This is one of those times when yours truly has no clue WHERE to start! Karen Oberlin is such a phenomenal talent - gifted in multiple ways - that we might run out of room to describe HOW :-D The daughter of classical musicians - and granddaughter of vaudevillians, Karen learned how to play piano and flute as a child. She was playing cello in her county orchestra when she was young, too. But PLAYING music was only one of her interests. She was inspired by vocalists - drawn to Barbra Streisand, Ella Fitzgerald, and Doris Day - playing the latter in a well-received play. About PLAYS! Karen appeared in over 100 performances of the off-Broadway, "Our Sinatra." Yes, an actress ("All My Children" and Shakespeare to TV commercials) as well as consummate, story-telling singer. Add to that a Master Class Teacher of acting, singing and interpreting songs. This Mabel Mercer Foundation Award Winner feels comfortable in the Jazz world, as she does in Pop and Great American standard circles. A favorite of the New York Times, she has created fans from the most hard-core of critics (Rex Reed!) who have been reduced to rubble in trying to describe her charisma, expertise, and exquisite stage presence. The first "Maureen" in the extraordinarily successful, "Rent", Karen is at home in big rooms as well as more intimate ones. Feinstein's, The Oak Room at The Algonquin, London, Paris - they all know the name: Karen Oberlin. YOU will know her better, too, when she joins us in the third hour of "Hybrid Jazz" on 4/3/2014. She will be sharing her excitement about the new collaboration with guitar virtuoso, Sean Harkness. Called "A Wish", this CD focuses on the sheer beauty of one instrument and a voice - it's magical - and we'll hear tracks from it - as well as revel in Karen's journey :)
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