In 2006
my partner Rob and I decided we wanted to live in warmer weather
(déjà
vu all over again), so we moved to Palm Springs.
Having retired from full-time teaching in 2000, I looked forward
to a life of leisure in the Coachella Valley, perhaps doing a
little music work on the side. Silly me -- I soon found out that
being "retired" means working harder than ever (but for less
money).
My move to Palm Springs coincided with the opening of the lovely
new public library in Rancho Mirage in 2006. Many of my
"retirement" hours have been spent doing reading and 'riting and
'rithmetic in this inspiring facility -- in fact I'm typing
these words even as we speak.
After settling in Palm Springs, my first continuing venue was at
The Fountains at the Carlotta, a retirement community in Palm
Desert, where I directed their choral group. In 2010 I arranged
a program of songs about traveling the USA for the Carlotta
Singing Fountains. At that same time I was working as musical
director for Justin Blake's stage production of "No Way To Treat
a Lady," whose cast included local actor Matt Shaker. Matt
surprised me by designing a wonderful poster for the Singing
Fountains event. The concert performance included a
heart-warming rendition of "Anywhere I Wander," sung by resident
member Agnes Page.
Traveling
the USA! poster, 2010
Anywhere I
Wander / Side by Side, performed by Agnes
Page and Carlotta Singing Fountains, narrated by Pat
Karasik and Dick Thurber, arranged and accompanied by
Denis, 2010
Another Palm Desert venue emerged in 2010, this time at a condo
community named Hidden Palms. Singer Ron Cohn wanted to present
an annual cabaret show, and what better place than in his living
room? Thus was born "Hidden Palms Salon," an intimate space for
twenty (twenty-five if everyone snuggles up).
A few years into our run, I began arranging special material
which Ron and I could sing as duets. The 2015 song "When the
Red, Red Robin" became a sort of tour de force
wherein I performed on both piano and ukulele (almost at the
same time).
Ron Cohn welcoming one and all
to Hidden Palms Salon, 2017
Denis welcoming the
birds
at The Desert Princess, 2006
When the Red,
Red Robin, performed by Ron Cohn and Denis,
arranged and accompanied by Denis, 2015
One of the dreams held by all performers in the Palm Springs
area is to "play the McCallum." My dream came true in 2010, when
California Desert Chorale was invited to participate in a gala
fall concert. As it turned out, I not only played-at but also
arranged-for the theatre.
Artistic Director Tim Bruneau asked me to write a special
arrangement of "The Star-Spangled Banner" for the concert.
Putting on my best "what-shall-I-borrow?" arranger's hat, I
decided to build my arrangement on two previous versions of the
national anthem. In 1984 my old friend and colleague Louis Magor
had arranged the work when he was directing the San Francisco
Boys Chorus, in an cappella version for sopranos and
altos. Then in the 1990s my newer friend and colleague John
Sullivan had taken Lou's arrangement and re-arranged it for
Ragazzi Boys Chorus, by adding parts for tenors and basses,
still a cappella.
So, continuing their tradition, in 2010 I took Lou+John's
arrangement and re-re-arranged it for California Desert Chorale,
adding an introduction, parts for adult voices, and a piano and
instrumental accompaniment. I don't know whether Francis Scott
Key is rolling in his grave, but, lest there be any cosmic
repercussions, in the photos below I want to give full credit to
the triumvirate of men responsible for the Lou+John+Denis
arrangement.
Lou Magor, arranger
#1, 2012
John Sullivan, arranger #2, 2017
Denis, arranger #3, 2011
The
Star-Spangled Banner, performed by
California Desert Chorale and Chamber Orchestra,
arranged and accompanied by Denis, conducted by Tim
Bruneau, 2010
Indian Wells Theater, California State
University at San Bernadino, Palm Desert Campus:
2007 saw the completion of a new venue in town, with the rather
unwieldy name of "Indian Wells Theater at California State
University at San Bernadino, Palm Desert Campus." It became
referred to as the "Indian Wells Theater," which added to the
confusion, seeing as the theater is not actually located in the
adjacent town of Indian Wells.
California Desert Chorale was the first group to perform at the
newly opened venue and has presented many concerts there in
subsequent years. In 2014 the Chorale planned a program
featuring works by British composers. As part of a medley of
songs by Andrew Lloyd Webber, artistic director Tim Bruneau
asked me to perform a piano solo of "King Herod's Song" from Jesus
Christ Superstar. One thing led to another (all described
in Tim's narration on the recording).
