'A Silly Silhouette'

A New York Story: Songs By Louis Rubin

Feat. Liane Carroll, Ian Shaw, Alice Zawadzki, Karl Charity, Roger Carey, Dave Kelly & Dave Ohm

PizzaExpress Jazz Club (Soho)

Subway Serenade Records is proud to present these "New York Story" songs for this special lunchtime show. These songs, written in the 30s, 40s and 50s by Louis Rubin who died in 1984, lay dormant for decades until recently. The realisation of "Silly Silhouette - A New York Story" was made possible through the creativity and dedication of a group of amazing musicians including Liane Carroll (who also arranged the songs), Ian Shaw, Alice Zawadzki, Karl Charity, Roger Carey and Dave Kelly who perform today. 

£25.00
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The songs in this show​ ​ooze​ ​the incurable​ ​romanticism​ of their composer Louis Rubin ​and​ ​the​ ​New​ ​York​ ​vibe​ ​transports​ ​you back​ ​to​ ​the​ ​era​ ​of​ ​the​ rhumba,​ ​lindy​ hop ​and​ ​the​ ​swing​ ​dance​ ​halls​ ​of​ ​America.

Louis​ ​Rubin​ ​was​ ​born​ ​1920​ ​in​ ​Brooklyn,​ ​New​ ​York,​ ​the​ ​son​ ​of​ ​Russian​ ​immigrants and ​lived​ ​in​ ​a​ ​tiny​ ​apartment​ ​with​ ​eight​ ​siblings.​ By​ ​the​ ​age​ ​of​ ​16​ ​he​ ​was​ ​writing​ ​songs and​ ​jingles​ ​and​ ​sending​ ​them​ ​to​ ​any​ ​publisher​ ​he​ ​could​ ​find.  He​ ​wrote​ ​more​ ​than​ ​200​ ​songs​, many as a GI ​during​ ​World​ ​War​ ​II​ when he was stationed in Warrington, Cheshire. He​ ​married​ ​the​ ​subject​ ​of​ ​his​ ​many​ ​love​ ​songs, Beatrice,​ ​in​ ​1941 but a​ ​year later​ ​he​ ​was​ ​drafted​ ​into​ ​the​ ​US​ ​Army​ ​and​ ​was​ ​shipped​ ​to​ ​the​ ​UK,​ ​leaving​ ​behind​ ​his bride and a two​ ​month​ ​old​ ​baby. After​ ​three​ ​years​ ​away​ ​from​ ​his​ ​family,​ ​he​ ​returned​ ​home​ ​with​ ​his​ ​passion​ ​for song writing​ ​undiminished.

'​Silly​ ​Silhouette',​ Rubin’s best known song, ​was​ ​performed​ ​on​ ​the​ ​American​ ​TV talent​ ​show​ ​“Songs​ ​for​ ​Sale”​ ​in​ ​1951​ ​by​ ​Rosemary​ ​Clooney​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Ray​ ​Block Orchestra,​ ​when​ ​Lou​is ​appeared​ ​as​ ​a​ ​double​ ​act with his wife Beatrice.

Rubin​ ​died​ ​in​ ​1984​ ​at​ ​the​ ​age​ ​of​ ​64.​ ​Thanks​ ​to​ ​his​ ​younger​ ​daughter​ ​Suzan,​ ​who inherited​ ​his​ ​original​ ​sheet​ ​music,​ ​his​ ​songs​ ​have​ ​been​ ​brought​ ​to​ ​life​ ​by​ ​some​ ​of Britain’s​ ​top​ ​jazz​ ​musicians. 

The album of these songs will be available to buy at this show and proceeds from these sales goes to Royal Marsden Cancer Research and Side by Side Refugees.

Liane Carroll (vocals/piano)
Ian Shaw (vocals)
Alice Zawadzki (vocals and violin)
Karl Charity (vocals and trumpet)
Dave Kelly (vocals)
Roger Carey (bass)
Dave Ohm (drums)