Reviewed by Joe Regan Jr.
Kathryne Langford, whose last cabaret show was one of the best shows of the 2008-2009 season, has a new show entitled Jazz and Cocktails which she premiered on July 13 at the Duplex and is repeating on Friday, September 14, Friday October 5, and Friday December 9, these dates are at Don’t Tell Mama. The new show, which takes its title from the lyric in her opening number, “Lush Life,” features her musical director gifted Wells Hanley with show direction by Gerry Geddes. The superb, well known and accomplished members of the Wells Hanley Trio were Marco Panascia on bass and Jacob Melchior on drums. Whereas the first show was autobiographical about the great romance of her life and her ultimate survival of that marriage’s breakdown and made use of many props to illustrate that story, in this show the only adornments are sparkling earrings. Jazz and Cocktails has no theme, it is only a selection of songs and readings that Langford feels she wanted to do for herself. Most of the time Langford sings standing straight in front of the microphone, and selectively and naturally makes small but very dramatic gestures at certain moments that dramatize subtle emotions in the lyrics.
Yes, “Lush Life” has been done by everyone in the cabaret world, male and female, since Nat King Cole recorded 19 year old Billy Strayhorn’s classic but when Langford opens the show with it she sings it simply and purely, rarely moving against the beautiful arrangements of Hanley. Langford, with long platinum hair, is dressed in an unadorned black outfit, slacks, a black mesh top, and a black mesh shawl draped over her arms. She changes pace immediately with a rocking version of “Bye Bye Blackbird.” Her other Strayhorn selection is “Day Dream,” which I haven’t heard any one do for a long time, and she sings it with the verse and glides over the harmonies to spellbind the audience.
She also has a lot of fun with belting out Fran Landesman and Roy Kral’s “Through the Windows of Cars,” a real rarity. Most extraordinary is a gentle version of Cole Porter’s “It’s All Right With Me” which begins sweetly, with Langford singing slowly in her purest voice against the persistent rhythm of her musicians, making small gestures to her forehead and her body, then giving them a great jazzy break, and when she returns, she sings more strongly and defiantly in a challenge to the man she is singing to, and to the audience, and on the final chorus she makes a singular strong gesture, pulling her shawl apart revealing her great body and standing ramrod straight on the last “It’s all right! — with me!”
Langford devotes a center section to the works of another strong woman, Dorothy Parker. She reads from Parker essays and poems (some familiar, some less well known) and then she does a stirring version of Parker’s song “How Am I To Know.” She also sings unfamiliar Stephen Schwartz, reinterprets some well known Kris Kristofferson and Neil Young, and manages to sing an emotional “An Empty Glass” (Bonfa-Manning) that gives full weight to the lyrics.
Yes, there were other great American standards that Langford gave individual interpretations to and by the time Langford finished, she had the audience in the palm of her hand and got them to sing along happily with her on the last upbeat standard she sang. Even without a stated theme, Langford’s act has a stunning connective line and is an example of how talent and creativity can create an exciting evening. I can’t recommend this show highly enough.
Langford’s show at the Duplex was sold out and I saw at least 10 or 15 people turned away who did not have reservations. The room was packed with songwriters and singers. I would like to repeat that the act was exquisitely and tastefully directed by Gerry Geddes, always allowing Langford’s great voice to speak for herself and creating an aura of class with a capital “C.”
Kathryne Langford’s Jazz and Cocktails repeats at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 West 46 Street on Friday, September 14 at 7 PM, Friday October 5 at 7 PM and Friday, December 9 at 7 PM. Reservations are strongly recommended. Call 212 757-0788 after 4 PM.
Kathryne Langford’s website is www.KathryneLangford.com
Posted by Sandi Durell
on September 9, 2012. Filed under Cabaret,Cabaret and Interviews - Sandi Durell,COLUMNS,ENTERTAIMENT.
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