June 26, 2005 – Boston-based singer-songwriter B. Iris Tanner, who is also a breeder of pedigreed cats and a licensed judge for the Cat Fanciers' Association, has released a studio CD of 15 original songs designed to appeal to animal lovers, cabaret fans, those who appreciate women's music, and many other types of listeners. In the tradition of John Bucchino's Grateful, Magnum Opuss is a compilation of songs by a single songwriter, performed by prominent cabaret singers from the New England area - Sophia Bilides, Jon-Daniel Durbin, Will McMillan, Jan Peters, Jinny Sagorin and Mary Scarlata-Rowe. Iris herself performs several songs.
The songs encompass an extraordinary variety of moods and subject matter, ranging from the adorably silly "Pets are Better" and "My Lover the Car" (which focuses on the connection between cars and sex) to the outrageous humor of "The Trouble with Men" and "Warning Labels" (which men should really come with), to the quietly inspirational tone of "The Only Way Out" and "Connections." And of course, there are a number of songs about taking a chance on love, several with surprising twists.
The CD's title is a play on the concept of a "magnum opus," meaning the chief work of a writer or artist, and Iris's connection with cats, which may or may not explain why the cover photo shows one of her regional award winning Turkish Angora cats posing with a magnum of champagne. A portion of the proceeds from CD sales is being donated to the Winn Feline Foundation to fund research into a genetic disorder that has recently shown up in this rare breed.
Iris's musical background encompasses many years of childhood piano lessons, accompanying experience for high school and college musicals, eight years of flute lessons, seven years of classical voice lessons and several solo concerts in her former incarnation as a lyric soprano. However, it includes no songwriting training whatsoever. This has not held her back in the slightest. Her songs have been performed at the 2002 Boston Cabaret Festival at Scullers, TCAN (The Center for the Arts in Natick), Blacksmith House at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education and Jimmy Tingle's Off Broadway Theater. Her song "Warning Labels" was selected for inclusion in the Boston Sings Boston III revue performed by Centastage at Club Café in fall 2003. She is a member of the Boston Association of Cabaret Artists and ASCAP.
In subsequent material, she weaned herself away from torch songs and began to focus more on the everyday absurdities of life and love. Her music evolved from eclectic folk to cabaret-style songs, known for witty and quirky lyrics and touches of humor. Will McMillan performed one of her lighter works, Nevertheless at the 2002 Boston Cabaret Festival at Scullers. Since then, her songs have also been performed at TCAN (The Center for the Arts in Natick) and at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education. In spring 2003, she was the guest songwriter at McMillan's Will and Company concert. Material from that concert was recorded for her second CD, Fresh-Cut Iris. Iris's song "Warning Labels" was selected for inclusion in the Boston Sings Boston III revue performed by Centastage at Club Café in fall 2003, and she recently became a member of ASCAP.
Other artists on the CD include:
Sophia Bilides, who received the 2005 IRNE Award for Best Female Cabaret Performer (Independent Reviewers of New England) for her show Young And Foolish / Are You Having Any Fun?, and was named one of Bay Windows' Top Ten Cabaret Performers of 2004.
Jon-Daniel Durbin, a veteran musical theater performer who has appeared in numerous leading musical roes, among them Frederik in A Little Night Music and the title role of Sweeney Todd, both at the Publick Theatre of Boston. Other notable starring roles include Harold Hill in The Music Man, Michael in I Do! I Do! and The Beast in Beauty and the Beast at Washington's Kennedy Center.
Will McMillan, a singer, songwriter and producer who hosted Will & Company, a concert series highlighing Boston-area singers and songwriters. It earned him a 2002 IRNE for Best Cabaret Show in a Small Venue. He performs with singer Bobbi Carrey in shows on Irving Berlin, Richard Rodgers, Broadway, and Hollywood.
Jan Peters, 2003 IRNE Award Winner (Best Female Cabaret Artist) and Bay Windows Newspaper "Best Cabaret Performer Of The Year 2002." Jan is a Eugene O'Neill Cabaret Symposium Fellow whose work draws from an extensive repertoire of Broadway and standard material.
Mary Scarlata-Rowe, cabaret performer, actress and founder of the Boston Association of Cabaret Artists (BACA), an organization that supports the art of cabaret throughout New England. She has performed her own cabaret shows around the Boston area, teaches children's drama classes and has recorded an album of inspirational music called Shepherd of My Heart.
Most musical arrangements and much of the piano accompaniment - not to mention all of the recording/mixing/engineering - were done by Doug Hammer at his Dreamworld Studios. Pianist Jim Rice arranged and played one song for Jan Peters, and Joe Della Penna arranged and played 4 songs for Iris and Jon-Daniel Durbin.
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