Jamie Brady: Something to Talk About

Carla Gordon | April 4, 2015

Jamie Brady

Something to Talk About

Davenport’s, Chicago, IL, March 5, 2015

Reviewed by Carla Gordon for Cabaret Scenes

Pretty Jamie Brady delivered a smorgasbord of songs in Something to Talk About that showed her versatility and vocal color well. When it comes to swing, Brady’s voice has the silkiness of a forties band singer à la Jo Stafford. This manifests in numbers like the Sammy Cahn/Jimmy Van Heusen “The Second Time Around” and Van Heusen’s and Johnny Burke’s “But Beautiful.” At other times Brady rocks it out in “Hallelujah I Love Her (Him) So” (Ray Charles) and Shirley Eikhard’s “Something to Talk About.” Brady found the Latin jazz of Jobim’s “No More Blues.”

Her lyrics are easier to hear than they had been in prior shows and she is an effective storyteller. This is evinced in the sexy “Adam and Eve” (John Pizzarelli/ Jessica Molaskey) about being in “pajamas by dinnertime” and an understated, yet rich offering of Bob Dylan’s “To Make You Feel My Love.” Brady’s dialogue, mostly about family life, added fun to the evening, but, at times, pushed the TMI envelope. Beckie Menzie provided wise support at the piano. Concluding the show with Susan Werner’s “May I Suggest” followed by Andrew Gold’s “Thank You for Being a Friend” helped the audience to feel connected and was the right closer for Brady’s musical journey.

Tags: American Songbook, Andrew Gold, Beckie Menzie, Bob Dylan, Broadway Musicals, But Beautiful, Cabaret Reviews, Carla Gordon, Chicago, Clubs, Davenports, Great American Songbook, Jamie Brady, Jimmy Van Heusen, Jo Stafford, Jobim, Johnny Burke, May I Suggest, Musicals, Nightclubs, Popular Song, Ray Charles, Reviews, Sammy Cahn, Shirley Eikhard, Show Tunes, Singers, Something to Talk About, Songbook, Standards, Supper Clubs, Susan Werner, Thank You for Being a Friend, The Second Time Around, Venues, Vocalists