Miranda Music Artists :Kitty Skrobela Turns 75
Miranda Music Artists
Kitty Skrobela Turns 75
Metropolitan Room, NYC, January 18, 2016
Reviewed by Rob Lester for Cabaret Scenes
It was a love-in. Saluting their musical godmother/record label’s guiding force, singers whose work has seen CD reality on the Miranda Music line of releases were full of praise, song, and sometimes tears of gratitude. The lady of the hour: Kitty Skrobela (pictured; profiled in the Jan/Feb 2016 Cabaret Scenes issue). Clearly they deeply appreciate the support—emotional and financial (making CDs ain’t cheap, and the cabaret market can be sadly low-profile)—but also the woman herself. Kathleen France showed both “wow”-factor chops and crystallized the adoration situation with “You Are So Beautiful to Me.”
After slews of sentiment, with sincere, ballad-heavy turns, singer-pianist-musical director Tracy Stark began her solo turn with slow and dramatic chords, then quipped in jest, “This is the most upbeat song of the night.” Preceding another effectively earnest turn, it was a funny moment. Bounce and perkiness were nearly absent, besides Bill Zeffiro and Marissa Mulder’s adorable go-to chipper duet of “Me and My Shadow,” re-creating the Frank Sinatra/Sammy Davis, Jr. lively special-material treatment. Hilary Kole was magnetic on a self-accompanied “Over the Rainbow,” proving that even the most-performed, best-known standards can enthrall when personalized and invested with real-feel involvement.
Labelmates Lina Koutrakos and Marcus Simeone made a powerfully soulful duo, and Karen Oberlin re-teamed with guitarist Sean Harkness for their atmospheric take on Paul Simon’s “Train in the Distance.” Then Oberlin, the label’s second artist to be signed, summed up what many were likely thinking when she called the generous Skrobela presence in her life “a blessing” and crooned an unaffected, a cappella “Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep).” Also ably participating were some not represented with solo CDs on the label, but adjunct “family members”: Maria Ottavia, Sue Matsuki and Tim Di Pasqua. Many happy returns (and CD re-spins).
Category: Cabaret Reviews, New York City, New York City Cabaret Reviews
