Brenda Braxton's Final Cabaret Show this Monday at 7PM $15 Cover when you mention DON JUAN DIS Code

[cabaretman24]

Posted: 5/16/15 at 11:30am

Brenda Braxton’s “Act Two… Now What?” celebrates her esteemed career on Broadway, and her life in general. Spanning more than three decades, Braxton has been in classic shows such as Dreamgirls,Cats, Guys and Dolls, Smokey Joe’s Café (where most of her set comes from), and most notably, and as Velma Kelly in Chicago. She pays tribute to these shows, as well as the experiences and people she met along the way.

Vocally, Braxton delivers a solid performance that takes you back to a time where artists didn’t have to embellish every single note. Her belt is pure, and her ballads are smooth. A couple of riffs here and there are thrown in for fun, as a treat though, not a necessity. She also tossed around some scatting, to the amusement of the crowd.

Braxton starts off the evening with a modern love song to New York City, singing Jeanine Tesori and Dick Scanlan’s “Only in New York.” It is a great choice to introduce herself and her story of the night to the audience. This is immediately followed by Cleavant Derricks and Clinton Derricks Carroll’s “Not In The Mood For The Blues Tonight.” This song preludes that while there will be some sadder topics discussed over the next hour, there is no need to feel down about them.

Braxton reminisces about her days as a kid of the School of Performing Arts as she packs a powerful punch into the Mann/Weil hit “On Broadway.” She also talks about wishing how she could sing the songs of her cast mates in Guys and Dolls. She then gives a stellar performance of Frank Loesser’s “Luck Be A Lady” and “If I Were A Bell,” making choices that fit her voice well, while still keeping it classic.

It wouldn’t be show about Act Two if there was no mention of an Act One love story, and Braxton describes hers through a handful of songs, including “Better Than Anything,” “Guess Who I Saw Today,” and “Don Juan.” The first she sings so sweetly, as if she is falling love right on the spot. The second is given a focus that leaves you in shock at the end of the song, even if you know what is coming. “Don Juan” is a number Braxton has fun with, and even when she messes it up a bit, she keeps going and you instantly forget. She keeps it real, in that moment, and throughout the show.

The last few songs are tributes to herself and her friends. “Woman” by Mike Stoller and Jerry Leiber honors her dear friends B.J. Crosby and Pattie Darcy Jones. They would be so proud of her empowering performance. “Don’t Rain on My Parade” is Braxton’s way of saying that what ever she wants for her Act Two, she will make happen and no one can get in her way. Her encore presentation of Lee Miller and David Nail’s “My Life” was a captivating ending to the show, and start to her Act Two.

Braxton serves up great comedic timing and commands the stage with nothing more than her presence. She even cuts to the point about encores and instructs her audience to handle it a certain way. Her dance background allows her to have fun moving around the small stage without it feeling forced or awkward.

The Metropolitan Room is the perfect venues for this songstress, as it compliments the jazz club feel of her set list. It is intimate allowing her to interact with the crowd, yet still provides a necessary separation of sorts that keeps her in the spotlight.

Braxton is accompanied by her musical director Tracy Stark on piano, Tom Pietrycha on bass, and David Silliman on drums. You can catch her crowd-pleasing show again at the Metropolitan Room on May 18, 2015. It is certainly one you won’t want to miss. For tickets and more information visitmetropolitanroom.com.

[Zingingtobway]

Posted: 5/16/15 at 1:52pm

What a Great Evening I had. Brenda was Fabulous!