Jonathan Karrant

Jonathan Karrant

Metropolitan Room, NYC, March 17, 2016

Reviewed by Joel Benjamin for Cabaret Scenes

In addition to having an easygoing command of the jazz idiom, it certainly doesn’t hurt that Jonathan Karrant also has the looks of a young Farley Granger. Karrant has returned to New York and is revving up his career.

A breezy “Almost Like Being in Love” (Lerner & Loewe) opened the show and was followed soon by a slow and easy “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight” (James Taylor). He alternated between pensive (“Twentysmething”; Jamie Cullum) and upbeat (“On Broadway”; Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil) and painted a portrait of himself as a confident, but still growing artist.

The jazzy bit of fluff, “Doodlin’” (Jon Hendricks/Horace Silver), was right up his alley. He filled it with lighthearted changes of tempo and a clearly sung rapid river of notes. He had the demeanor of a Las Vegas Rat Packer in “As Long As I Live” (Harold Arlen/Ted Koehler) and “Lady in Red” (Chris DeBurgh), but found personal resonance in the Lennon/McCartney classic “In My Life,” which ended with a breathlessly long fadeout. He closed with “You’re Gonna Hear from Me” (Andre & Dory Previn) which is not only prophetic, but exultant.

He seems to be concentrating on style over substance right now, which is fine. He has plenty of time to mature and absorb the deeper meanings of his repertoire.

He formed a smooth trio with pianist John Alterna and bassist Marco Panascia, tossing songs back and forth, each showing off while playing off the other two.

Jonathan Karrant returns to the Metropolitan Room on April 17 and May 26.

Tags: Almost Like Being in Love, American Songbook, Andre Previn, As Long As I Live, Barry Mann, Broadway, Broadway Musicals, Cabaret, Cabaret Reviews, Cabaret Scenes, CD, Chris DeBurgh, Clubs, Composers, Cynthia Weil, Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight, Doodlin', Dory Previn, Farley Granger, Great American Songbook, Harold Arlen, Horace Silver, In My Life, James Taylor, Jamie Cullum, Jazz, Jazz Singers, Joel Benjamin, John Alterna, John Lennon, Jon Hendricks, Jonathan Karrant, Lady in Red, Las Vegas, Lerner & Loewe, lyricists, Marco Panascia, Metropolitan Room, Musicals, Musicians, Nightclubs, NYC, On Broadway, Paul McCartney, Popular Song, Rat Pack, Revues, Show Tunes, Singers, Songbook, Standards, Supper Clubs, Ted Koehler, Twentysomething, Venues, Vocalists, You’re Gonna Hear from Me

Category: Cabaret Reviews, New York City, New York City Cabaret Reviews