Lying to you through song

Once again, I'd like to give myself a little shameless plug, as it's time for yet another concert with the New York City Gay Men's Chorus. This time--next Monday, 8 p.m. at the Nokia Theatre in Times Square, to be precise--we're focusing on the music of Billy Strayhorn in a new work, "Take the A Train."

Never heard of Strayhorn? To be honest, neither had I until not too long ago, but I was certainly familiar with his work: "Satin Doll," "Lush Life," and, of course, the title song. Strayhorn, who is most known for his 20 years working with Duke Ellington, was an out gay man, and it's pretty darn obvious when you listen to his lyrics.

And, of course, it's not just us you'll be seeing. We've got two great soloists: Darius de Haas, who has put out a full album interpreting Strayhorn's work, and Judy Blazer, a dynamo who now has a supporting role in "LoveMusik." Writer Jeffrey Lane, last represented on Broadway with "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," penned the book, and Tony winner Joanna Gleason is directing the stage part of the show. Not a bad crew if I say so myself.

I'll admit that it took me a while to warm up to this music. I do like jazz, but I wasn't used to choral arrangements of it at all. The chromatics can be quite difficult to hear, particularly as it seems my part ends every single song on a sixth of a major. What's more, some of the baritone notes are NOT baritone notes, being much further down or even below the staff than I ever care to see! But I've truly come to enjoy it, and after hearing it with the entire band last night, I'm more confident than ever to egg people to come see this. One night only!

Oh, but I should warn you that the title song is a lie -- on weekends, at least. Seeing how sporadic A train service has been since the beginning of the year, it's no longer the quickest way to Harlem. Should we sing "You must take the D train" instead?