The Cabaret Chronicles: Connie Francis, Frankie Valli, Tony DeSare, Marilyn Maye and More!

Oh, what a week!  How do I even begin to write about a week of shows that included Tony DeSare, Marilyn Maye, Connie Francis, Frankie Valli and more?!  Well, I guess I’ll just take the advice of Rodgers and Hammerstein and “start at the very beginning, a very good place to start!”  It all began last Sunday evening when I joined the sophisticated set that frequents Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle Hotel to enjoy the music of singer/songwriter/pianist Tony DeSare.  Joined by Steve Doyle on bass and Ed Decker on guitar, Tony put together three highly enjoyable sets, mixing well-loved standards with some of his own material, including “Let’s Just Stay In,” which is one my favorite songs of his, and which, he announced on Sunday, is going to be featured in an upcoming movie starring The Rock!  He also treated the appreciative crowd to “I’d Have It All If I Had Drew,” which he wrote for the highly successful documentary film, My Date With Drew.  It’s always a joy to see Tony perform, and this night was no exception - his musicianship is remarkable; his technique, impeccable, and his warm personality makes everyone forget about their troubles for a little bit and just enjoy their time with the music.  In fact, I had so much fun that I’m planning on going back tomorrow night!

The following night was a double header for me: first up, it was Barbara Porteus at Don’t Tell Mama, and after that, it was off to Jim Caruso’s Cast Party at Birdland!  Barbara’s show was a lot of fun - she focused mainly on performing time-trusted standards, and her joy in singing them was not only evident, but it was kind of contagious!  Every time I looked around during the show, I saw grins spreading across faces as a favorite tune was recognized, heads bopping in time to the music, and appreciative laughter as she linked the songs together with fun, interesting anecdotes.  Musical director Barry Levitt did some terrific arrangements, and headed a tight, solid band, comprised of Eric Udell on electric bass, Myra Casales on percussion, and Levitt, himself on piano.

The Cast Party that followed was up to its usual fabulous standards - a whole slew of talented singers performed, includingTerese Genecco, Rob Langeder, Ariana Grande, Hilary Kole, Titus Burgess, Klea Blackhurst, Shawn Ryan, the marvelous Marilyn Maye, and YouTube sensation Miranda, who has quickly become a Cast Party sensation as well!  Jim Caruso, as always, was the host with the most and Tedd Firth (piano) and Steve Doyle (bass) provided top-notch accompaniment for the parade of performers.

The following night found me back at Birdland to catch the aforementioned marvelous Marilyn Maye in her solo show, “Something Cool.”  Having just seen Miss Maye’s Johnny Mercer tribute at the Metropolitan Room last month, I was chomping at the bit to see her in a full length show again and boy, did she ever meet (and exceed!) my expectations!  Filled with great songs and superb arrangements, the show was a fantastic showcase for the dynamic singer who lent not only her warm, rich voice to the material, but also her tremendous storytelling skills and her top-rate musicianship.  The centerpiece of the show was a trio of heavy-hitting ballads: “Guess Who I Saw Today,” “Something Cool,” and “Lush Life,” which would have been a tough feat for a less skilled performer to pull off.  Miss Maye, however, brought such a unique, personal story to each song that it was like watching a mini-musical unfold onstage.  I was simply blown away.  And, if that weren’t enough, she followed that section of the show by keeping the same character who had just lived through those three songs, and launched into “I Wanna Be  Around” and “Goody Goody,” which showed the character toughening up and taking control of her life again.  Simply brilliant!  Backed by musical director Tedd Firth on piano, Tom Hubbard on bass, and Jim Eckloff on drums, Miss Maye proved yet again why she is quite deservedly considered one of the greatest interpreters of the Great American Songbook.

