Jeff Harnar

Last updated
Jeff Harnar
Jeff harnar.jpg
Harnar in 2019
Background information
Born (1959-07-27) July 27, 1959 (age 65)
Manhattan Beach, California
Genres Pop standards, showtunes
Labels PS Classics
Website www.jeffharnar.com

Jeff Harnar is an American cabaret singer, director, and recording artist.

Contents

Early life and education

Harnar's family relocated often when he was a child, living in California, Chicago and elsewhere. During this period of his life he was "dreaming and planning for a career in musical comedy". [1] He transferred from Southern Methodist University to New York University. [1] Harnar's early hopes of Broadway roles were met with scarce opportunities, so he transitioned to cabaret. [1]

Career

Harnar has performed for over four decades [2] [3] [4] at cabaret venues in New York: the Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel, Feinstein's 54 Below, [5] Feinstein's at the Regency, [6] The Firebird Cafe, [7] The Ballroom, [8] The Russian Tea Room, [9] the Laurie Beechman Theatre, and Birdland; [10] in Los Angeles and San Francisco: the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel [11] and the Plush Room at the York Hotel; [12] and The Pheasantry [13] in London.

Harnar has collaborated with cabaret, jazz, and musical theatre artists including KT Sullivan, [14] Liz Callaway, [15] Nicholas King, [16] Nicole Zuraitis, [17] MOIPEI Trio, [18] Jon Weber, [19] Sondra Lee, [20] Clint Holmes, [21] Sally Mayes, [22] Gabrielle Stravelli, [23] Julie Wilson, [24] and The McGuire Sisters (opening act). [25]

Directing cabaret, he has worked with Tovah Feldshuh, [26] Rita Gardner, [27] Dawn Derow, [28] Josephine Sanges, [29] Renee Katz, [30] Margo Brown, [31] Judi Mark, [32] Anna Bergman, [33] Becca Kidwell, [34] and Ari Axelrod. [35]

Critical reception

Reviewer Stephen Holden commented that while Harnar fit the mold of Robert Morse, the dearth of Broadway musical comedy roles led to Harnar's emulating Michael Feinstein instead. [36] In 1991, Holden observed Harnar's evolution from an overly emotive performance style to a more controlled manner with both comic and lyrical strengths. [37] When Harnar performed Vincente Minnelli's songs, Holden perceived Harnar's pop baritone as a "hybrid between Larry Kert and Johnny Mathis". [38] In 2008, Holden added that Harnar and Cole Porter were a "perfect fit", while Harnar's earlier performance of Cy Coleman's songbook showed their stylistic differences. [39] In Harnar's 2013 show, Holden identified a tone of self-lacerating critique and a style of humor that was "lightly dusted with arsenic", versus Harnar's more chipper manner in decades past. [40] Holden noted that Harnar's 2014 performance with KT Sullivan subverted gender roles, bending familiar songs to "reflect the era of same-sex marriage, gender fluidity and the dissolution of traditional roles". [41]

Regarding Harnar's performance of Sammy Cahn's songbook, Liza Minnelli reportedly said “I wish Sammy could have heard this; he would have loved it. I certainly did.” [42]

Awards

Harnar has won MAC Awards (Manhattan Association of Cabarets) for best male vocalist, major male artist, celebrity artist, outstanding revue, major recording, and best director. [43] [44] [45] [46] [47] He received Bistro Awards for best newcomer, best male vocalist, outstanding show, outstanding revue, and best director. [48] [49] [50]

Harnar has won five BroadwayWorld Cabaret Awards as a performer and two as a director. [51] [52] He was awarded the Mabel Mercer Foundation Mabel Mercer Award in 2022, [53] received the Donald F. Smith Award in 2015, [54] and received the Noel Coward Cabaret Award in 2012. [55] He became the National Honoree of the Chicago Cabaret Professionals in 2022. [56]

