The Cabaret Chronicles: Barbara Martinez, Ray Jessel, and More!

Happy March!  NYC seems to be thawing out, pre-season baseball is in full swing (yes, pun intended!), and there's an abundance of terrific shows going on!  I started out my past week of showgoing by attending a Flamenco concert at Weill RecitAl Hall.  Singer/dancer Barbara Martinez, who was born into a family of artists in Venezuela, but grew up in New York City, put on a simply mesmerizing show.  With a clear appreciation for the tradition of the art form, she managed to pay homage to its history while adding her own contemporary touch.  I'd never seen a Flamenco performance before, and what struck me most was the seamless blending of music, voice, movement, and acting.  The songs that were performed were full of passion, and it seemed only natural that this passion could be fully expressed only through a combination of all of the individual elements.  It was absolutely enchanting.  In addition to Ms. Martinez's stunning performance, the musicians with whom she surrounded herself were equally impressive.  Pedro Cortes on guitar, Jose Moreno on percussion (and dance!), and Sean Kupisz on bass were outstanding, and truly contributed to the magic of the evening.  Flamenco, you have a new fan! 

Wednesday evening found me at Don't Tell Mama for one of my all-time favorite performers: Ray Jessel.  Boasting a remarkable resume (co-composer/lyricist for the Broadway musical Baker Street, the last lyricist to work with Richard Rodgers, writer for "The Carol Burnett show", "The Dean Martin Show", "Head of the Class" and "The Love Boat"), Mr. Jessel is a true living legend.  His songs have been recorded by the likes of Louis Armstrong, Jimmy Durante, Peggy Lee, Michael Feinstein, John Pizzarelli, and Karen Akers, but there is nothing like hearing them sung by Mr. Jessel himself - and this past Wednesday evening was no exception!  He made sure to include older favorites such as "Short Term Memory Loss Blues," (an irresistibly funny song) "Life Sucks and Then You Die," (a.k.a. "The Shirley Temple Song") and "I'm Alright Now" (a hauntingly beautiful ballad), but also added in a few new songs, including "Just a Little Piano Bar" (a rousing sing-a-long) and "No Longer in My Life" (another beautiful ballad, with lyrics co-written by Cynthia Thompson).  It was a thoroughly entertaining evening, and I hope to make it back again before the end of his run.  Mr. Jessel will be performing at Don't Tell Mama on Wednesday, March 17^th, Wednesday, March 24^th, and Wednesday, March 31^st - all shows at 9:15 p.m.  If you're in NYC, I highly recommend taking in one of the upcoming performances - you'll thank yourself afterward!

 Thursday night, it was off to Broadway Baby Bistro for the second installment of the MAC New Face showcase featuring performers who appear on this year's preliminary MAC Award ballot in the debut category.  Hosted by MAC Award-winner Terese Genecco (who can be found at the Iridium with her little big band on the last Tuesday of every month!), this week's show was every bit as entertaining as last week's!  The lineup included some super-talented newcomers to the cabaret scene, including Shana Farr, Joelle Lurie, Jaron Vesely, Franca Vercelloni, Cindy Marchionda, Danielle Grabianowski, Tom Rocco, Michelle Collier, and Stacie Koby.  Ms. Genecco did a terrific job of hosting, and house musical director Clare Cooper provided excellent accompaniment.  All in all, a most enjoyable evening! 

Friday night, I headed over to The Metropolitan Room for MetroJam, which is the monthly open mic I have the honor of hosting.  There was a great turnout last night, and it was a true pleasure to see so many talented folks take the stage!  Among the evening's performers were David Goldman, Maria Moncada, Rob Langeder, Sigali Hamburger, Malou Beauvoir, and the aforementioned Ray Jessel.  And throughout it all, the MetroJam band was in rare form.  John DiPinto on piano, Ritt Henn on bass, and Bobby Sher on drums provided stellar accompaniment for the parade of singers - and some great one-liners as well!  The special guest for the night was the incredibly talented Hilary Kole.  Ms. Kole is, without question, one of the top female jazz vocalists on the scene today.  She has impeccable style and taste and a warm, rich voice, over which she exerts perfect control.  She accompanied herself at the piano, which was a rare treat, and delighted the crowd with her 3-song set, which included "Like a Lover," "Haunted Heart" (the title track from her debut CD!), and a gorgeous, haunting "Come Back To Me" (for which she did the arrangement).  She was joined by Mr. Henn and Mr. Sher for the first and third numbers, and collectively, they really sounded terrific.  Another great night of entertainment, and a fabulous way to kick off the weekend! 

Where I'm Going This Week...  

TONIGHT - Saturday, March 6^th:  Marilyn Maye at Feinstein's at Loews Regency.  This Grammy-nominated singer was Johnny Carson's favorite (she appeared on his show a whopping 76 times!), and for good reason - she can sing, she can swing, and she can entertain like nobody's business.  One of my favorite entertainers, too, and a true treasure in the world of American popular song.  

Monday, March 8^th: Jim Caruso's Cast Party at Birdland.  This fantastic weekly open mic runs from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. but make sure to arrive early to sign up if you want to sing!  

Tuesday, March 9^th:  Shaynee Rainbolt at Ashford & Simpson's Sugar Bar.  Recently featured in the New York Times, Sugar Bar has become a hot entertainment destination in the city.  Ms. Rainbolt heads up to 72^nd Street to perform two sets (7:30 & 9:00 p.m.), where she'll be joined by Janice Friedman on piano, Tony Cintron on drums, Bill Moring on bass, and Cliff Lyons on sax and flute!

Pictured: BarbAra Martinez

 

 

 

 

 

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