Elizabeth Ahlfors

Jean Brassard

Elizabeth Ahlfors
"The Kid From Paris – Jean Brassard Sings Yves Montand" The Triad – November 9, 23, December 7 Tributes can be a risky business. Of course, we've seen tribute shows that were carelessly sloughed off with a song list and dates. Serious artists, however, should delve through books, recordings, memoirs, available interviews to develop a...

Tom Vaughn

Elizabeth Ahlfors
"Trail of Cheers" Laurie Beechman Theatre  –  March 20, 30, April 11 Creating a cabaret show is a balancing act, keeping various emotional balls in the air while maintaining authenticity and musicality. The show should reveal something about the performer without audiences having to endure a self-serving swamp of his personal minutiae. Avoiding preachiness and...

Amra-Faye Wright

Elizabeth Ahlfors
"Sittin' on Top of the World" Feinstein's at Loews Regency  –  April 3 & 5 Glamour, attitude, sophistication—this was once the image of nightclub divas. These days, not so much—though occasionally you spot that charisma on stage right before you. This was how last October, Amra-Faye Wright, a statuesque platinum blonde from South Africa, showed...

Marieann Meringolo

Elizabeth Ahlfors
"You Must Believe in Spring! – The Music of Michel Legrand" Feinstein's at Loews Regency - February. 26, March 4. 11, 18 In a review several years ago, I praised Marieann Meringolo's poise, rich vocal power, and dynamic renditions. After seeing her current show at Feinstein's at Loews Regency, let's raise that a notch or...

Gary Negbaur

Elizabeth Ahlfors
"Diggin' the Beatles: A Pianoman's Soulful Journey through the Beatles Songbook" Metropolitan Room  –  Jan. 19, 20 "Diggin' the Beatles," at the Metropolitan Room, was not a scholastic exploration of the Beatles, a group that disbanded over 40 years ago and yet still has a musical Popularity Quotient that is universal, spanning generations. Nor was...

Joel Ginn

Elizabeth Ahlfors
"Singing Bing" Metropolitan Room  –  Jan. 12, 14. 26, 28 Have you noticed how few tributes have been given lately to Bing Crosby? Everyone knows his name and the songs he sang, but perhaps Crosby's laid-back, casual approach has just not been firing up current performers. So thanks to baritone Joel Ginn for "Singing Bing"...

Christine Ebersole and Aaron Weinstein

Elizabeth Ahlfors
"Strings Attached" Birdland  –  November 27, 28 There are some sturdy strings attaching singer/actress Christine Ebersole to Aaron Weinstein, a jazz violinist with a bent for comedy on the side. The two have more than a couple of qualities in common. Ebersole, the chick singer in this jazz duo, pointed out that they both love...

Yvonne Constant

Elizabeth Ahlfors
"La Différence" Metropolitan Room  –  October. 20, 29, November 2, 7, 14 For women, reaching that certain age is less of a bugaboo these days, with vibrant entertainment idols as Marilyn Maye, Elaine Stritch, Julie Wilson, Barbara Cook and Barbara Carroll still drawing significant public interest. You can add to these gals Yvonne Constant, who...

Betty Buckley

Elizabeth Ahlfors
"Ah Men! The Boys of Broadway" Feinstein's at Loews Regency  –  October 4 - 29 "Ah Men! The Boys of Broadway"—it's a tasty title. Who would not find inspiration in the beautiful boys of Broadway? In her latest salute to the Great White Way, Betty Buckley remembers the songs performed by some of the greats...

Carole Demas

Elizabeth Ahlfors
"Summer Nights" Laurie Beechman Theatre  –  September 19, October 17 Summer nights are balmy rather than steamy when Carole Demas delivers her reprise of Summer Nights, a program of American songs. This is easy listening in a most engaging way. The casual Demas has a wide smile and a welcoming, laid-back demeanor, but beneath that...