Review: Benjamin Eakeley Dazzles with BROADWAY SWINGER at Feinstein's/54 Below

Last week, Broadway veteran Benjamin Eakeley delighted audiences with his charming solo cabaret Broadway Swinger at Feinstein's/54 Below. The 1960s themed show featured a book by Tim Murray and Eakeley, which was filled with interesting factoids about the decade. It was also masterfully directed by JV Mercanti. Through the songs of Broadway and with a gorgeous vocal instrument, Eakeley charted how musical theater, much like the rest of America, transitioned from the saccharine sweet ideals of the 50s to the uninhibited and libidinous vibes of the sexual revolution.

He opened the show with full-bodied vocals on an up-beat, swinging rendition of "I've Got Your Number" (Cy Coleman, Carolyn Leigh). Then he sang a honeyed and soft rendition of "Where Is Love?" (Lionel Bart). Showcasing a vibrant personality, he treated audiences to a fun version of "She Loves Me" (Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick) before launching into an absolutely incandescent iteration of "Who Are You Now?" (Jule Styne, Bob Merrill) which featured a brilliant saxophone solo by Dan Block and bass solo by Matthew Rybicki.

Eakeley showcased how evocative his voice could be with a decadent version of "Take Me to the World" (Stephen Sondheim). Then, with a ton of heart, he sang robust versions of "What Makes Me Love Him" (Bock, Harnick) and "I'm a Brass Band" (Coleman, Dorothy Fields), allowing him to showcase how female characters had progressed by 1966 in addition to his own skills on the soprano sax. With decidedly sensual power and lush jazz vocals, Eakeley brought heat to the room with "I've Hot What You Want" (Bock, Harnick). Here his sultry tones and bewitching stage presence left the crowd feeling flushed as did Block's sexy saxophone solo.

As the audience regained their composure, he delivered a glowing version of "Why Should I Wake Up?" (John Kander, Fred Ebb). He followed this with perfected rich, earthy vocals on a skillful mash-up of "Easy to Be Hard" and "Where Do I Go" (Galt MacDermot, James Rado & Gerome Ragni). Moving away from the grit of Cabaret and Hair, he contrasted that moment with effervescing and bubbly performances of "Where Can You Take a Girl?" (Burt Bacharach, Hal David) and "Promises, Promises" (Bacharach, David).

Then, he closed the show with a captivating rendition of "What Did I Have?" (Burton Lane, Alan Jay Lerner), which allowed Eakeley to show off his powerful yet pristinely controlled belt. For an encore, Eakeley tore the roof off of Feinstein's/54 Below with a seductive yet amiable and ultimately bewitching take on "Love For Sale" (Cole Porter).

For the entirety of the show, Eakeley dazzled the audience with performance after performance, making each note appear to emerge effortlessly from his mouth. Likewise, his talented band provided excellent back-up for his vocals, ensuring the music was always robust and enchanting. On the piano, music director James Olmstead led the band with expert precision. Block added color with reeds, and Rybiki on bass and Zachary Eldridge on drums added lively beats.

Eakeley keeps this '60s vibe going as a member of Roundabout Theatre Company's Broadway revival of She Loves Me, which begins previews at Studio 54 on February 19, 2016. For tickets, and more information please visit http://www.roundabouttheatre.org/Shows-Events/She-Loves-Me.aspx. Also, he'll reprise Broadway Swinger, which was completely sold out, at Feinstein's/54 Below on Monday, May 9, 2016 at 7:00 PM. For tickets and more information, please visit http://54below.com/artist/benjamin-eakeley-broadway-swinger.

Photo Credit: Genevieve Rafter-Keddy

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