Reviews
New England Entertainment Digest
Bobbi Carrey & Tomi Hayashi Release Between the Wars
January 2003
Boston cabaret performers, Bobbi Carrey and Tomi Hayashi, have debuted their new CD, Between The Wars: Music From 1918 To 1941. Between the World Wars, America was on a wild roller coaster ride and American pop music, like all of society, was dramatically transformed by the tumultuous decades between 1918 and 1941. Through songs by such writers as Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, the Gershwins, Sammy Fain and Johnny Mercer, Between the Wars explores the events of the times, from the post war highs of the frenzied 20s to the lows of the Depression, and back up the long hill to recovery and ultimately WW II.
Carrey and Hayashi trace the evolution of pop music from the “square” rhythms and jangling player pianos of 1918 to the hot Charleston rhythms of the 20s and on into the “Golden Years” of the 30s where they discover swing and follow it to the smooth powerful sound of the early 40s. The CD remembers a time when the “Greats” like Sophie Tucker, Al Jolson, Fats Waller, Rudy Vallee, Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire thrilled America with their unique talents and contributions to the “Great American Songbook.”
Having escaped from corporate America, Bobbi Carrey founded nowandthen Productions with Hayashi, offering cabaret performances that combine social history with popular American song. “Even though I wasn’t born until after World War II, I still feel like these songs tell my story,” says Carrey. “‘I’ll Be Seeing You,’ ‘What’ll I Do,’ ‘Ain’t Misbehavin;’ - these songs are timeless.” Carrey’s current shows include The Evolution of American Pop Music: from Rag to Rock n’ Roll; Music of the 1930’s: from Swing to Swoon; and Irving Berlin: the Voice of Everyman. Her other musical experiences range from Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes, to soloist with Nick Page’s Mystic Chorale, to a women’s vocal trio called The Mood Elevators. She has performed throughout New England, including CabaretFest! in Newburyport and Provincetown MA, Playwright’s Platform, The Footlight Club, the Blacksmith House, the Natick Center for the Arts, Tufts University, and at many private parties and events.
Tomi Hayashi comes relatively late to the cabaret scene, though not to music. He started classical piano lessons at age four and ended up studying harpsichord at New England Conservatory. During this time he played music ranging from Bach to John Cage. In college he began playing professional jazz piano, which led to ten years in restaurants from New York to Maine, as well as playing for Lea Delaria and George Abbott. Unafraid to rock or croon, he can perform Rudy Vallee and Rockabilly songs back to back in their original styles.
Between the Wars is available for online purchase at www.bobbicarrey.com, online at CDBaby and Amazon.com, or by mail for $17 (including shipping) to nowandthen Productions, 1 Aberdeen Way #119, Cambridge, MA 02138. Carrey and Hayashi both perform regularly in the New England area. For more information, call 617-797-5746, or visit www.bobbicarrey.com.