AS TIME PERMITS, LIZA WILL RESPOND TO QUESTIONS FROM HER
FRIENDS AND FANS ALL OVER THE WORLD!

ASK LIZA -- (#4) -- Thursday, January 31st, 2008:


Scott (Schechter): DON would like to know if you’d ever like to do a DUETS CD, where you could sing with all your friends, and favorite performers, everyone, from Michael Buble, to Bonnie Raitt, and Maroon 5 – Does that sound like something you’d like to do someday?

Liza: Yes, it is something I’d like to do, but I always like a point of view for everything that I do. So, just to do it for the sake of doing duets, no. But to do it from a real point of view, and a SLANT on the subject, on Duets, would be great. But YOU know I did them first, I’ve been doing them forever. They were in that wonderful album that Billy (Stritch) produced for me

Scott: On “Gently,” you mean, right? The songs with Johnny Mathis and Donna Summer?

Liza: Yes, sure.

Scott: Oh, definitely. Well, you’ve done some great duets WITH Billy

Liza: (Laughs) Yes.

Scott: We could practically do a whole CD of just the duets you’ve already done with Billy

Liza: Yes. I love singing with other people, I think it’s great.

Scott: How about a Christmas CD? I know a couple years back you had mentioned wanting to do one.

Liza: Oh yes, I’m going to do that, hopefully this year, for next year. I am.

Scott: After the Kay CD

Liza: I promise I’ll get it out there, the Christmas CD.

Scott: Definitely. Now, STEVE wanted to know if you’d ever like to do – speaking of recordings – a series of “Songbooks” along the lines of what one of your idols did, Ella Fitzgerald – There could be the Cole Porter Songbook, and the Gershwin Songbook, and on and on.

Liza.: Yes, that would be great fun to do. Oh, yes. Well, that’s how I learned them (all the great standards), one at a time, when I was little.

Scott: And Ella was a great favorite of yours

Liza: Yes. I have all of her albums, and Mel Torme’s, and Carmen’s (Carmen McRae) and everybody. They’re just great.

Scott: STEVE also wanted to know if you enjoyed making the albums that you made for Herb Alpert’s A&M label?

Liza: Oh, I loved them. I loved them.

Scott: You enjoyed working with Herb?

Liza: Yes, and I enjoyed working with those writers, too, they were so great. “Debutante’s Ball,” and all those.

Scott: Oh, yes, all those wonderful songs. STEVE also has another great question: Would you ever like to perform in an intimate club setting? Like at Feinstein’s, (Michael’s club), or a venue like that.

Liza: Oh, yes.

Scott: You’ve never really done – well, in the last 35 years or more – an intimate club type of date.

Liza: Well, I’m always up singing at some place (like that). (laughing)

Scott: Yes, but you know, a real engagement at a place like Feinstein’s.

Liza: Um, I think so, but I’ve got this Kay show on my mind so much that it’s very hard for me to think of any other show, because this is HAPPENING.

Scott: Yes.

Liza: So, to suddenly jump ahead to things like “would you like,” you know that feeling, like you’re in the middle of one dance step and somebody says “do something else,” and you go “ha-ba-ha-ba, wait, I haven’t finished this yet.” (Laughter)

Scott: Well, just some things to think of for down the line.

Liza: Yes.

Scott: And speaking of which, LIZ would love to see the return of certain songs that she hasn’t heard you sing in quite some time, things like “I Love a Piano”

Liza: Oh, yes.

Scott: And “The Day After That,” which I know is a tough one to sing. And she also mentions “Teach Me Tonight”

Liza: (Talking to an associate): Would you also get out for me Marvin’s arrangement of “The Nearness of You,” which leads into “Teach Me Tonight.” Good idea!

Scott: Yes, that’s a great one.

Liza: Yes. You know what I’m gonna start doing again is “Live Alone and Like It.” That was so funny, wasn’t it?

Scott: Oh, yes, amazing. So, you do enjoy revisiting songs you haven’t done for some time?