Discography

Albums

References

  1. 1 2 3 Holden, Stephen (1989-10-21). "Life Isn't Always a Cabaret". The New York Times. Retrieved 2025-02-25.
  2. ↑ Greenberg, Bart (24 June 2023). "Jeff Harnar and Alex Rybeck: Our 40th Anniversary Songbook". Cabaret Scenes. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  3. ↑ "Jeff Harnar". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  4. ↑ Holden, Stephen (4 August 1988). "Review/ Cabaret: A New Singer of Songs". The New York Times . Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  5. ↑ Higgins, Molly. "Jeff Harnar is Revisiting Sammy Cahn With an Expanded Album and 54 Below Concerts". Playbill. Playbill, Inc. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  6. ↑ Gans, Andrew. "Ziemba, Callaway, Reams and Marcovicci to Join Harnar for A Collective Cy". Playbill.com. Playbill. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  7. ↑ "Firebird Cabaret Set to Fly". New York Daily News. Tribune Publishing. 12 January 1998. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  8. ↑ Greenberg, Bart (20 September 2019). "Jeff Harnar: Carried Away". Cabaret Scenes. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  9. ↑ "Award-Winning Cabaret, Concert, and Recording Artist Jeff Harnar Continues The Bradstan Cabaret Series". The Eldred Preserve. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  10. ↑ Cohen, Alix (14 March 2024). "Jeff Harnar: It's De-Lovely: Jeff Harnar Sings Cole Porter". Cabaret Scenes. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  11. ↑ Martinez, Julio (24 July 1997). "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever". Variety.com. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  12. ↑ "A Stellar Convention Lineup / Cabaret stars crowd into San Francisco". SFGate. Hearst Communications, Inc. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  13. ↑ "Jeff Harnar Sings Sammy Cahn – The Pheasantry". Musical Theatre Review. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  14. ↑ Callahan, Steve. "KT Sullivan and Jeff Harnar pay tribute to Sondheim at the Gaslight Cabaret Festival, March 11 and 12". KDHX. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  15. ↑ Culwell-Block, Logan. "Hear Cabaret Favorite Jeff Harnar Cover City of Angels' 'With Every Breath I Take'". Playbill.com. Playbill. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
  16. ↑ Fassler, Ron (21 October 2024). "Jeff Harnar Sings Sammy Cahn". Theater Pizzazz. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  17. ↑ Higgins, Molly. "Jeff Harnar is Revisiting Sammy Cahn With an Expanded Album and 54 Below Concerts". Playbill.com. Playbill. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
  18. ↑ Fassler, Ron (21 October 2024). "Jeff Harnar Sings Sammy Cahn". Theater Pizzazz. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  19. ↑ Culwell-Block, Logan. "Jeff Harnar to Share My Life in Sondheim's Words With New Solo Album". Playbill.com. Playbill. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  20. ↑ Patterson, Denny (21 July 2022). "Exclusive: Nightclub and Concert Artist Jeff Harnar". Instinct. Instinct Magazine. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  21. ↑ Lester, Marilyn (3 August 2024). "Jeff Harnar at 54 Below—A Triumphant Evening Celebrating Sammy Cahn, a CD and a Birthday". Nitelife Exchange. ScoBar Entertainment. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  22. ↑ Higgins, Molly. "Jeff Harnar is Revisiting Sammy Cahn With an Expanded Album and 54 Below Concerts". Playbill.com. Playbill. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  23. ↑ Fassler, Ron (21 October 2024). "Jeff Harnar Sings Sammy Cahn". Theater Pizzazz. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  24. ↑ Delatiner, Barbara (11 August 1991). "Long Island Guide: AIDS Benefit". New York Times. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  25. ↑ Drake, David. "The Cabaret Beat: A Collective Cy". Playbill.com. Playbill. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  26. ↑ Viagas, Robert. "Tovah Feldshuh Seeks to Prove Aging Is Optional in NYC and the Hamptons August 1–5". Playbill.com. Playbill. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  27. ↑ Breyer-Grell, Melody (4 September 2018). "A Conversation with Rita Gardner". Cabaret Scenes. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  28. ↑ Dain, Frank (3 December 2021). "A Conversation with Dawn Derow". Cabaret Scenes. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  29. ↑ Cohen, Alix. "Josephine Sanges: How My Heart Sings". Woman Around Town. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  30. ↑ Mathis, Winston (27 November 2024). "Renee Katz at Don't Tell Mama". Nitelife Exchange. ScoBar Entertainment. