The Ravishing Rebecca Luker

Wow, have we been lucky to have a number of stunning new CDs debut in recent weeks.  And Rebecca Luker’s new CD Greenwich Time is right there at the front of the pack.

For the CD, Luker chooses generally-obscure songs with a theatrical pedigree — many from shows that were never produced.  (DC audiences saw Luker perform many of these numbers in her Kennedy Center show earlier this year.)  It says a lot when In a Very Unusual Way is the best-known song on a CD.  However Luker’s evangelical spirit for the material gives the recording a special energy.

There are many terrific moments on the CD.  For me the best is a Jeff Blumenkrantz song Lovely Lies, a frank confession by a Southern daughter to her mother.  He Never Did That Before is a comic tour de force.  And having seen Luker as the replacement in Nine, it is wonderful to have her performance of In a Very Unusual Way saved for history.

Luker is as perfect a theatrical soprano as one could ask for.  Her vocal production is an example for all of us lesser singers.  But she is a story-teller at heart, and she never sacrifices communicative directness for vocal effect.  When I saw her concert, I felt that she established such strong characters for each song, that the effect was was slightly disjointed; however this recording feels much more integrated.  And Thalken’s arrangements suit Luker and her communicative approach perfectly.

• On My Way To You
• Ohio, 1904
• Billions Of Beautiful Boys
• Killing Time
• Greenwich Time
• Remember
• Unusual Way
• Lovely Lies
• He Never Did That Before
• Out Of Love
• Whata The Living Do
• Birthday Horoscope For B.R.
• Have Had
• Summer With You 

Michael Buble sets new standards…

Stephen Holden on Daryl Glenn and Jo Lynn Burks

The NYTimes on the Nashville-parody show at the Metropolitan Room: “A satire of a satire made with love: if that description of the revue “Daryl Glenn and Jo Lynn Burks Play and Sing Robert Altman’s ‘Nashville’ ” sounds self-contradictory (how many satires emanate from love?), it evokes the heartfelt nostalgia of a popular little show that has been playing at the Metropolitan Room on the first Sunday each month.”

This weekend at Strathmore…

Two things that look really fun at Strathmore this weekend…

Dee Dee Bridgewater in “To Billie With Love: A Celebration of Lady Day” Presented by Strathmore Friday, November 6, 2009 at 8:00 PM Music Center at Strathmore

This incomparable singer has won a Tony Award (The Wiz), Grammy awards, and France’s Victoire de la Musique, among others. In this eagerly awaited Strathmore return engagement, Dee Dee Bridgewater incarnates the legendary Billie Holiday, recreating Lady Day’s take on such classics as “God Bless the Child,” “Lady Sings the Blues,” “All of Me,” “When You’re Smiling,” “I Can’t Get Started” and more. “Astounding!” (The New York Times)

WPAS: Michael Feinstein “The Sinatra Project” Presented by Washington Performing Arts Society Sunday, November 8, 2009 at 7:00 PM Music Center at Strathmore

Singer, pianist, archivist and all-around entertainer, Michael Feinstein can arguably lay claim to the title of the “hardest working man in show business.” The four-time Grammy nominee swings back into town with The Sinatra Project, a big-band tribute to one of the greatest performers of all time.

A Jam-Packed November

OK, we’re really lucky to have a great slew of cabaret events coming up in November.  I’ll try to get separate posts about all these up, but in case I don’t…

Friday, 11/6 — Dee Dee Bridgewater in A Tribute to Lady Day (Strathmore)

Sunday, 11/8 — Michael Feinstein in The Sinatra Project (Strathmore)

Friday 11/13 & Saturday 11/14 — Justin Ritchie in On My Way Here (Sitar Arts Center)

Saturday, 11/14 — Barbara Cook’s Spotlight: Christine Ebersole (Kennedy Center)

Saturday, 11/14 — Amanda McBroom & Michele Brourman in Concert (WolfTrap)

Sunday, 11/15 — Amanda McBroom / Michele Brourman Master Class (Arts Club)

Monday, 11/17 — Broadway Up Close and Personal: Marvin Hamlisch (featuring Liz Callaway & Karen Ziemba with music direction by Alex Rybeck) (Kennedy Center)

Saturday, 11/28 — John Eaton (Wolf Trap)

And that doesn’t even include the full slate of events in Baltimore at Germano’s

CDs from Michael Feinstein & Cheyenne Jackson and

The two leads of the recently opened Broadway revival of Finian’s Rainbow each has a new CD.

Thanks to my friend Jim who is working the show, I got an advanced copy of the new  disc Cheyenne Jackson has of his recent cabaret outing with Michael Feinstein, The Power of Two.

Actually “outing” is an appropriate description for this recording, since the theme of the show seems to be the collaboration of two gay men.  (In cabaret? Imagine!)

There is a deliberate effort to sing classic songs with honest uses of pronouns vis a vis the performers.  Interestingly, Feinstein re-records Old Friend from this re-focused perspective, singing “… and she wonders at my taste in men..” as opposed to the “… taste in friends…” that he sang on his first recording in the 80’s.  We also hear that gay-piano-bar-of-an-era chestnut We Kiss in a Shadow. 

The songs are well sung, very personal, with terrific arrangements by the great John Oddo. But when the gay undertones on numbers like the Sinatra / Davis  arrangement of Me and My Shadow become overtones, I have to say that a bunch of charm is lost.  Ditto You’re Nothing Without Me from City of Angels — especially the cringe-inducing ”you’re the master and I’m just a dog” lyric.  On the other hand, it was wonderful to be reminded of the terrific Marshall Barer / Michael Leonard song The Time Has Come — a bossa nova anthem that should be played at every same-sex wedding (I know I want it at mine).

