Kristoffer Lowe: You’re Getting to Be a Habit with Me: The Songs of Harry Warren
Kristoffer Lowe
You’re Getting to Be a Habit with Me:
The Songs of Harry Warren
Metropolitan Room, NYC, September 22, 2015
Reviewed by Elizabeth Ahlfors for Cabaret Scenes
It’s hard to think of a finer interpreter of the vast Harry Warren songbook than Kristoffer Lowe, a lanky tenor with a golden voice and the intelligence and sensitivity to tap into the multifaceted Warren canon and make it his own. On the anniversary of Warren’s death in 1981, Lowe debuted a series of shows saluting the overlooked composer behind the familiar music.
It’s not that Warren wrote obscure songs. He composed over 800, including standards like “Lullaby of Broadway,” “At Last” and “Shadow Waltz.” He was nominated for 11 Academy Awards and won three (“Lullaby of Broadway” with Al Dubin in 1935, “You’ll Never Know” with Mack Gordon in 1943, and “On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe” with Johnny Mercer in 1946). Warren had more hits on the hit parade than the Gershwins, Rodgers and Hammerstein or Irving Berlin.
Yet, as popular as his songs were, Harry Warren was virtually disregarded. He was the invisible man, but Lowe hopes to change that with his well-arranged, beautifully delivered show, You’re Getting to Be a Habit with Me, at the Metropolitan Room. Directed by Lennie Watts, Lowe delivers fourteen reasons to appreciate the exuberance, wit and poignancy of a Harry Warren tune. With remarkable poise and confidence in just this second cabaret program, he presents stories of people. Lowe demonstrates an impressive acting ability to portray a character and remain in the moment. It can be wild bounciness in “We’re in the Money”/”With Plenty of Money and You” (lyricist Al Dubin), or kicking up the heels with a tongue-twisting, perfectly distinct “Nagasaki” (with Mort Dixon). It can reflect hard times with “Remember My Forgotten Man” (with Dubin) or the downhearted “Me and the Blues” (lyrics by Ted Koehler). All are well modulated vocally and physically.
He opens his show, engaging the audience in a jaunty medley: “There Will Never Be Another You” (with Mack Gordon); “About a Quarter to Nine” (with Dubin); and what might be his philosophy, “If You Feel Like Singing, Sing” (Gordon). The highlight for me is his wistful anecdote about his Southern grandmother and how he enjoyed visiting her. The tale darkened as he revealed her declining years and the changes she reflected before she was gone. This led to the heartbreaking ballad of loss, “You’ll Never Know” (with Gordon) and “There Is No Music” (with Ira Gershwin).
Lowe is accompanied by Musical Director/pianist Tracy Stark, Tom Hubbard on bass and Jonathan Kantor on reeds.
Harry Warren may have been known as the forgotten man, but with splendid vocals, authoritative interpretations and tight audience connection in this thoroughly enjoyable show, Kristoffer Lowe makes sure he will get to be a habit with you.
You’re Getting to Be a Habit with Me returns to the Metropolitan Room on October 23, November 15, December 29, 2015.
Category: Cabaret Reviews, New York City, New York City Cabaret Reviews
