Jane Monheit with Billy Stritch: Hello Bluebird and To the Men I Love
Jane Monheit
Hello Bluebird: The Jazz of Judy Garland / To the Men I Love
Birdland, NYC, January 12, 2015
Reviewed by Ron Forman for Cabaret Scenes
Jane Monheit combined two different shows, Hello Bluebird: The Jazz of Judy Garland and To the Men I Love seamlessly at Birdland. Whether doing songs associated with Garland, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr. or Joe Williams, Monheit brought her own unique interpretation to every one, making the selections from the Great American Songbook feel new and delightfully different. She is a true jazz singer, but one who also possesses a great-sounding voice.
The first portion of the show was devoted to the happier, jazzy repertoire of Garland. Monheit opened with a swinging “Gotta Have Me Go with You” that had me singing it in the shower the morning after, followed by a slow, sexy and sensual “That Old Black Magic.” The eight-song tribute ended with an “Over the Rainbow” that was different from previous Monheit performances, but equally moving.
Billy Stritch was accompanist for the second portion of the show, performing songs associated with men who had influenced Monheit’s career. Especially striking was her take on Jimmy Webb’s “The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress.” The closing number was Stevie Wonder’s “Knocks Me Off My Feet” followed by an encore duet with Stritch of “They Can’t Take That Away From Me.”
Category: Cabaret Reviews, New York City, New York City Cabaret Reviews
