I even have bandmates – Paul Desman on guitar and Michael Donley on drums, both of whom I perform with in RIFF. So what are you waiting for? Book now!
The Mid-30s Guide to the Orchestra
Sunday November 24, 7pm
Holtschneider Performance Center, DePaul University School of Music (2330 N Halsted St, Chicago)
Tickets ($30/$20/$10) are on sale now.
