Marcus Goldhaber— “The Promise of You”

June 8, 2026

Since jazz singer/ songwriter Marcus Goldhaber first came on the scene, and through appearances at major jazz clubs and cabarets around the country, and through five previous albums, he established himself as one of the young guard of protectors of and contributors to the Great American Songbook. His style is a captivating blend of jazz and cabaret; his strong, sure sense of time and swing blends seamlessly with a conversational delivery and expert storytelling. His artistry is given its best showcase yet in the new recording, The Promise of You. The arrangements are crisp as mountain air, immediately open and inviting; Goldhaber worked on each song, partnered at various times with his pianist Art Hirahara, and on other tracks with Jon Davis, Michael O’Brien, and Alvester Garnett, and his presence no doubt contributes to the easy consistency of sound and feel throughout. 

The material is evenly divided between six originals and six standards, and Goldhaber is equally in command on both. 

Hoagy Carmichael’s “Skylark” opens the album with an unexpectedly brisk ride through the sometime lugubrious classic. The effortless charm of his songwriting and his vocal lift the bonhomie of the original, “Just One More Song” buoyed even more delightfully by the horn playing of Jay Rattman. The infectious rhythm of his “Let’s Get Lost” (Frank Loesser, Jimmy McHugh) sets it apart from the classic Chet Baker version, with strong assists from Hirshara’s keyboard work, Keita Ogawa’s percussion, and Paul Bollenback’s guitar. Goldhaber’s title song whisks us away in a lighthearted, romantic waltz with beautifully measured lyrics. The closing energy and power of the melody sneak up unexpectedly and entertainingly. “Two at a Time” is a timeless, bouncy winner that might, in another part of the multi-verse, have served as showstopper in a Fred Astaire musical.  

Goldhaber slips into “I’ll See You in My Dreams” (Isham Jones, Gus Kahn) like a comfortable pair of slippers ornamented with some delightfully individual scat and Summer Camargo’s trumpet. The slow burn of “I’ll Build a Stairway to Paradise” (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Buddy DeSylva) allows the singer to claim the warhorse as his own. Hirahara’s piano and Garnett’s drums give a moody, mysterious sheen to “There’s a Small Hotel” (Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart) that inspires some pleasantly noir-ish storytelling on Goldhaber’s part. 

A stunning reimagining of “The Best is Yet to Come” closes the album on an incredible high, brilliantly arranged, stunningly played by Hirahara on piano and Michael O’Brien on electric bass, and sung with dark, deeply dramatic phrasing by Goldhaber who, with The Promise of You, has reached a whole new level of musical mastery.

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The Promise of You, co-produced by Art Hirahara and Marcus Goldhaber on Fallen Apple Records.

About the Author

Gerry Geddes, critic for BistroAwards.com, is an award-winning director, writer, teacher, performer, lyricist, and a contributor to the podcast Troubadours and Raconteurs. He conceived and directed the acclaimed musical revues Monday in the Dark with George (Bistro and MAC Award winner), Put on Your Saturday Suit—Words & Music by Jimmy Webb, and Gerry Geddes & Company (in its five-year residency at Pangea). He has directed singers André De Shields, Darius de Haas, Helen Baldassare, and Lisa Viggiano. He has been active in the cabaret world for over five decades and has produced numerous CDs; his lyrics have been performed and recorded here and in Europe. Gerry’s workshop, The Art of Vocal Performance, is regularly offered to singers of all levels. His memoir of life in NYC, Didn’t I Ever Tell You This?, was recently published and is available at barnesandnoble.com. He is currently at work on his first novel.

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