Composer Randy Edelman: “A Ghostly Affair” @ The Cutting Room in NYC 10/27/23
The hauntingly fabulous Composer Randy Edelman debuted at the chic NYC boîte de nuit The Cutting Room embracing his ghoulish antics and his eternally beautiful music in “A Ghostly Affair”, a Halloween celebration of the inversion of reality and a gothic ode to the darker aspects of life. Amidst the golden tapestry of autumn appeared the spirits of our ancient selves demanding recognition for one haunted night where danger lurks behind every corner. It was a night when the barrier between the whisper-thin veil of reality and magic came together in an enchanting and entrancing voyage through the music, song and story of Randy Edelman in a brimming and bewitching jam packed extravaganza.
Just like Halloween Randy Edelman’s television and motion picture soundtracks are a hybrid of mythologies and histories spawn from resistance, oppression, joy, mourning, romance, laughter, the obscure, and life itself. Credited for composing over 100 scores and TV musical themes he leaves his audience awestruck as he performs excerpts from “My Cousin Vinny”, “While You Were Sleeping”, “The Bruce Lee Story”, “Gettysburg”, “Twins”, “Dragonheart”, “Billy Madison”, the theme from “MacGyver”, “Last of the Mohicans”, and a marathon of others.
For “A Ghostly Affair” a single jack-o’-lantern (the mascot of the holiday)was supposed to have sat perched upon the piano. Its carved out scary face was to hold a single candle flickering inside. The plan was for Randy to enter the stage in darkness, sit down at the piano and play the horrifying themed soundtrack of the film “Diabolique” which follows the wife and mistress of an abusive schoolmaster, who finds themselves stalked by an unknown assailant after murdering him, and disposing of his body. Fitting for the night when the portal between the realm of the living and the dead is opened. Stone faced and serious upon ending the ominous spine-chilling epitaph he was supposed to simply rise and blow out the candle….silencing its restless amber flame….forever….But that didn’t quite happen…Still the Halloween spirit hovered about …..
The room did became saturated with the romance Randy is known for as a lyricist and pop song serialist. The details of his passionate entanglements…the flutter of a first glance, the ache of an unattainable or unrequited love have the power to evoke visceral reaction. His songs explore human connection while transcending all boundaries. Widely known for his song “A Weekend in New England” as recorded by Barry Manilow, “Isn’t it a Shame” recorded by Patti LaBelle, “My Place”, recorded by hip-hop, superstar Nelly, the sensitive “You” recorded by The Carpenters and so many more recorded by Olivia Newton-John, Willy Nelson, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Bing Crosby, Dionne Warwick, and a barrage of others.
His emotionally charged back stage tales add a captivating and compassionate flair to his showcase. Filled with sentiment, affection, and humor Randy becomes completely submerged in his thoughts and emotions, and his stories become a compelling and integral inclusion to the intimacy of the multi-award winning composer’s persona.
Then suddenly the most enthralling double grande finale that could possibly happen …did. Randy ended his performance with a gripping version of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” (from Carousel)….or at least he led us to believe it was the end (pleasantly it’s never really the end at any of his live shows)…..But then for the first time ever live he performed his newly released, riveting, encouragement for the planet song “Everything is Possible” to a celebratory fanfare.
Most recently his upcoming film scores include Dutch director Are De Jong’s Nashville Saga “Heart Strings” the family holiday caper, “Athena Saves Christmas”, the exorcism horror themed “Possession of Anne” and the documentary “Too Hot to Handle.” You can hear his newest and very timely release of “Everything is Possible”, (the inspiring pop hit song encouraging the underdogs of the world) on KISS FM and on radio stations throughout the nation. Randy does not wait for a troubled world to have an untroubled moment but rather grabs the wonderful moments you find laying around……
