Smithsonian Associates Art Of Living Series, NOB

For this special edition, now our second conversation with “What Makes It Great,” composer, conductor, lecturer, music expert, Rob Kapilow, I caught up with him just before he went onstage at the Baird Auditorium, where he unlocked the secrets of master songwriter  Harold Arlen.

This interview is a companion to our recent conversation with Rob, when we discussed the almost anonymous Arlen, whose vast songbook consists of more than 400 tunes such as Get Happy, Last Night When We Were Young, Stormy Weather, That Old Black Magic, and Over the Rainbow, which was voted the No. One song of the 20th century by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts.

The evening featured singers Michael Winther and Nikki Renee Daniels, both with steller voices, Broadway credits, and perfectly matched for the “Kapilow Versions,” of the music they sing, while Rob plays.

For more than a decade, Kapilow has brought the joys and wonder of music to audiences of all ages and backgrounds with his What Makes It Great? presentations, which dissect and examine the mysteries of music in terms everyone can grasp and appreciate.

Part One is an entertaining discussion displaying Kapilow’s astounding gift for observation and his animated teaching style.

Part Two features performances of the composition, and audience sing-alongs.

The evening concludes with Part Three, a spirited question-and-answer on the work.

We caught up with Rob to ask him a few questions, listen to a bit of pre show rehearsal music, and before the audience and it was a treat.

Enjoy.