Liza: Yes, because to me they’re all acting pieces. You know I do such character breakdowns on each one of them. Songs like “I’m One of the Smart Ones,” that’s a great song.

Scott: That goes back to the Wintergarden

Liza: Yes. And “The Circle.” I gotta get a new arrangement on “The Circle.”

Scott: And how ‘bout something new that you haven’t done, like the song “I Move On,” the song at the end credits of the movie of “Chicago?”

Liza (again talking with her associate, to take notes): I want to work with Johnny on an arrangement to “I Move On,” the new song that they wrote for the movie of “Chicago.”

Scott: Very exciting. SARAH is a 22-year old actress, and she would like to know what your favorite part of playing Sally Bowles was?

Liza: Working with Bob Fosse. And learning.

Scott: RAUL would like to know if it’s true that your Broadway debut was supposed to be in a show with Jeanette McDonald

Liza: Yes. And the name of the show was “A Little Night Music.” (Liza again mentions the song to her associate.) This was written by the same team that wrote (sings) “And You Are For Loving, and Loving, and Loving” Martin and Blaine.

Scott: Do you remember why the show didn’t happen?

Liza: Yes: Jeanette DIED.

Scott: That would do it (laughs).

Liza: That’ll do it, you know? But Michael Feinstein sings the song from that, “On Such a Night as This.” And I sing it sometimes, too.

Scott: MICHAEL SCOTT loves the “Results” album

Liza: Oh, good.

Scott: And he wanted to know if you would ever do something similar to that

Liza: Of course I would.

Scott: Or work with the Pet Shop Boys again?

Liza: Yes.

Scott: Are you still in touch with the Pet Shop Boys?

Liza: Oh, sure I am. And with My Chemical Romance, and all my other rock friends.

Scott: I was almost going to say the only thing you haven’t really done is Country Music, but the song “Mean To Me,” that you did in the movie “Stepping Out,” was almost country, that arrangement.

Liza: Yes. Oh, honey, I’m ready! I love country music. I love story songs – you know that.

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ASK LIZA -- (#3) -- Friday, July 27th, 2007:
[SS is Scott Schechter]

SS: ANDREW is a trained actor, and says he suffers terribly with nerves, and he wanted to know if you had any advice for him, and also what you think about just before you step out into the spotlight onstage?

Liza: Concentrate like you've never concentrated before. It keeps you in the moment. I pray before I go on, too. I ask God to let me be a vessel, and let his light shine through the talent he's given me, to the audience, to make them feel good. And then I say to myself "now, concentrate like the Dickens!" (laughs)

SS: DAVID in SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA adores your movie "Stepping Out" ....

Liza: Yes!

SS: He'd like to know how you feel about that film.

Liza: Oh, I loved it. I had such fun making it. And every Friday night we'd give a music party after the wrap of each week, and we had more fun, because there's so many musical people involved.

SS: Yes, Jane, and Bill, and Ellen. Did Shelly Winters sing?

Liza: No, but she loved them, she loved hearing everybody.

SS: We'll have to get that movie out on DVD one of these days, definitely.

Liza: Yes!

SS: PAT from HOLLAND would like to know what's the latest on the Kay CD?

Liza: It's coming along -- I haven't finished putting it all together yet. We're putting in the last three numbers now. And there's a change of cast: Instead of Clarke Thorell, who is going into a Broadway show, now I've got Brian Green. And he'll start with me after I come back from Europe. The Kay Thompson stuff is going in for Europe. We're doing it. I'm performing it now, and it works wonderfully.

SS: Was it a challenge to have to do it in the round [for the latest two concerts last week in Mass.], did you have to change some things?

Liza: We had to change everything, but Ron Lewis [Liza's choreographer] is so brilliant. And Phil Ramone is on board [Phil has produced Liza projects and albums in the past, such as her "Live From Radio City Music Hall" album and video].

SS: I know you said you want to wait until the music is absolutely perfect before you went into the studio, right?

