BWW Reviews: BENDING THREADS Presents LEGENDS

BENDING THREADS, the MAC-nominated cabaret quartet, performed the "beta version" of their new show, LEGENDS, at The Underground Lounge on June 1 and 2, 2013. This short show, waiting for further material to be added, has its four stars performing hits and lesser-known gems of four jazz legends: Westley Todd Holiday singing the works of Duke Ellington, Patrice Bell presenting songs associated with Lena Horne, Rejinald Woods performing works by Billie Holiday, and Kareen Foster belting Ella Fitzgerald standards.

The production is not an impressions act - it consists of BENDING THREADS' members performing those works as themselves, not as the characters or in the exact styles of the original artists, allowing for fresh interpretations of a number of classic songs. Holiday's humor in "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," Woods' bell-like male soprano notes delivering emotion in "Strange Fruit," Foster's and Bell's vocal harmonies on their duet of "Fever" - there is no doubt to an audience that the members of the quartet are able to take legendary performers' equally legendary songs and to make them their own.

But it is the vocal harmonies and the group performance when all four perform together that are the real show-stoppers in this production. From their opening group number, "Stompin' At the Savoy," to their closing "I'll Be Seeing You," the four are undeniably at their best, as is Manhattan Transfer, when all are performing together.

Of the duets also performed by various combinations of Threads, the real show stopper is "A Fine Romance" sung by Bell and Holiday. Always a less than serious number, in their hands it is almost convulsively funny as they hurl insult upon romantic insult at each other around the room.

The Threads' plan is to expand the show, a good idea as the show is basically a one-hour one-set performance at the present. Adding several numbers and going to two forty to forty-five minute sets with a brief intermission would make this a full cabaret evening rather than what feels currently like post-dinner entertainment. This is no insult - rather, the performances are of sufficient quality to leave the audience wondering why several other classic numbers by the legends covered are missing (Ella Fitzgerald's "A-Tisket, A-Tasket" being one of the most conspicuous absences).

BENDING THREADS normally performs two to four original shows per year. Next year, we might hope to see the usual number of shows supplemented by an expanded edition of this show.

Visit their webpage at www.bendingthreads.com as well as their Facebook page for updates and information, plus scheduling for the current season.

Photo credit: M. Rogers

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