Interview with Cory Jamison
by Charles Wixson

Other than being reminded of Dorothy Fields, you probably don't think of women songwriters when you hear the description "Tin Pan Alley." In fact, other than Ms. Fields, were there any women songwriters plying their trade alongside those famous male music magicians whose names (Porter, Gershwin, Kern, Berlin, etc.) are so associated with that fabled Manhattan district? You need ponder the question no longer -- at THE PLUSH ROOM (940 Sutter Street, 415-885-2800) on Tuesday, March 27th at 8 pm Cory Jamison's latest show, "The Women of Tin Pan Alley," answered it for you.

Ms. Jamison, along with musical director Mike Greensill and bassist Bill Douglas, performed a program of songs written by the women who helped make Tin Pan Alley famous. "The Women of Tin Pan Alley" was first heard at Davenports in Chicago last November eliciting praise from the Chicago Tribune's Arts Critic, Howard Reich. The idea for this show came to Jamison when she saw a documentary devoted to early women songwriters. Entertainer Peter Mintun, who played a major role in that documentary, freely helped Jamison with ideas and information to construct this tribute, which she hopes will eventually be of particular interest to groups that focus on women's history.

Jamison, who was born in Virginia but traveled extensively as a child of a military family, studied voice at Indiana University's conservatory of music and cabaret performance technique as a fellow at the Eugene O'Neill Cabaret Symposium. Although her initial years at Indiana were as a music major, she switched to English when she realized that the classical music training for which Indiana's music conservatory is famous did not quite fit her voice or her preferred singing style. Although she loves opera, lieder and other classical music she does not regret having earned her degree in English. In fact, she attributes her appreciation of lyrics and the desire to fill them with meaning to the careful reading and interpretation of literature demanded by her English studies.

Jamison's academic attitude can be seen in the intelligence and sophistication she brings to her performances, making them well-researched educational experiences instead of just songs linked together with clever but forgettable commentary. The stories and anecdotes she told during "Here's to Hoagy" were as interesting and refreshing as was her performance. Jamison's gentle, humorous, sometimes-winsome manner makes the information meld perfectly with the songs, just as her phrasing and vocal technique so perfectly complement the lyrics she chooses that one never feels anything but peaceful and relaxed during her performances.

Cory told me during a conversation the other day that she enjoys historical themes and composers and that she is drawn to songwriters who are underdogs in the performance world because they don't get the air play given Porter, Gershwin, Berlin, Mercer, Kern and other often-performed songwriters. Coming, as she does, from a family of academically oriented history buffs this approach is not at all surprising; neither is her educated and erudite conversation style. Although

Jamison enjoys doing extensive research merely to expand her own knowledge, she only adds an item to a show if she thinks audiences might also find it interesting and memorable because she seeks to educate audiences without boring them. Her use of little known songs and interesting anecdotes achieves that goal perfectly.

Jamison feels that her added work is paying off because many audience members have commented to her that they haven't before heard some of the songs she performs or the stories she tells, and that they find it all very interesting and enjoyable. Jamison is trying to find new audiences for cabaret, and she finds it particularly satisfying when she hears from audience members in their 20s and 30s that when they look for something romantic and intimate they find that a cozy cabaret such as The Plush Room, with subdued lights, a cocktail at hand and sophisticated and perfectly performed music, provides the ideal ambience. They are also glad to have discovered the stylish music that is so essential to the creation of that mood.

Jamison's next project focuses on the singers of the Stan Kenton Band, particularly June Christy, Anita O'Day and Chris Connor. Sadly, we in the San Francisco area may have to wait some time to directly enjoy the results of her efforts because in May Cory will be moving to Tokyo with her husband Mark for a period of 6 months or so. Hopefully, her latest project will result in a CD so we can continue to enjoy Cory Jamison's warm, intelligent sound while she is away. While in Japan, Cory hopes to find performance work but she promises to return every couple of months to keep current with engagements here and in Chicago and New York.

Meanwhile, I hope you didn't miss Cory Jamison's latest show Tuesday evening, March 27th at The Plush Room. If her "Here's to Hoagy" was an indicator, "The Women of Tin Pan Alley" was not only beautifully performed but was also filled with interesting information and numerous little-known facts about the women who helped smooth the way for today's many successful women songwriters.

Charles Wixson

Copyright © 2001 Charles Wixson

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