Liza: Until it's completed. We've still got three things to learn. And Brian has the whole thing to learn. It's still called "The Godmother and the God-daughter."

SS: KIM would like to know if you think being a Pisces helps make you more in-tune with other people's feelings? I'm a fellow fish, too.

Liza: Oh, wow. Gosh, I don't know. My father was a Pisces too, and he was very in-tune, so I would say from what I know, yes!

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ASK LIZA -- (#2) -- Tuesday, December 5th, 2006:


SS:  First of all, everyone is so excited, of course, about the Kay album

LM:  Yes, and the Kay SHOW.

SS:  Yes, and the show, and have I also heard that there may also be a documentary?

LM:  There might be, yes, it's a possibility.

SS:  How exciting -- Would that be for Showtime also?

LM:  Yes.

SS:  Now, I know Michael Feinstein is producing the album with you, right?

LM:  Yes.   And Billy Strich is the head of the vocals, he's our vocal director.   The Williams Brothers are Johnny Rogers, Jimmy [Jim Caruso], Cortes [Note from Scott: That's Cortes Alexander, who worked with Liza during the 1996 "Gently" tour as part of the Cortes Alexander Trio], and the other kid that I've got who is great is Clark Turell.

LM:  Luigi is staging it!

SS:  Wonderful! Will this [the album] be for Michael's label, for Feinery?

LM:  I don't think so.   I think that it's probably going to be up to Showtime, how that's done. We don't know that, we haven't gotten that far yet.    See, first, before anything happens, I've gotta start working it on the road.   Putting in numbers slowly on the road to build up the running order and to REHEARSE it.   And unless it's perfect -- it's gotta be PERFECT (laughs), just vocally, and movement wise.

SS:  Did you know that Kay invented rap music?

LM:  Did I know? (Scott laughs) Of course I knew.

SS:  [Scott does a bit of Kay's rap from "The Great Lady Gives An Interview," written in 1944 for "Ziegfeld Follies"]:   "And there they were in Amsterdam."

LM:  I've said that for years.   She rapped, she did everything before anybody did it.   She was SO far ahead of her time.

SS:  And speaking of things that are ahead of their time, what do you think of the idea of a musical of “Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon?” Someone has actually written a musical ....

LM:  Really?

SS:  Does that sound intriguing at all?

LM:  Yes, I should imagine it would be.   I love the song that Peter Allen wrote for “Junie Moon.” He wrote a wonderful song.   

SS:  He wrote a song for “Junie Moon?”

LM:  Yes. I don’t think they used it, I can’t remember if they used it in the picture or not.   [Liza sings]: “Tell me, truly, do you love me, Junie Moon?”  Oh, it was so pretty.   I don’t know if it was even recorded.   I can’t remember.

SS:  No, I don’t think so. I don’t think it’s in the movie.

LM:  Is in the movie?

SS:  No, there’s just one song over the credits, that a gentleman sang; you see him playing guitar, I think, walking through the woods.

LM:  Oh, yes. But Peter did in fact write a song for “Junie Moon.” It was beautiful.   I don’t know if it exists, maybe his publishing company has it.

SS:  We’ll have to do some research on that.   Like you said, “a phone booth in the valley” -- we’re there! [Note from Scott: I was referring to Liza’s mention on, I think “Ellen,” about finding lost footage for “Z,” and being willing to “go to a phone booth in the Valley, if I have to, to find something.”]

LM:  [Loud laughter] Yes! .... Well, that will be interesting to see what they’re gonna do.

SS:  GREG would like to know if you are friends with Diana Ross, and have you ever thought of working together?

LM:  Yes, I am friends with Diana Ross, and no, we haven’t thought of working together. I think she’s a wonderful woman.

SS:  PAUL is sad about “Arrested Development” not being on the air anymore, but he’s wants to know if you would ever do the rumored movie version that Mitch said he was possibly thinking about doing. Would you ever do that?

LM:  Oh, of course I would if they asked me to.   Love to.

SS:  We’ve got some fans who have suggested songs they’d like you to sing

LM:  Oh, good.

