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Jeff Harnar
Musical artist From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Jeff Harnar is an American cabaret singer, director, and recording artist.
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]
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Critical reception
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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]
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Discography
Albums
- Jeff Harnar Sings Sammy Cahn: The Second Time Around (PS Classics 2024)[57]
- A Collective Cy: Jeff Harnar Sings Cy Coleman (PS Classics, 2023)[58]
- I Know Things Now: My Life in Sondheim's Words (PS Classics, 2022)[59]
- Dancing In The Dark (PS Classics, 2005)[60]
- Sammy Cahn: All the Way (Jerome Records, 2001)[61]
- Because of You: Fifties Gold (Varèse Sarabande Records,1997)[62]
- 1959 Broadway Songbook (Original Cast Records, 1991)[63]
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References
External links
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