August 9: Rebecca Spencer

Rebecca Spencer

Back Stage Bistro award winner REBECCA SPENCER was heralded by BroadwayWorld.com as “a truly unique artist on the cabaret scene.” Her adventurous repertoire and collaboration with Musical Director Phillip Fortenberry has carved out the signature contemporary art song interpretations she has become known for.

Here’s what our Les Traub had to say about her show, Fair Warning:

The unusual choice for an opener of “Speak Softly, Love” (Rota/Kusik) was delivered in a soft, haunting voice that created a dark mysterious mood, as she emerged from the dark into her light. Echoing that mood, Fortenberry punctuated his accompaniment with touches of Rachmanioff’s Prelude in C-Sharp Minor. This pairing of standards and contemporary songs with classical references continued effectively throughout the show. Fortenberry’s counterpoint melody of Aaron Copeland’s “Simple Gifts” nicely complemented Rebecca’s beautiful take on “The Girl Who Used to Be Me” (Hamlisch/the Bergmans) from Shirley Valentine. Some lighter fare, such as “Eat, Drink and Be Mary” (Keith Thompson) and her closer, “Home Sweet Heaven” (Martin/Gray) from High Spirits, served to add some variety to her repertoire.

The entertaining patter about her association with the songs and her musical theater career provided just the right personal touch to the evening. This was her L.A. solo cabaret debut, and a wonderful start it was.

Tags: Back Stage Bistro award winner, Aaron Copeland, American Songbook, Arthur Newman Theatre, Broadway Musicals, BroadwayWorld.com, Cabaret, Cabaret Reviews, Cabaret Scenes, Clubs, Composers, Eat Drink and Be Mary, Fair Warning, Great American Songbook, High Spirits, Home Sweet Heaven, Jazz, Keith Thompson, Les Traub, lyricists, Marvin Hamlisch, Musicals, Nightclubs, Palm Desert, Phillip Fortenberry, Popular Song, Prelude in C-Sharp Minor, Rachmanioff, Rebecca Spencer, Revues, Shirley Valentine, Show Tunes, Simple Gifts, Singers, Songbook, Speak Softly Love, Standards, Supper Clubs, The Bergmans, The Girl Who Used to Be Me, Venues, Vocalists

Category: Los Angeles, Los Angeles Pick of the Week, Pick of the Week, Regional