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 17th, Wednesday, March 24th, and Wednesday, March 31st - 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!
