Ellyn Harris: Back to You

Ellyn Harris

Back to You

Metropolitan Room, NYC, November 5, 2014

Reviewed by Candace Leeds for Cabaret Scenes

Ellyn Harris made her cabaret debut at the Metropolitan Room, before an audience packed with friends. No stranger to the music world, Harris was singing professionally since the age of 18 when she was signed by William Morris and performed in TV commercials. Highlights of her show, featuring a mixture of soulful rock, folk and jazz, were “A Song for You” (Leon Russell), “I Want to Know What Love Is” (Mick Jones) and “Right Here Waiting” (Richard Marx). The beautiful, rich, soulful sound of her lower register shined through in the Russell song and “In My Life” (Lennon/McCartney), and her powerful belt enriched “What’s Love Got to Do with It” (Terry Britten and Graham Lyle). Harris provided glimpses into her life: her bus road trips with top recording artist Dan Hartman, with whom she toured at a young age; falling in love for the first time; her unhappy first marriage; the birth of her son; her divorce and new marriage; and finally emerging into the sun. Her powerful final number, “Everything’s Gonna Be All Right,” was written by her and Jeff Halpern. Harris returns to the venue on March 5.

Tags: American Songbook, Cabaret, Candace Leeds, Ellyn Harris, Female Vocalist, Graham Lyle, Great American Songbook, Jeff Halpern, John Lennon, Leon Russell, Metropolitan Room, Mick Jones, New American Songbook, NYC Cabaret, Paul McCartney, Richard Marx, Songbook, Terry Britten, Vocalist, What’s Love Got to Do With It

Category: Cabaret Reviews, New York City, New York City Cabaret Reviews