Bolcom & Morris

“April in Paris” is the theme for the Kerrytown Concert House April 2021 Laughter at the Happy Hour concert with the second installment of excerpts from "An Evening of Popular Song," presented in 2012 at Thayer Hall in Los Angeles, California, featuring the iconic cabaret duo, William Bolcom & Joan Morris joined by talented friends, composer/pianist John Musto, soprano Amy Burton and baritone William Sharp. The program includes more songs from The Great American Songbook, but also celebrates French cabaret artists and composers, as well. A very special archival performance from these important and expressive artists!

Celebrate Joan's birthday on February 10 with another edition of Laughter at the Happy Hour! 

February 10th is Joan Morris’s birthday, and we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate it than to feature Joan and Bill for another next installment of Laughter at the Happy Hour. “One thing I loved about the Hobbit books,” Joan says, “is that on their birthdays, hobbits give presents to other people instead. So that’s what this program will be–my birthday present to our audience!” 

Joan and Bill, along with the SongFest Art Song Festival at Colburn, have graciously shared a concert video with us so that we can share it with you for Joan’s birthday. These excerpts from An Evening of Popular Song, presented in 2012 at Thayer Hall in Los Angeles, California, include songs from The Great American Songbook and feature Joan and Bill, but also, baritone William Sharp, soprano Amy Burton and pianist/composer, John Musto. A very special archival performance from these important and expressive artists!

Tune into "Live at the 415" at  5:30 PM EDT on February 10, 2021 at:https://www.kerrytownconcerthouse.com/live-at-the-415/

UPDATE: Another performance of LAUGHTER AT THE HAPPY HOUR is scheduled for October 29!  --- On Sept. 24, Kerrytown Concert House's new virtual series, Live at the 415, featured Bolcom and Morris presenting some of their favorite songs and stories from a lifetime of performing together in a show called "Laughter at the Happy Hour."

Joan now has her own "station" on Pandora! If you're not a Pandora user already, it's easy and free. It's an online music streaming service that will play music tailored to your musical interests. Click on the Pandora link to listen on your computer or download the Pandora app for iPhones and Android phones.

Joan Morris Radio won't just play songs featuring her own music - it will also bring you a play list of other music with similar qualities - melody, harmony, rhythm, form, composition and lyrics. You can expect a mix of ragtime, jazz, and vocal tunes - all selected by Pandora's magical "Music Genome" project to find music you will enjoy.

Let Me Sing and I’m Happy: The Memoir and Handbook of a Singing Actress by Joan Morris is the history of an actress who sings popular songs. It is also a handbook detailing Joan's approach to bringing the song to life.

Arts Alliance Medals for Arts, Sciences & Humanities event celebrates "outstanding and sustained artistic and creative accomplishments within the arts" 

Awarded annually, The Arts Alliance Medals for Arts, Sciences & Humanities honor and celebrate the extraordinary contributions and accomplishments of artists, creatives, individuals who live, work or attend school in Washtenaw County, Michigan. Medal recipients are celebrated for exemplary achievements in advancing the arts, sciences and humanities and increasing public awareness of the arts + creative industries in the greater Ann Arbor area and beyond. Medalists make their mark through their leadership, philanthropy and accomplishments setting the standard for excellence and serving as the example for others to follow. 

The Lifetime Achievement Medal is presented in recognition of outstanding and sustained artistic and creative accomplishments within the arts, sciences and/or humanities receiving national and or international acclaim. 

The award will be presented to Bill & Joan at a gala event in Ann Arbor on February 11, 2019. 

For more information, see: https://a3arts.org/the-party-2019/

Five events in London include masterclasses, concerts, and a special appearance by Bolcom & Morris

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This interview with William Bolcom, which took place on June 29,1986, also included the participation of his wife, mezzo-soprano Joan Morris. Bruce Duffie says: "As with some other musical couples that I’ve interviewed, on occasion they both responded to my questions together back and forth, and I was perceptive enough not to interrupt!" 

New York author Brian Kellow expressed deep appreciation for Bolcom & Morris's Dec. 26, 2016 performance at the Metropolitan Room.

Alex Cohen writes for Theater Pizzazz: "Selected songs date from 1894-2015, the former offered respectfully as written, not pastiche, the latter, delivered with the insouciance of more devil may care days."