Singer promises to draw audience in with de-lovely music

Posted Thursday, July 14, 2005

2-minute drill by Joan G. Broz

A quick chat with a Naperville newsmaker

Chicago entertainer Bradford Newquist plans to present a simply de-lovely evening of the unmistakable music of Cole Porter tonight in Naperville.   Newquist’s distinctive voice, elegant style and smooth delivery of songs such as “Night & Day,” “Let’s Do It” and “Anything Goes” craft an exciting musical tour of Porter’s songbook.

How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it?

My repertoire is a collection of standards, jazz, pop and Broadway. Great big band singers like Mel Torme have influenced me. I feel my concerts are a modern twist to the days of supper club acts.  No matter how small or large the venue, I try to pull my audience in by giving them a very personal experience.

What type of musical accompaniment is part of your show?

It really depends on the show and the venue. It can be anything from the simplicity of a single piano to a small orchestra. Typically I use a trio of piano, bass and drums. For my Naperville show, my musical director, William Underwood, will accompany me on piano.

What are a few of your career highlights?

My Cole Porter show for the Chicago Symphony Center and my performing on the Rotterdam’s 25th World Cruise were two of my biggest thrills.

Is entertaining on a cruise ship the complete opposite of singing at a library?

Actually, no. The settings are obviously quite different, but the actual performances are the same for me.

What do you like about performing Porter’s music?

Each song is like performing a mini-musical, filled with wit and, at the same time, great passion.

What is it about Cole Porter’s music that made him a legend?

Cole Porter is one of America’s most celebrated composers. He was a master at song writing, which is considered to be a complicated craft. One reason is that he didn’t collaborate with a lyricist; instead he wrote all his own lyrics. Another reason might be that he wrote songs about the world he lived in — a world of penthouses, chiffon and champagne. He was very wealthy, as was his family, and coming from the Depression era, his music was exciting to hear.

How many songs did Cole Porter write?

In all the things I’ve read about him, it never gives an actual number of songs. I did read that over his lifetime he averaged a song a day and a Broadway musical a year.

What is a little known fact regarding Porter’s music?

Porter once said he wrote his lyrics as if he was doing the New York Time’s crossword puzzle. When you listen to some of his songs like “Let’s Do It,” you might wonder if he was just trying to drive singers crazy learning the lyrics.

What piece of advice would you offer to someone thinking of a singing career?

Go to medical school!

Seriously, I would advise that they make sure this is the only profession that would fulfill them. While it can be very rewarding, it does have its challenges. I also feel it’s important to get as much training and education as possible, both in schools and with private teachers.

Can you describe your latest CD, “Home?”

This collection is an invitation into my home, centered in my passion for music and its transforming potential. Music celebrates life and inspires each of us to live our dreams.

Making a living doing something that I’m so passionate about is such a gift. Two years ago, I had to have a serious operation in which there was a chance my voice would be altered or seriously damaged. But I bounced back completely, and this album is my way of being so grateful for everything — for life, music and a wonderful surrounding of friends and family.

How do you keep your performances fresh and exciting for yourself?

That is easy — the absolute love of my craft and my audiences.