CD Review: Gary Negbaur—”You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught”

Penelope Thomas
In 1949, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught” from South Pacific outraged many people with its positive take on interracial relationships. Seventy-two years later, it’s painfully obvious that we’re still not truly learning, so it’s a timely title track for Gary Negbaur’s 2021 Blujazz label album. Negbaur’s rendition is catchy—he covers the...

CD Review: Nicolas King “Act One—Celebrating 25 Years of Recordings”

Lisa Jo Sagolla
Listening to singer Nicolas King’s new, fun-filled CD, Act One—Celebrating 25 Years of Recordings, reminded me of Easter mornings as a kid, when I was surprised over and over again discovering all the colorful, tasty little treats the Bunny had hidden among the nooks and crannies of my familiar home environment.  Though most of its...

Live Stream Review: “Sharón Clark: By Special Request, Volume 2”

Gerry Geddes
It is often quite easy, even in pandemic times, to think that New York City is not only the center of the Universe but the Universe itself—especially when it comes to music, whether it be cabaret, theatre, or jazz. I am happy to report that Sharón Clark: By Special Request (presented as part of pianist...

Cabaret Setlist: “Lush Life” – Music and Lyrics by Billy Strayhorn

Mark Dundas Wood
Repertoire for the Once and Future American Songbook Song #12 in this running series Billy Strayhorn’s intricate ballad “Lush Life” has, I think, something in common with Stonehenge—England’s massive and mysterious Bronze Age monument. Both are remarkable accomplishments whose existence seems scarcely plausible. You can’t fully explain how they arrived or what inspired their creation....

CD Review: “Chip Deffaa’s Irving Berlin: Sweet and Hot—Rare Songs, with an All-Star New York Cast”

Ken Bloom
Props to Chip Deffaa who specializes in recording rare songs from the American Songbook. Of course, one’s definition of “rare” depends on how much knowledge you bring to the party. There are certainly some extremely rare songs on this album, some of which are getting their first recordings. Then there are songs like “Alexander’s Ragtime...

“‘TAINT— An Alt-Holiday Variety Show”

Gerry Geddes
Tweed presents ‘TAINT (cause it 'taint Christmas, and it 'taint New Year’s)—An Alt-Holiday Variety Show to benefit Pangea, the terrific cabaret that serves as home to downtown performers and the best of NYC cabaret alike.  In these pandemic times, restaurants and clubs are under duress from the distancing and quarantining and all the other nightmarish requirements...

CD Review: Rebecca Luker and Sally Wilfert, “All the Girls”

Gerry Geddes
When Rebecca Luker passed away recently it sent ripples of sadness through the theatre and cabaret communities.  All the Girls, the new CD with Luker and Sally Wilfert, serves as a heartbreaking reminder of what a tremendous loss this was.  It is also a joyous celebration of two of Broadway’s finest voices, in solos and duets...

CD Review: Kenneth Gartman “We Need a Little Christmas”

Gerry Geddes
There is an open-hearted, childlike simplicity and beauty to Kenneth Gartman’s sound that is quite endearing and a perfect match for We Need a Little Christmas, a holiday release filled with the warmth of an open fire and the good will of friends and family gathered together.  Add to that a thoughtful connection to the...

CD Review: Liz Callaway “Comfort and Joy: An Acoustic Christmas

Lisa Jo Sagolla
A mellow CD of Christmas songs featuring vocalist Liz Callaway accompanied by the quiet acoustic guitar-playing of Peter Calo, Comfort and Joy: An Acoustic Christmas may be the perfect soundtrack for what this year will surely be a low-voltage, less-festive-than-usual holiday season.  One might think a solo singer supported only by a guitarist wouldn’t generate...

CD Review: Susan Tobocman “Touch & Go”

Gerry Geddes
Singer/composer/arranger Susan Tobocman has released her latest CD Touch & Go.  It has an intriguing selection of songs that are terrifically performed and played.  What is immediately unusual about the project is that the singer created all the arrangements with an assist on two of them by David Tobocman (keeping it in the family). The Latin...