BWW Reviews: With Their Charming Valentine to New York and Each Other, Eric Comstock & Barbara Fasano Share the Love at Birdland

Eric Comstock and Barbara Fasano exude warmth. Both superb musicians, they're polished without ostentation, symbiotic without deferring individual fortes, and infectiously (enviably) appreciative of one another without becoming saccharine. Original arrangements never trade lyrical meaning for novelty.

Their recent one-night show at Birdland, Only In New York: A Big Apple Valentine, is a collection of songs in which the charming marrieds express the vicissitudes of love, bracketed by affection for the city. Many are sophisticated, some are unexpected, and all are empathetic. A lovely duet of "I Cannot Hear the City" is performed with Fasano sitting on the piano bench, her back half turned to Comstock. Harmony is created by an unusual closeness of octaves that generate frisson. When she tilts her head back, it briefly rests on his shoulder. Piano is lush.

Fasano follows with the lighthearted "Love Is in the Air" as if alerting us. She's so perfectly wry, "Stay home, don't take a breath/you could catch your death" elicits audience giggles.

Later, the vocalist renders Annie Dinnerman's waltzy, mid-tempo "Valentine" with fetching pleasure. The result is happy with a capital "H." Throughout a gently swung rendition of Bart Howard's "The First Warm Day in May," it's easy to imagine Comstock (who is singing) capering towards his girl wearing a straw boater.

"I'll Be Easy to Find (When Love Comes Looking For Me)" (Fasano) and "Drift Away" from the musical Grey Gardens (Comstock) emerge at the other end of the evening's spectrum. Fasano's silk velvet interpretation luxuriates with anticipation to the strains of tiptoeing piano and delicate bass. Music appears to move through her evoking movement, which enhances rather than distracts from communication. Comstock's "Our tête-à-têtes /Midnight duets . . . " is delivered with deft, elegantly restrained brush strokes, slowly creating the finished picture. A completely original duet of Paul Simon's iconic "Old Friends" is transcendent.

Back to back pairing of "I Thought About You" (Comstock) and "But Beautiful" (Fasano) continues in this vein. Comstock relates an anecdote that took place when, as a young performer, he tried to play a bouncy version of the Jimmy Van Heusen/Johnny Mercer song. From across the room, Julie Wilson intoned "slower." He took it down a notch. "Slower, baby," came the response. The number is halting, reflective. Comstock sings as if having a conversation with himself. It's stunning. Fasano's song is a ripe, slow dance with the couple hardly moving. Bass line acts as a partner's arm circumspectly on her spine. A spell is cast.

To witness the extent of Fasano's conjuring ability, one only has to see her perform "Museums" (Steven Lutvak.) "I walk the museums in search of my father . . . " In essence, a brief one-act play, the scenario describes someone's only memory of closeness taking place in silently shared museum visits. Grave tenderness is periodically illuminated by charming descriptions of artwork. Fasano makes it personal.

Both artists can flirt like the dickens. Comstock's "Oh, Look At Me Now," practically winks. Phrasing feels candid--a lingering note, a pause; it tickles. (When Fasano follows with lyrics to the song written for Lee Wiley, she's in full seduction mode.) A breezy "As Long As I Live" showcases the couple's appealing piquancy. Intermittent banter feels real, not canned.

Denouement includes lines from Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass: "GIVE me the splendid silent sun, with all his beams full--dazzling . . . " to which the couple adds "Give me the streets of Manhattan!" Four upbeat songs follow. A jazzy "Broadway" (Teddy McRae/Henry Wood/Bill Bird) makes the most of short, sharp phrasing by alternating acapella singing with piano/bass riffs like the start and stop of traffic or blinking lights of Times Square-- before they blazed 24 hours a day. The joyful ending leaves a room filled with smiles.

Musicianship is formidable.

I hope for those of you who missed this, the show is repeated.

Only In New York- A Big Apple Valentine
Eric Comstock- Piano/Vocals
Barbara Fasano- Vocals
Sean Smith- Bass
Birdland, 315 West 44th St.
February 9, 2015
Venue Calendar: http://www.birdlandjazz.com/

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