BWW Reviews: Marin Mazzie Enchants at 54 BELOW

In her current cabaret show at 54 BELOW, Marin Mazzie is taking audiences on a whirlwind ride through her formative years in Rockford, Illinois. She deftly interprets the hit music from the 1970s, making each of the iconic songs her own. With her brand of majestic power, dazzling belt, and her supple alto instrument, Mazzie enchants with her song selections and stories alike.

Mazzie takes the stage and invites us to sit beside her 10-year-old self and the hi-fi in her parent's living room. She watches her father fill the large console stereo with records and then dance with her mother. The year is 1970, Mazzie is 10, and she sings "Come On-a My House" (Ross Bagdasarian, William Saroyan). Mazzie avoids emulating Rosemary Clooney's famed version of the tune, layering the number with both a jazz swing and a distinctly slow funk feel. She croons sweetly as the bass line lazily throbs along. I couldn't imagine a warmer nor cozier invitation to her home or the show itself.

She works her way through other tunes that were enjoyed by her parents and held her captivated as they danced around the living room, eventually landing on "Begin the Beguine" (Cole Porter/Artie Shaw, Jerry Gray). Giving a glorious rendition of the beloved track, she sings with a heavy and bitter edge, reminding us of her recording of "And Eve Was Weak" on the Carrie: The Musical (Premiere Cast Recording). This is followed by a trip up to her lavender bedroom, where she sings a high-energy and comical take on "I Think I Love You" (Tony Romeo).

After a funny bit about moving to another house, Mazzie launches into a melodious and softly sung version of "Make Your Own Kind of Music" (Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil), showcasing the sweetly lush aspects of her voice and allowing her Midwestern twang to slip out some. Her spin on "Anyone Who Had a Heart" (Burt Bacharach, Hal David) is sublimely elegiac, allowing her to really showoff the stunning power of her belt.

As she continues working her way through the hits of the era, it was abundantly clear that she is having a blast singing these songs for the crowd at 54 BELOW. Even the wait staff momentarily pauses in their duties to take in moments of the performance, especially when she delivers a sassy salsa-funk rendition of "Son of a Preacher Man" (John Hurley, Ronnie Wilkins). Likewise, the whole house stops for her gorgeously bittersweet and delectably slowed rendition of "Our House" (Graham Nash). Nearing the end of the number, she and her band launch into an a cappella section that was absolutely lovely. Truly, the room falls silent to bask in that moment.

The talented band is led by musical director Joseph Thalkan on piano and features Pete Donovan on bass, Nate Brown on guitar, and Larry Lelli on drums. With energy and pizazz, they provide Mazzie with fantastic accompaniment and each has a nice voice of their own as well.

Mazzie continues her brief residency at 54 BELOW through February 7, 2015. For tickets and information about her final two shows, please visit http://54below.com or call (646) 476-3551.

Photos by Stephen Sorokoff.

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