Betty Buckley: The Lyricist
Betty Buckley
The Lyricist
Feinstein’s at the Nikko, San Francisco, CA, November 13, 2014
Reviewed by Steve Murray for Cabaret Scenes
There’s a film vignette running in Betty Buckley’s mind. The images are sharp and clear, the dialogue is her lyrics and the score is Oscar-worthy. This is how Buckley chooses her superb material for The Lyricist, featuring some of the strongest material she’s sung to date. “Come to Me, Bend to Me” (Brigadoon) and Abbey Lincoln’s seldom performed “Throw It Away” from Buckley’s new CD Ghostlight set the tone for an evening of captivating artistry.
Buckley’s voice is now mature, softer and unembellished. With her slight vibrato and unique phrasing, she draws you into the emotion of the words, painting that image that plays in her mind. She utilizes a sensational new arrangement to create something new and exciting from Irving Berlin’s well-worn “Blue Skies.” Lyrical pianist Christian Jacob adds lightness matched with immaculate precision to the set. Jacques Brel/Rod McKuen’s sad but optimistic “If You Go Away” and Sting’s “A Practical Arrangement” (The Last Ship) are pieces of art in Buckley’s deft hands. The pièce de résistance is Hugh Prestwood’s “Ghost in This House,” a heartbroken lament to loneliness that is made all the more palpable with Buckley’s seasoned mastery of style and delivery. This is a refined Betty Buckley—more mature and satisfied, and clearly in control of her craft.
Category: Cabaret Reviews, Regional, San Francisco, San Francisco Cabaret Reviews