I will say that without the benefit of the patter from the live show, I get confused by the vibe on the CD.  The songs themselves skirt the line between friendship and romance, and to my limited knowledge, Feinstein and Jackson have other partners.  On the other hand, when a genetically unrelated male and female share a stage, there’s always a presumption of romance, even if the duo is George Burns and Goldie Hawn.  So perhaps this is another way of questioning our perceptions and assumptions.

• I’m Nothing Without You (Cy Colman/David Zippel)/Michael & Cheyenne
• Me and My Shadow (Dave Dreyer/Bill Rose/Al Jolson)/Michael & Cheyenne
• Old Friend (Nancy Ford/Gretchen Cryer)/Michael
• A Foggy Day (George Gershwin/Ira Gershwin)/Cheyenne
• So in Love (Cole Porter)/Michael
• Old Devil Moon (Burton Lane/E.Y. Harburg)/Cheyenne
• The Time Has Come (Michael Leonard/Marshall Barer)/Michael
• I’m Checkin’ Out – Goodbye (Billy Strayhorn/Duke Ellington)/Cheyenne
• The Power of Two (Emily Saliers)/Michael & Cheyenne
• I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter (Fred E. Ahlert/Joe Young)/Michael
• I Get Along Without You Very Well – Don’t Get Around Much Anymore (Hoagy Carmichael –Duke Ellington/Bob Russell)/Cheyenne
• We Kiss in a Shadow (Richard Rodgers/Oscar Hammerstein II)/Michael & Cheyenne
• Salt and Pepper – I’m Nothing Without You (John Barry/Leslie Bricusse – Cy Colman/David Zippel)/Michael & Cheyenne
• If I Can Dream (W. Earl Brown)/Michael & Cheyenne
• Someone to Watch Over Me (George Gershwin/Ira Gershwin)/Cheyenne

(Note: Special pre-order offer for a signed copy of the CD.)

The leading lady of Finian’s Rainbow has released a new CD, appropriately a tribute to songs writen by Burton Lane and Yip Harbourg, Let’s See What Happens.

The CD is exquisitely sung — if you have a particular affinity for any of these songs, Baldwin’s version is sure to be a favorite.  There is a good balance of familar material (How Are Things in Glocca Morra ?) and discoveries (The World Is In My Arms).  And that master, Jonathan Tunick, has contributed arrangements for the recording.

Unfortunately, for me, the total adds up to less than a sum of its parts.  The recording has no discernable raison d’etre, and sadly never develops momentum.  And while Baldwin is a beautiful singer with a point of view, there is little distinctive in her work.  She seems to disappear into a lovely soprano haze. 

On the other hand, we’re about to do a lot of holiday entertaining, and this would be perfect to put in the mix for your next cocktail or dinner party!

• That Something Extra Special
• How About You?
• Moments Like This
• Come Back To Me
• Here’s To Your Illusions
• Have Feet Will Dance
• How Are Things In Glocca Morra?
• Poor You
• Paris Is A Lonely Town
• I Like The Likes Of You
• Let’s See What Happens/ Open Your Eyes
• Where Have I Seen Your Face Before?
• He Wasn’t You
• I Don’t Think I’ll End It All Today
• The World Is In My Arms

Mary Stout Monday at Germano’s

Character Gal – An Evening with Mary Stout

Oct 26, 2009 at 7:30 pm

Mary Stout, Broadway actress as star of Beauty and the Beast, My Favorite Year, Jane Eyre and the touring production of Fiddler on the Roof, as well as co-star in the Center Stage production of The Happy End, presents an evening of comedic songs and standards that celebrate her life in the theatre. Her long career as a major character actress and her colorful life have made her a favorite of playwrights and composers in New York. Her concerts and cabaret shows always delight with their mixture of hilarity and pathos. Don’t miss her only solo appearance in Baltimore at the Cabaret at Germano’s.

$10 cover. Proceeds of the show will benefit “Broadway Cares:Equity Fights Aids.” Seating is limited and reservations are recommended.

Tickets and info

I am so proud of everyone!!!!

We had the first performance of CHAWbaret tonight.  Great show, great audience.  Three to go!*

I am so proud of the terrific work everyone is doing on the show.  And I had a revelation about something in the middle of Act II.  All the performers are pushing their envelopes a little bit, and it gives the show a great vibe.

Here’s the song line-up:

• Act I
  • Magic To Do — Dean
  • Do You Believe in Magic  –  Dorie
  • If It’s Magic — Eileen
  • Razzle Dazzle — Dean
  • There is a Ship — Deborah
  • Sailin’ On –  Eileen
  • anyone lived in a little how town — Charlene
  • The Butterfly — Ron
  • Die, Vampire Die — Michael
• Act II
  • You Do Something to Me / That Old Black Magic — Amy
  • The Wizard & I — Michael
  • Poor Unfortunate Souls — Katherine
  • I Want the Good Times Back – Dean
  • Tarot — Charlene
  • The Lies of Handsome Men — Dorie
  • Haunted Heart — Ron
  • Send in the Clowns — Deborah
  • Darkest Before the Dawn– Katherine
  • Puff the Magic Dragon — All

  *Fridays & Saturdays at 8:00pm / October 16,17,23,& 24

  Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 7th St SE, Washington DC

  Tix & Info: www.chaw.org

Jane Krakowski on Broadway.com

Broadway.com has a promo video of Jane Krakowski’s Feinstein’s gig.

Keeping Up with Jim Van Slyke

Former DC-area performer Jim Van Slyke keeps getting traction with his Neil Sedaka show, which he’ll next perform in New Hope on October 24rd.  He also has re-done his Web site. (Can you guess what it’s called?)