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Father, daughter team up for cabaret show

By Arlene McKanic

“Actually, I learned 'Rhapsody in Blue' may years ago and I like it,” says the elder He. “Everybody knows that song. I also recorded the song in China for the National Radio station in 1989.” He said he also likes to play “Summertime” and “It Ain't Necessarily So” and works by Chopin and Mozart, all on harmonica. “Americans like to hear it,” he says.He and Jenny have been playing in the United States since 2000. “Sometimes we played together before in China,” he recalled. Jenny came to the United States in 1999; he came the year before.He and Jenny actually were supposed to play in a previous concert but he found out too late that they'd passed the audition. “But they told us we have another [audition] in June.” So they went to the open call audition on June 4 and got the job.Other performers for the evening will include Richard Witkowsky from Jackson Heights and his friend Richard Bobrow, who'll be performing the Abbott and Costello bit “Who's On First,” jazz singer Juan Cabrera from Brooklyn, who's a student at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, jazz singer Joan Buress from Flushing and chanteuse Dee Walker from Fresh Meadows. Cabaret stars and MAC performers will be Marcus Simeone, Jeanne MacDonald, Merrianne Meringolo, Val Ryder and the Barry Levitt Duo.MAC was created in 1983 to support the art and business of live entertainment. Members include not only musicians but musical and technical directors, club owners, booking managers, composers, lyricists, journalists, publicists, artists' managers and agents and other folks who support live entertainment. Flushing Town Hall is located at 137-35 Northern Boulevard.