SS:  CHRIS in NYC would love to know if you’d consider singing “A Quiet Thing” in concert again? It’s been awhile.

LM:  Yes, I would definitely consider it. He’s right -- It’s a wonderful song.

SS:  MELISSA would like to know if you’d consider singing a song by Stephen Schwartz -- who of course wrote “Wicked,” and “Pipin,” and “Godspell” -- called “No Time at All.”   I don’t know it, I don’t know if you know it.   [Neither of us knew the song, so Melissa, let us know who you heard sing it, what album / show it’s from, etc]

SS:  DAVID would love you to sing “Tonight is Forever” from the “Results” album.

LM:  OH! [sounding pleased, happy]

SS:  I don’t think you’ve ever done that in concert, have you?

LM:  No, I never have [the same sound of joy as above].

SS:  And how about “The Money Tree” [from “The Act”]?    I don’t think you’ve ever done that [in concert]

LM:  I was considering putting “The Money Tree” in: It’s SO hard to sing, but everything is of Kander and Ebb is, that’s what makes it so wonderful. I’d love to sing “The Money Tree,” yes.

SS:  And speaking of Kander and Ebb -- and when aren’t we? -- How about,   and I think you mentioned this to me, “I Move On,” that they wrote for “Chicago,” the movie?

LM:  Yes, absolutely.   Would love to sing it.

SS:  Great. It’s only a matter of time -- another song! (laughs)

LM:  A-huh! [as in yes]

SS:  JASON in New York would like to know if there are plans for any more DVDs of your performances, such as New Orleans -- everyone is asking for New Orleans.

LM:  I don’t own the New Orleans one, I don’t think.   

SS:  Really? I thought you did?

LM:  Pioneer did that.

SS:  Right. [The laser disc release, circa 1980]. I thought you did own that.

LM:  I don’t know. I don’t know what the copyright thing was.

SS:  How about your first Carnegie Hall album that you put out sometime back [the 1979 concert, released by Liza in 1981] -- It would be great to have that on CD.

LM:  [slight pause while pondering] That’s a good idea.   Will you send that to me, plus the songs people want to hear?   Just any information on the stuff we’ve been talking about.

SS:  Sure.   Definitely, I’ll do that.

LM:  OK, darling.

SS:  JIM from Orlando would love to know if the characters Liza inhabits in her songs, stay the same over time, or do the women who sing for example, “Some People,” or “Maybe This Time” CHANGE over the years?

LM:  Yes, you always have to move forward.   Martha Graham taught me that: You don’t dance at 30 the way you danced at 20.   You don’t dance at 40 the way you danced at 30.   Because you learn to pull it in and make it more like a laser beam as opposed to a big, bright spotlight.   It becomes more specific, clearer, and you have to do less, because it’s stronger.   You adjust to the time.   I don’t sing “You’ve Let Yourself Go” now the way I did in “Liza With a ‘Z’.”    The one song that is a pefect example of that is “The World Goes ‘Round.”

SS:  My favorite song.   

LM:  Yeah, me too.   Well, the more you learn, the more interesting that song gets.   ‘Cause it’s a FACT.   There’s nothing desperate about it, it’s just a fact.   I used to watch Freddy do that [Fred Ebb].   HE would change the way he sang things, and Aznavour has always done that, and Martha Graham. The three people who have really taught me that. They taught me to always do something NEW, with even a piece of material you’ve been singing a long time.   Keep it fresh for yourself. And the more you learn, put it into the song.

SS:  So those magnets on the refridgerator that you’ve spoken about [Liza knowing the details about her characters, including the magnets on their fridge], those have changed also I bet, huh?

LM:  Yes, they have [laughs loudly].

SS:  You mentioned Aznavour -- Have you ever thought of doing a CD or a show, a tribute JUST to HIS songs, the songs that he wrote?

LM:  Yes, I have.

SS:  Again, we’ll add it to the list of things for you to do for the next [30 years] ....

