Powerhouse vocalist Jason Brock is back doing concerts in San Francisco after a five-year sojourn in Japan. On May 11 he’ll celebrate Mother’s Day with a concert at the Chan National Queer Arts Center as part of this year’s SF International Arts Festival. Brock and accompanist Dee Spencer will put a queer twist on the Great American Songbook.
Among the selections chosen for the evening are tunes by such great songwriters as George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Rodgers & Hart. Stories from the lives of legendary LGBTQ performers who brought these songs to life over the years will be shared, and there will be contemporary numbers as well.
In an interview with the Bay Area Reporter, Brock spoke about this upcoming performance and about his life in Japan. Brock noted that while it’s safe to be out in Japan, there is some discrimination.
“There could be consequences to being out,” he said. “I’ve heard that you’re less likely to be promoted if you’re gay. I’ve also met so many gay/bi/pan guys that don’t tell anyone in their lives about it, but they are comfortable going to a bathhouse for sex. You can’t go to most ‘love hotels’ as a gay couple. Love hotels are basically hotels for couples to have sex in. I have personally been turned away by several love hotels when I tried to go with my boyfriend.”
Five years
But for the most part, Brock loved living in Japan. There was a bar that he liked going to, the Aiiro Cafe in Shinjuku in Tokyo, a mixed bar where gays and straights are both welcome, though he prefers to call it a gay bar. But after five years, he had no choice but to leave.
“My Visa was expiring and I couldn’t get a new one,” he explained. “I wasn’t deported as many people seem to believe. I left of my own volition and am free to re-enter and leave as often as I please. I could even move back if I wanted to, and I do want to, one day. So many hot guys waiting for me!”
One of the songs that Brock will be singing at the Mother’s Day concert is Gershwin’s “Summertime” from the classic musical “Porgy and Bess.”
“Gershwin was rumored to have been gay, but there’s really no one who’s sure about it, “he said. “The song takes place at the beginning of the musical, with a mother singing to her child. It seemed like a good fit for the Mother’s Day theme.”
Another song scheduled to be performed is “Night and Day” by Cole Porter, who was most definitely gay.
“We chose this song not only because he was gay, but because it’s one of the greatest and most famous songs he ever wrote.”
Song styles
Brock also spoke about some of the LGBT performers he’ll be sharing stories about during the concert.
“One is Billie Holiday, who was bisexual,” he said. “She was an incredible performer whose voice I fell in love with. She also happens to be San Francisco politician Bevan Dufty’s godmother, I think. There are great stories about her to share. We’ll also talk about the gay Lorenz Hart, of Rodgers and Hart, and Cole Porter, the more modern queer-ish singer Whitney Houston, and the queer-adjacent legend Judy Garland.”
The B.A.R. also spoke to Spencer, who recalled her first encounter with Brock. She was playing an open mic gig in the Fillmore District when Brock walked in and said he wanted to sing. He brought down the house and was asked to sing a few more songs.
“We immediately hit it off and the rest is history,” Spencer recalled. “Jason says this was 20-plus years ago. I’ve lost count. Guess I could look it up if I had too. As for chemistry, it’s hard to explain. It’s just a vibe. I get him and can read where he’s going vocally most of the time. Ha!”
Spencer added that she loves the Great American Songbook and thinks that it’s quite special.
“The Great American Songbook is so accessible,” she said. “Everyone can recognize the songs and appreciate the history that the songs represent. No two people sing ‘Summertime’ the same way and that’s fine. In fact, it’s a requirement. Singers get the chance to express themselves and can make each song a personal story. I just love putting my own spin on the harmonies and rhythms.”
Brock said that the concert will not be in a traditional theater, but rather in a cabaret setting with bar service.
“This will be my first time performing at the Chan National Queer Arts Center,” he said. “It was established as a place where LGBTQ performers can feel at home. I’ve heard a lot about it, and I know that the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus is connected to the space. I’m looking forward to singing there.”
‘Brock and Spencer: Celebrating Mother’s Day with a Queer American Songbook,’ May 11, 7:30pm, Chan National Queer Arts Center, 170 Valencia St. $25-$50.
https://www.sfiaf.org/
https://www.jasonbrockvocals.com/
https://deespencer.com/
https://www.sfgmc.org/chan-national-queer-arts-center