Wednesday evening found me at the VIP Room of The Iguana for Wednesday Night Of The Iguana, the weekly open mic/singers’ showcase hosted by the talented team of Richard Skipper and Dana Lorge.  Started by Joan Crowe and recently passed into the capable hands of the aforementioned dynamic duo, this 3-hour show includes five featured performers, each of whom perform 3-song sets, as well as a variety of other talented singers whose names are drawn out of a hat to insure fair treatment for all.  I had received a last minute request to fill in as one of the five featured performers for that evening, and I was thrilled to be able to do so.  It ended up being a really terrific night of entertainment, with wonderful performances by the other four featured performers (Deb Berman, Susan Winter, Jana Robbins, and Maureen Taylor), as well as by some of the other singers who found their way to the stage that night (including Sarah Rice, Esther Beckman, Jillian Laurain, and Joan Crowe).  Richard and Dana did a wonderful job as hosts - they were charming, gracious, welcoming, and had a nice, natural rapport with each other and the audience...and their songs were great, as well!
Thursday night was...well, quite simply, one of my favorite nights in recent memory!  As part of the Seaside Summer Concert Series at Coney Island, Connie Francis and Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons were putting on a double-header concert, and I, for one, had vowed to make it there...and I am SO happy that I did!  Oh, what a night, indeed!  Ms. Francis did the first “set,” although at 20 songs long, that would have been quite a concert in and of itself!  As when I saw her in New Jersey a few months ago, I was simply blown away.  Not only is she one of the most engaging and enchanting performers I’ve ever seen, but she still has that sweet, vulnerable quality to her voice that no other singer can match.  She pours her heart and soul into her music and the end result is something singular and wonderful.  She performed many of her biggest hits, including “Who’s Sorry Now,” “Stupid Cupid,” “Lipstick On Your Collar,” “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool,” and “Frankie,” as well as a number of her foreign language hits like “Mama,” “Mala Femmena,” “Malaguena,” and “Hava Nagila.”  Her between-song patter was charming and witty, especially her self-deprecating jokes about her failed marriages and her strict Italian father.  Backed by an 18-piece orchestra (at times, 19-piece, when her conductor sat down at the piano) and a single backup singer, Ms. Francis put on a truly fantastic show and I was thrilled to be there to witness it.  And THEN it was time for Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons...or, in other words, it was time to be blown away yet again!  The current Four Seasons are not the originals, but they can sing, dance, and nail their harmonies like nobody’s business, and Frankie Valli sounded amazing!  Seriously, at times, I closed my eyes and thought I was listening to a recording from the ‘60s - that’s how good he sounded!  Mr. Valli, too, took care to include many of the hits that he knew people would want to hear, like “Dawn,” “Workin’ My Way Back To You,” “Native New Yorker,” “December 1963 (Oh What A Night),”Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” “Sherry,” and “Big Girls Don’t Cry.”  It was a high-energy, ridiculously fun show, and it was a complete thrill to be able to experience it first-hand!

Friday evening, I headed over to Don’t Tell Mama to catch Stearns Matthews and Megan Candio in their show 50 Years Experience...25 Years in the Making.  Having been friends since childhood and never done a show together, the two 25-year-old singers decided to join forces and finally share the stage.  Opening with Craig Carnelia’s “Fran and Janie,” which set a fun, somewhat nostalgic, tone for the night, Stearns and Megan spend the rest of the show winding their way through some terrific solos (including “Tomorrow” and “It Never Was You”, both sung by Megan,  and “Poor Sweet Baby” and “What’ll I Do,” both sung by Stearns) duets (including “Stepsister’s Lament” from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella and “Carried Away” from On The Town)...and even a trio with their musical director/pianist, James K. Mitchell (“She Loves Me Not” from Closer Than Ever).  It was a fun show to watch, with the warmth Stearns and Megan felt for each other easily spreading to the audience, and the musical selections were eclectic and often unexpected, which made the show a refreshing change of pace.  Additionally, both singers posses beautiful vocal instruments, which sounded equally terrific on solos and duets alike.  Yet another great night of entertainment...contributing to what may very well be my most stellar week of show-going ever!

That’s about all for now, but check back for another update next weekend!

Where I’m going this week...

Sunday, August 2nd: Tony DeSare at Bemelmans Bar (again!).  Singer/composer/pianist Tony DeSare is, hands down, one of my favorite entertainers.  I had a fabulous time seeing him at Bemelmans last week and can’t wait to go back again for another round!

Monday, August 3rd: Well, if it's Monday, you can almost always find me at Jim Caruso's Cast Party at Birdland.  This fantastic open mic runs from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. - make sure you get there early to sign up if you want to sing!  I’ll be getting there late this week, as I’ll be coming from another engagement, but I’m looking forward to catching as much of it as I can!

Friday, August 7th: MetroJam at the Metropolitan Room!  Founded by Joe Bachana and currently hosted by yours truly, this monthly open mic always promises to be a great night!  This month, special guest Scott Coulter joins for a three-song set!  MetroJam runs from 10-midnight, but again, if you want to sing, make sure to show up early!

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