AN INTERVIEW WITH LUBA MASON - by Jorge
Singer/actress Luba Mason, under the name of Luba Gregus, started her career in musicals as one of the Ziegfeld Girls of THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES. But it was with her performance as Hedy La Rue in the Broadway Revival of HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WIHOUT REALLY TRYING that she first come to the attention of musical fans.

Later, she played Velma Kelly to Brooke Shields’ Roxie Hart in CHICAGO, was Lucy in JEKYLL & HYDE and her last Broadway role was in THE CAPEMAN, where she met Ruben Blades, with whom she married.

Now, she recorded a new album, KRAZY LOVE, where her lush voice takes us to a melodious world of Brazilian rhythms. For this album, that includes original songs written by her, she was joined by Renato Neto on piano & keyboards, bassist Jimmy Haslip, percussionist Cassio Duarte, Sandro Albert on guitar and Marco Costa on drums, with guest performances by Hubert Laws and her husband Ruben Blades.

Although I haven’t seated with her, thanks to Bryce Winter, Marketing Manager of Miles High Productions, I was able to get in touch with Luba and get this exclusive interview. I hope you’ll enjoy it and, although the album doesn’t include show tunes, you’ll be interest in buying it.

Jorge Place: What attracted you to the Musical Theatre?

Luba Mason: I saw my first Broadway show called, THE MAGIC SHOW in the 5th grade. After I saw it, I knew that this was what I wanted to do after college. To sing, act and dance, all in one medium, that was very exciting to me.

JP: Your first role on Broadway was in THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES. How did you feel when Tommy Tune chose you? What do you remember most from that experience?

LM: I first started in the chorus of that show as one of the Ziegfield Follies girls - second girl from the left to be exact. But I was understudy to the 2 leading roles.

Tommy told me I was very special when he chose me to be in the show. He loved my voice and thought I was very funny. I loved the way he said my name in his Texas twang - LU-BEEET-ZA, accent on the BEEET. I was using the formal version of my name at the time - Lubica. This was my first "hit" show and that felt pretty special to be a part of.

JP: Musical comedy in WILL ROGERS, musical drama in SUNSET BOULEVARD, it seems a big change of set. In what kind of shows do you feel more at home?

LM: It doesn't matter to me, the more variety from show to show, the better the challenge.
JP: CHICAGO is my favorite musical of all time. You played Velma to Brooke Shields' Roxie in it. What can you tell me about it?

LM: LOVED doing this show and role...I hadn't danced in 15 years up until I got this role so my body was really sore the first month. Brooke was a pro, hard worker and charming onstage. Loved the fact that we were a couple of amazon's on stage: she 5'11", myself 5'10".

It felt great to be a part of this historical musical. Also, I got to work with my favorite Broadway performer Ann Reinking who I saw in the original show DANCIN'. Ann was the choreographer for CHICAGO.

JP: THE CAPEMAN didn't last long on Broadway; do you think it had to do with the controversial subject?

LM: Yes, part that, part the fact that they were a lot of chef's. The show went through several different director's as well. But I still felt the show was wonderful - actually very ahead of it's time.

Paul Simon's music was beautiful, the sets were incredible, the performer's were talented, the show was very innovative and different from anything else that had been on Broadway up until that time.

We just did a staged version of the show at BAM in NY and it was a big success!
JP: How did you find HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS Hedy LaRue inside you? Unfortunately I didn't see the show, but you sound great in the cast recording. Was it easy to work with Broderick and Mullally?

LM: Hedy is a part of me...I was born in Queens, NY so the accent came naturally.

Her character was a bit over the top but real - she loved the attention and expressing herself in a big manner. I learned a lot about comedy watching Matthew on stage. Lovely guy as well. Megan as well was very funny to be around.

JP: Listening to you singing "Love from a Heart of Gold" and then hearing your sweet and lush voice in KRAZY LOVE was a surprise for me. Do you feel more in touch with this kind of music?
LM: KRAZY LOVE represents many facets of me. It reflects where I am musically right now, my tastes, where I am in my life, my age. I would not have been able to do this album 10 years ago or any year for that matter until now.

The album also brought me back to my roots as a musician - I was a classical pianist for 12 years from the age of 5, and this felt good and right for me now. Writing music for the first time was the biggest challenge, always felt I could do it but didn't have the nerve till now.

KRAZY LOVE is the beginning of a new venture for me, a new expression that i never explored before. It's very freeing to create your own music. I'm already thinking about my next album...

JP: I'm guessing here, but is Ruben Blades the responsible for your taste for Latin/Brazilian music?

LM: Absolutely, he turned me on to Brazilian music 10 years ago and ever since I heard it I knew I wanted to record some day. The melodies, rhythms, the mood...nothing like it. I have to admit, I never listened to ANY kind of Latin music until I met Ruben and did "THE CAPEMAN" on Broadway with him. What a blessing that was!!


JP: What made you want to record a CD with this kind of music? Looking at your bio, it seems it would have been easier for you to record a showtune album.

LM: My music backround is diverse...so a B'way album was not an obvious choice for me.

As I stated earlier, I started as a classical pianist, which lead to singing lessons with teachers from Julliard and Manhattan School of Music because my older sister was studying opera and I studied with her teachers. I listened to pop radio as well growing up - Joni Mitchell, Barbra Streisand. Yes. After seeing my first B'way show, musical theatre came into the picture.

I forgot to mention that I'm first generation American, my parents are from Slovakia and Slovak was my first language. So growing up in a very ethnic household, Slovak music was played ALL the time.

When I think of recording a CD, I don't think of what would be easier to do. I think of what I want to say and how to say it ...and this album answered that.

JP: In "Olhos nos Olhos" you sing in Portuguese, which by coincidence is my country language, and your pronounce sounds perfect. Was it difficult to sing it?

LM: Not at all. Renato Neto Brazilian collaborater on this project, coached me. Also because I speak Slovak and some Spanish now, I think I have a good ear for languages.

JP:From where did your inspiration for the songs come? What are your favorite tracks on this new CD?

LM: My inspiration for the new songs came from past relationships and those of people around me.

My favorite tracks are #4, "A Summer Night" because it was the first song I wrote, #5 - "E Com Esse Que Eu Vou", the duet with my husband, and #8 "Gorgeous Fool" - I love the humor in the song.
JP: I believe your first solo album was COLLAGE, where you sung several standards. Maybe I'm wrong, but in this new album all the songs are originals. What made you take the risk with only new songs?

LM: There are 2 covers on the is album: "E Com Esse Que Eu Vou" and "Olhos Nos Olhos".

It wasn't about taking risks for me in this album as far as writing original material. Being a musician, I wanted to go the next step and write. I had something to say and this felt like the natural way to go.

JP: Any plans for the near future? A new role on a Broadway or Hollywood musical? A new album?

LM: I'm definitely thinking about about my next  album and more writing.

I'd LOVE to do another B'way show. My husband and I are moving to NY this year, so I'll definitely be closer to the Great White Way...

posted February 15th, 2009 / photos © Joan Marcus ("How To Succeed...") and Gustavo Araújo ("Krazy Love" cover and photos)

To visit Luba Mason's website and listen to samples of her albums, just click here. / To read my KRAZY LOVE review click here.