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  31. ↑ Chanin, Myra (8 June 2018). "Margo Brown's Birthday Debut at Don't Tell Mama". Theater Pizzazz. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  32. ↑ Lester, Marilyn (28 September 2023). "Judi Mark Reprises "Merely Marvelous—The Songs of Gwen Verdon" on Wednesdays, October 4 and 11 at Don't Tell Mama". Nitelife Exchange. ScoBar Entertainment. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  33. ↑ Sander, Roy. "Anna Bergman". Bistro Awards. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  34. ↑ Greenberg, Bart (21 November 2023). "Becca Kidwell: If You Hadn't but You Did: Songs of Love, Sex and Murder". Cabaret Scenes. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  35. ↑ Poretz, Andrew (2024-02-06). "A Stunning, Emotional Win for This Cabaret Star". Theater Pizzazz. Retrieved 2025-02-25.
  36. ↑ Holden, Stephen (1989-10-06). "Review/Cabaret; A Jeff Harnar Evening Of Comden and Green". The New York Times. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
  37. ↑ Holden, Stephen (1991-02-22). "Critic's Choice". The New York Times. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
  38. ↑ Holden, Stephen (1993-06-04). "Sounds Around Town". The New York Times. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
  39. ↑ Holden, Stephen (2008-05-31). "Jeff Harnar Basks in Cole Porter's Anything-Goes World". The New York Times. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
  40. ↑ Holden, Stephen (2013-01-23). "Jeff Harnar Cabaret at Laurie Beechman Theater". The New York Times. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
  41. ↑ Holden, Stephen (2014-07-10). "KT Sullivan and Jeff Harnar Reflect a New Era". The New York Times. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
  42. ↑ "Jeff Harnar Sings Sammy Cahn, the Second Time Around". bocaratonobserver.com. 2025-01-09. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
  43. ↑ "MAC Awards - 1989 Year by Year". MACNYC.org. Manhattan Association of Cabarets. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  44. ↑ "MAC Awards - 2018 Year by Year". MACNYC.org. Manhattan Association of Clubs and Cabarets. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  45. ↑ "MAC Awards - 2023 Year by Year". MACNYC.org. Manhattan Association of Clubs and Cabarets. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  46. ↑ "MAC Awards - 2016 Year by Year". MACNYC.org. Manhattan Association of Clubs and Cabarets. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  47. ↑ "MAC Awards - 2024 Year by Year". MACNYC.org. Manhattan Association of Clubs and Cabarets. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  48. ↑ Eaker, Sherry. "Spotlight: Jeff Harnar, Appearing March 4". Bistro Awards. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  49. ↑ "Kelli Barrett, Molly Pope and Jarrod Spector Among Bistro Award Winners". Playbill.com. Playbill. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  50. ↑ Dain, Frank (31 January 2018). "2018 Bistro Award Winners Announced!". Cabaret Scenes. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  51. ↑ BWW Awards. "Winners Announced For The 2022 BroadwayWorld Cabaret Awards". BroadwayWorld.com. Wisdom Digital Media. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  52. ↑ "Cabaret: It's De-Lovely | Jeff Harnar Sings Cole Porter". The Eldred Preserve. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  53. ↑ "Interview: Jeff Harnar celebrates his new album A Collective Cy at London's The Pheasantry". Musical Theatre Review. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  54. ↑ "Donald F. Smith Award, and the Noel Coward Cabaret Award in 2012". Mabel Mercer Foundation. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  55. ↑ "Noël Coward Cabaret Award". Mabel Mercer Foundation. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  56. ↑ "Gala Honorees". Chicago Cabaret Professionals. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  57. ↑ Higgins, Molly. "Jeff Harnar is Revisiting Sammy Cahn With an Expanded Album and 54 Below Concerts". Playbill.com. Playbill. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  58. ↑ "A Collective Cy: Jeff Harnar Sings Cy Coleman". Spotify. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  59. ↑ "I Know Things Now: My Life In Sondheim's Words". Spotify. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  60. ↑ "Dancing in the Dark". Spotify. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  61. ↑ "Sammy Cahn: All The Way". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  62. ↑ "Because of You (Fifties Gold)". Spotify. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  63. ↑ "Jeff Harnar - Jeff Harnar Sings The 1959 Broadway Songbook". Discogs. 1991. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
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