In one of those classic show-biz bits that the audiences loved,
each night right before the work began I would transform myself
into an old-style ragtime pianist by exaggeratedly doffing a
straw hat, in vivid contrast to my black tux. Viva la Joplin.
Tim Bruneau and Denis, 2015
King Herod Rag,
performed by California Desert Chorale Chamber
Orchestra, narrated by Tim Bruneau, arranged and
conducted by Denis, 2014
One of the highlights I cherished from my San Francisco
production Spoonful of Sugar was the Jacques Brel song
"If We Only Have Love." At one point I mentioned this to Tim
Bruneau, and he encouraged me to arrange the song for California
Desert Chorale. I renovated my original 1971 work by adding
vocal soloists and instrumental accompaniment.
Upon hearing the first draft, Tim invited me to rehearse and
conduct the work during performances. Little did he or the
singers know that it had been twenty-three years since I had
previously stood in front of a chorus and orchestra as a
conductor! However, everything went well and I really enjoyed
Tim's generosity and the audience's responses.
California Desert Chorale and Chamber Orchestra, 2015
If We Only Have
Love, performed by California Desert
Chorale and Chamber Orchestra with vocal soloists
Laura Stave and Charles Herrera, accompanied by
pianist Tim Bruneau, arranged and conducted by Denis,
2013
Beginning around 2007, a local entertainer who loves old
Broadway and Hollywood songs presented a popular show at various
Coachella Valley venues. The entertainer is Jim Borax, and his
show was entitled "Jim Borax's Sing-Along and Talent Revue." He
would distribute song lyric books to the audience and lead them
in singing old standards.
I started playing for Jim's shows around 2010. At that time
about 70% of each show consisted of audience sing-alongs, with
30% being solos by professional singers. I've continued playing
for Jim's shows since then and have noted an interesting trend:
Today in 2017 about 10% of each show consists of audience
sing-alongs, with 90% being solos and duets by professional
singers and dancers. Jim's shows are now entitled "Jim Borax's
California Cabaret."
(As an aside:This trend is consistent with the demographics of
Coachella Valley. Older audiences are replaced by younger
audiences, who know less and less of the old standards and have
less and less experience with sing-alongs. It also illustrates
the difference between San Francisco and Palm Springs audiences:
I quit the piano-bar trade thirty years ago, in 1986, partly
because the audiences were becoming less and less familiar with
the old standards. Palm Springs residents are in general thirty
years older than San Francisco residents. So time is catching up
with all of us.)
Back to the business at hand: In 2017 Jim Borax's California
Cabaret presented a very successful show at a new venue for us,
the Marina City Club in Marina Del Rey. For that occasion I
finalized a duet for Perry Ojeda and Mary Ann Hermansen, wherein
I re-arranged a 1969 TV performance by Sammy Davis, Jr. and
Diana Ross, wherein Sammy and Diana had performed a medley of
music made famous by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in the
1930s. I wanted to call it "Perry & Mary Ann singing Sammy
& Diana singing Fred & Ginger," but common sense
prevailed. The arrangement became "Tribute to Fred and Ginger."
In my seventh year in Palm Springs
Marina City Club,
2017
Mary Ann and Perry, 2017
Tribute to Fred
and Ginger, performed by vocal soloists
Perry Ojeda and Mary Ann Hermansen, arranged and
accompanied by Denis, 2017
In
my first year in Palm Springs, I served as musical
director and pianist for a great production of Closer
Than Ever. Director David McLaughlin
welcomed me to the wonderful world of Coachella
Valley music.
Closer Than Ever
poster, 2006
In
my seventh year in Palm Springs, I worked with Lisa
Robinson in her stage production of Flying Scud!,
a nineteenth-century melodrama brought into the
twenty-first century. I had so much fun arranging and
playing the music, as evidenced by my very smiley face you
see at the top of chapter 1 in
this website.
Denis playing
for Ragazzi Boys Chorus, 2017
In
my twelfth year in Palm Springs, I traveled to
San Francisco to serve as guest accompanist for
a concert by Ragazzi Boys Chorus. Director Joyce
Keil welcomed me back to the wonderful world of
Ragazzi music.
Mary Ann and Perry, 2017 
