ADI BRAUN is a singer/songwriter with a long list of cabaret, concert and theatre successes to her credit. She has performed in major jazz and concert venues in Canada, the United States, and Europe. In the fall of 2023 Adi released her sixth critically-acclaimed CD, “Night and Day – The Cole Porter Songbook”, which which had its premiere with full orchestra at the Rose Theatre, Brampton in February, 2025. Her other recordings include “Moderne Frau (Modern Woman)”, a tribute to the music of Weimar Berlin; “Canadian Scenes I”, featuring some of her own compositions; “Live at the Metropolitan Room” from New York City; “The Rules of the Game”, and “Delishious”.
After beginning her career in classical music, Adi started “singing sideways” in the late ‘90s and returned to her first love, which she calls “cabarazz”, drawing on aspects from both cabaret and jazz. Adi has received andbeen nominated for numerous awards, including “Best Major Jazz Vocalist of the Year” by New York’s Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs, and two Juno album short-lists. Her repertoire ranges from the Great American songbook, to European cabaret, to contemporary songs by Canadian legend’s Shirley Eikhard and Gordon Lightfoot, among others.
In addition to performing, Adi is a sought-after German Diction and Lieder coach, has co-hosted “Classical Mornings” on the New Classical FM, and frequently speaks on topics related to Weimar Cabaret.
DON BREITHAUPT (pianist, composer, arranger) Toronto-born Breithaupt received his musical education at Berklee College of Music in Boston, and his literary education at Queen's University in Kingston.
He works as a keyboard player, composer, and bandleader. His work in film and television has brought him a Daytime Emmy Award, and SOCAN Awards for Domestic Animated Television Series music and International Television Series music. As a songwriter, his work covered by artists including Alfie Zappacosta, Marc Jordan, Dione Taylor, Sarah Slean, Denzal Sinclaire, Patricia O'Callaghan, Wendy Lands, and Chris Smith.
He has performed with Kim Mitchell Band, Rik Emmett, and Sass Jordan and he leads his own group, Monkey House, which have released three albums.
Working with his lyricist brother Jeff, the two sought to create contemporary American Songbook-style repertoire; songs with great melodies, lyrics, and harmonies that echo the classic songs of the 20th Century. Using the term ‘neo-standards’ to describe their songs, the Breithaupt Brothers Songbook revue has appeared in Toronto and New York on numerous occasions.
Their first album Breithaupt Brothers Songbook was recorded at live at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts in 2009 and featured a number of vocalists including John Alcorn, Brent Carver, Wendy Lands, Patricia O’Callaghan, and Dione Taylor.
The Breithaupt Brothers Songbook Volume 2, Just Passing Though, was released in the fall of 2014. The vocalists who took part include Sarah Slean, Ron Sexsmith, Marc Jordan, Paul Shaffer, Emilie-Claire Barlow, Ian Thomas, Denzal Sinclaire, Sophie Milman, Tyley Ross, Kellylee Evans, Laila Biali, Heather Bambrick, Patricia O'Callaghan, and Jackie Richardson.
Breithaupt has written extensively on music and film, including numerous articles for the National Post. His books include Precious and Few: Pop Music in the Early '70s, Night Moves: Pop Music in the Late '70s, and Steely Dan’s Aja, Vol. 46 of Continuum Publishing’s 33-1/3 series of books about albums.
Monkey House – The Official Monkey House Website
DON'S PLAYLIST:
EARTH, WIND & FIRE: IN THE STONE
STEVIE WONDER: DO I DO
STEELY DAN: PEG
RICKY LEE JONES
JONI MITCHELL
COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA: SECOND TIME AROUND
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MUSIC FOR THIS EPISODE:
AMBE (Chronos Vocal Ensemble / Jordan Van Biert, cond.)
Composer: Andrew Balfour /www.instagram.com/andrewbalfour_
PIXABAY Royalty Free Music
RETURN TO THE MAYFLY
Composer/Arranger: Don Breithaupt
(Monkey House / Crashbox, 2025; Alma Records )