LM: That’s right [Laughs].

SS:  YYVONE would like to thank-you “for having a website that is 100 good thoughts and supportive of our beautiful Liza.”   She’d also like to know what do you think happens to the character of Pookie Adams after “The Sterile Cuckoo” movie ends?

LM:  I don’t know, I haven’t thought about it.   I know one thing: She has some good memories.

SS:  NICOLE asks if there are any modern-day performers that you enjoy or think are enspiring?

LM:  Lots.   I love Maroon Five.   I like Michael Buble.   I love Diana Krall, too. You know, I listen to EVERYTHING, that’s part of what I love about this business.

SS:  And you’ve DONE everything, you’ve done all different kinds of styles [of music] which is one of the things I love the most.

LM:  Well, this latest thing with My Chemical Romance.

SS:  I was just thinking that

LM: Yep, Perfect.

SS:  What was that like?   Working with them?

LM:  I loved it. He was VERY professional, and fun to work with. And very knowledgeable.   

SS:  And again it’s this whole new audience that’s discovering you, just like [when you did] “Arrested Development.”

LM:  Yes.

SS:  And when you were just on “Law and Order [C.I.],” I got so many wonderful e-mails

LM:  Oh, did you?!!! [Liza sounded very happy and excited]

SS:  Yes, like this “rediscovery”: “Oh, yes,she can act,” well, “DUH.”

LM:  [big laughter] Yes, I know [laughing], it’s so weird.

SS:  It is, it’ so bizarre.   It’s like, “well, yes, everyone knows you can sing,” but they forget that

LM:  Yes.

SS:  They forget that you’re this astounding actress, and as you say, it all comes from acting, anyway.   

LM:  Yes.

SS:  Everything.

LM:  Yes.

SS:  And from movement!

LM:  [Big Laugher]

SS:  PAUL is a classical pianist, and cites you as his inspiration. He says you don’t generally talk about your musicianship, but he’d like to know what you think about your musical instrument.   He says “the sound of your voice is so cello-like, so rich in those overtones, and has a sensual, yearning sound, in songs such as ‘Never Let Me Go,.’ And yet you have those wonderful carefree qualities in songs such as ‘Alexander’s Ragtime Band.’ Do you let your own sound dictate what you will or will not sing?”

LM:  No, never.   

SS:  “Are there songs that you would like to sing, but you don’t, because you don’t think they suit your voice?”

LM:  No.  [Laughter]  I try everything -- you know that.

SS:  Sure. Great material is great material.

LM:  I would never sing opera, because that is something that I cannot do.

SS:  Except in jest.

LM:  Well, yes, we could do a little jest on that.

SS:  Like the opening of the second act of Carnegie Hall in 1987.   

LM:  [Chuckles]

LM:  Oh, ‘The Blue Gardenia’ is on TCM!

SS:  I could keep TCM on, and never leave the house!

LM:  [Big laugh]

SS:  It’s true!   

LM:  And Nat King Cole introducing the song ‘The Blue Gardenia’ by Bob Russell, and Lester Lee.   Perfect.

SS:  And of course they’re showing so many of your dad’s movies right now

LM:  Yes.   Oh, darling, I have a rehearsal at 4 o’clock.

SS:  Before you go, would you like to say something for the fans?

LM:  Yes.   It’s so exciting right now, working so much, and what makes it so exciting is the support and the FRIENDSHIP of my fans.   I count on you, I appreciate you, and I will always do my best, for you.   So, look at the website and see where you can come see me!

SS:  Thank-you, Liza.

LM:  I love you honey. Thank-you so much, baby.

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Questions and answers posted May 25, 2006:

Thanks so much for your patience everyone, but you obviously know how busy Liza is these days, because you've been reading all about it right here! But we got together with Liza in Manhattan on Tuesday, May 23rd, 2006, to answer as many of your questions as possible. (Please do understand that we certainly can't get to all questions, always, but we will do our best. And please continue to be patient, since questions can only be answered as time permits. Thanks so much for your understanding and support, as always).

