Singer to celebrate new CD with master musicians

From left, Eric Kilburn, Billy Novick, Bill Reynolds, Diane Taraz, Peter Tillotson and Mike Duke.

UPDATED, March 6: On March 10, you will be able to spend an evening enjoying beloved standards and new songs that sound like old favorites, but not on Saturday, Jan. 13, at 8 p.m. at First Parish UU Church, Arlington Center.

Because of forecast rain turning to ice, Diane Tarazpostponed plans to celebrate her latest recording in January, "Let's Misbehave!," with vocals backed by world-class players: Billy Novick on clarinet and sax, Larry Luddecke on piano, Mike Duke on guitar, Peter Tillotson on bass, and Bill Reynolds on drums. Eric Kilburn, who recorded the CD at his studio Wellspring Sound, will handle sound and present a highly caffeinated mandolin solo on "The Coffee Song."

Selections include the title tune, plus "Georgia on My Mind," Billie Holiday's "God Bless the Child," John Prine's "Angel From Montgomery" and Fats Waller's "Ain't Misbehavin'."

Taraz croons "Someone to Watch Over Me" in French and asks an age-old question in her song "Why, Oh Why, Are There Mosquitoes?" Then she leads the band through a take-no-prisoners medley of "Wonderful World," "Cupid" and "Johnnie B. Goode," playing her lap dulcimer, always the first choice for rock 'n' roll.

The concert will include songs from her first romp through the standards, "Let's Do It!." Swing to "Summertime," "Autumn Leaves," "Since I Fell for You" and "La Vie en Rose," plus "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" on dulcimer.

Diane’s mischievous side will be on display with her rendition of "Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor on the Bedpost Overnight?," in which she rattles off gazillions of gum brands between the silly verses. And she will invite the audience to sing along to her classic composition "Let's Go Canoeing on Lake Chargoggagoggmanchaugaggoggchaubunagungamaug" (you can prepare by practicing with her YouTube video). 

First Parish building is accessible; suggested donation $20. Details are at www.dianetaraz.com, and through that website you can hear clips from the new CD, as well as Diane's many other recordings, and find links to her YouTube videos. 

This news announcement was published Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017, and updated March 6, 2018.