Composer Randy Edelman Debuts @ The Cutting Room in NYC & Unmasks 1st Live Performance of “Everything in Possible”
No other season charms us quite as much as autumn with its majestic tapestry of flamboyant color and spectacle. The leaves change from their monochromatic greens to a vibrant palette of scarlet, amber, orange and gold. The crunch of the copper hued leaves beneath our feet creates a soothing soundtrack as the Aurelian sun bathes us in a soft ethereal glow….But the coolest and most dazzling soundtracks of the season and every season were celebrated LIVE this weekend when the world renowned composer Randy Edelman debuted at the iconic nightspot “The Cutting Room” in the pulse of NYC.
The multi-award winning Symphonist burned brightly like a musical torch as thousands of yellow sycamore leaves broke from their life support soaring across the crowded streets of New York. It was a warm evening, a last farewell to summer and a prelude to the ghoulish affair of Halloween…The room became saturated with people, some adorned in costume for the season, others dressed in fashion for the evening. Some were already followers and Randy Fanatics…others had no prior knowledge of the composer’s vast accomplishments….but by the time the evening ended they all without exception left as hard-core fans. The most intimate joy and vivacious laughter are born of a shared memory…and while Randy shared the guarded memories of his career he not only evoked flashbacks in time for some, but also spawned new recollections that will remain for so many people forever… through his music and stories.
While some of the congregation traveled back in time to the moment they first heard the music to “My Cousin Vinny”, “Ghostbusters ll”, “While You Were Sleeping”, “The Bruce Lee Story”, “Gettysburg”, “Billy Madison”, “Beethoven”, “The Mask”, or “Last of the Mohicans”, (all a part of Randy’s live medleys which are all just a small illustration of his over one hundred film and television soundtracks), some listened in awe as if hearing it for the first time. As an ode to Halloween Randy played the dark themed mesmerizing score from “Diabolique.” He also featured the humorous soundtrack from “Kindergarten Cop”, “Twins” and the theme from “MacGyver”, the hit CBS television series starring Richard Dean as a top agent for a progressive agency devoted to righting the wrongs of the world sometimes with as little as a paper clip and duct tape in his pocket.
Well before his evolution into motion pictures and television soundtracks Randy created some of the most beautiful popular hit songs with the most emotional, romantic, passionate and uninhibited lyrics the world had ever heard. He was unselfconsciously expressing his feelings without restraint freely and openly that were either recorded by him or covered by some of the most iconic artists on the planet including “A Weekend in New England” covered by Barry Manilow, “Isn’t it a Shame”, twice covered by Patti LaBelle, “My Place” recorded by hip hop superstar Nelly, “You” by The Carpenters, “The Laughter and Tears” by Dionne Warwick, and others inclusive of Olivia Newton John, Willy Nelson, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Bing Crosby and a parade of others. He also showcased his own monstrous recorded hits “Concrete and Clay”, and “Uptown, Uptempo Woman.” One other adorable addition to his repertoire was “Beni’ Green” by the late composer Joe Raposo who became known for his work on the children’s television series, Sesame Street.
Every great love begins with a story and Randy had plenty of those to go around. Everyone wants their hearts to be safe but according to Randy’s songs it seems as though his rarely was. You could almost hear his heart break in the lyrics of his tunes. But the heart will always find a place…some call it home, some call it friendship and if we are lucky we get to call it love. Love is a life long lesson, an education on the things we can never measure, a page forever fresh and waiting to be turned. Randy continues to turn those pages in the performances he does and in the songs he’s yet to write.
Randy ended his set in a powerful climatic celebration. He asked the crowd if they preferred that his last song was either a classic from the musical Carousel or one of his own originals. Without hesitation and in unison the entire, jam-packed audience yelled out “Both.” He began with the classic “You’ll Never Walk Alone” which no one plays it on the piano like Randy or sings it with the riveting emotion as he does.
Then something magical and extraordinary transpired….For the first time ever Randy unveiled his newest release “Everything is Possible” LIVE (which can be heard on KISS FM radio and other iHeart radio stations everywhere throughout the US). The reason the song is so exceptional is because it offers encouragement, inspiration, and hope for a planet that needs it desperately, most especially now….It is said that music can change the world in the most unexpected ways…and this is one such song. It’s a tribute to the outlander, to the dark horse, to the underdog that “Everything is Possible.” The version Randy performed ( and there are two, this and a rap version feat. Melle Mel) has such a positive message that it impacted the entire crowd. It’s about turning horror into hope…..
Aside from Randy’s new album set for release early next year, his recent upcoming film scores include Ditch director Ate De Jong’s Nashville saga “Heart Strings”, the family holiday caper, “Athena Saves Christmas”, the exorcism horror themed “Possession of Anne”, and the documentary “Too Hot to Handle.” Randy can be seen again on December 9, 2023 at Chelsea T& S in New York City and at The Crazy Coqs on December 21, 2023 in London,
Stream “Everything is Possible” By Randy Edelman on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/track/1SeB1BByS2EQWMHRA7pxAB
The official website for Randy Edelman may be found at https://www.randyedelman.com