OK, here we go:   
Here is a Transcript of our interview of YOUR Questions, where YOU .... ASK LIZA

1) ROGER would like to know more about KATIE'S' BLUES, if it’s still happening, how you decided on the title, and any other info you can share:

LIZA: “Yes, it’s still in the works, that’s not the official title, and I’ll tell you more as soon as I know.”

2)  With all the concerts that you do, how do you keep your voice consistent? Do you warm up, do you do vocal exercises?

LIZA: “I do a dance warm-up, and I do a very thorough vocal warm-up.

3)  Cities and Countries that WANT YOU to perform in concert: (Please keep in mind that Liza loves performing all over the world,   and that she was genuinely thrilled to hear that you want her to come to your city, town, or country.)

PAUL wants you in SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA  .... LIZA: “Thank-you, Paul.”

DOUGLAS wants you in the UK, especially SCOTLAND  .... LIZA: “Oh, thank-you so much, Douglas.”

IRELAND  .... LIZA: “I’d love to go to Ireland.”

WALES  .... LIZA: “I’d love to go Wales!”

WILLIAM wants you in LOS ANGLES AND SAN FRANCISCO:  .... LIZA: “(laughing) I should be talking with my agent! Thank-you, and stay tuned.”

MATTHEW wants you in LONDON  .... LIZA: “Thank-you, Matthew.”

RYAN wants you in ST. LOUIS  .... LIZA: “Oh, when I get there, I’ll let you know, Ryan .... Everybody, when I’m coming, I’ll tell you, but thanks for asking me.”

CHRIS wants you in MANHATTAN:  .... LIZA: “Well, I’m here!”

VICTORIA wants you in PHILADELPHIA  .... LIZA: “Oh, Victoria, I love Philadelphia.”

LIZ wants you in SWEDEN  .... LIZA: “Ah! We’ll go skiing together, Liz.”

KAREN wants you in NASHVILLE  .... LIZA: “Karen, we’ll go hear some good music.”

JOSE wants you in ARGENTINA  .... LIZA: “Jose (perfect pause): I want YOU in Argentina! (great laughter)”

4) ELIZABETH from NORWAY wants to know if you speak Italian?

LIZA:  “No.  I speak French, and I can MUTTER in Italian.”

5)  Any advice for a 12-year old aspiring entertainer named MELISSA?

LIZA:  “Yes, Melissa: Take class -- every day. Be ready: The best thing that can happen to you is to be prepared, because when luck meets preparation, you’re off and running. But if you have the luck and you’re not prepared:  Terrible.  You’ll kick yourself.”

6)  Did you know John Lennon?

LIZA: “Yes, I did. He was great, I loved him. He was always really nice to me.”

7)  RAY would like to know if you would like to direct again, to follow-up on the directing you did of your music video for “The Day After That.”

LIZA: “Oh, gosh, I don’t know.  If I found something that I really understood, and had a vision on: Yes.”

8)  NANCY would like to know what roles would you like to portray, particularly those of any women such as Dorothy Parker, Eleanor Roosevelt, Laurette Taylor, etc?

LIZA: (Long pause, where she really stopped and thought long and hard about it):  “No.”  (Big laughter, since she gave such a short answer after a long pause, and a long question)

9)  BILLY wants to know if you’ll ever record the Christmas CD that you had mentioned previously

LIZA: “YES! I’m going to."

10)  BEVERLY would like to know if you like to read on your plane rides?

LIZA: “I ALWAYS read on my plane rides, I always make sure to. Oh, I love thrillers.  I’m a huge fan of Ludlum, Robert Ludlum. Ah! Happiness! Robert Ludlum MEANS happiness.”

Speaking of books, are you thinking of doing your autobiography?

LIZA: “Not yet. No.  When I feel I can sit down, and it’s over, I’ll write it, but right now I can’t sit down, and it ain’t over!”


THANK YOU to everyone who submitted questions. Please feel free to ask more, as Liza will respond as time permits.

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