VARIETY's Robert Daniels on 2007 Nightlife Awards

[do_re_milla]

Posted: 1/31/07 at 5:17pm

See link for Robert Daniel's take on the Nightlife Awards.

Here are snippets:

"...Terrence McNally, who balked (tongue-in-cheek) at the hefty cover charges at Cafe Carlyle and Feinstein's at the Regency, praised the cabaret community. The playwright introduced cabaret's first family, John Pizzarelli ('the prime interpreter of American song and his wife, Jessica Molaskey ("gorgeous, sexy and talented!"). Honored as outstanding cabaret vocalists, the pair will make a Cafe Carlyle debut in May. They followed a simmering bossa nova medley with a daring bit of Sondheim's tongue-twisting declaration '(I'm Not) Getting Married Today,' sung in counterpoint by Molaskey with Pizzarelli romping to John Hendricks' 'Cloudburst.'

....

Freddie Cole, who took the male jazz vocal honor, offered a beautifully subtle perf. Not only posing an ardent question, Cole found a dash of seductive humor in "What Are You Afraid Of?," from his new Hi Note CD. While several performers came out swinging, Cole proved less is more with a cunning demonstration of class and taste.

...

For cabaret duo, Broadway's Christine Ebersole and piano partner Billy Stritch offered a delightful buggy ride with "Surrey With the Fringe on Top," and Ebersole reprised the poignant query 'Will You?' from 'Grey Gardens.'

Composer Rupert Holmes, primed for the Broadway opening of 'Curtains,' the new tuner whose book he co-authored, remembered late singers Nancy LaMott and Susannah McCorkle, who featured his composition 'The People That You Never Get to Know' in their repertoires."

"...Terrence McNally, who balked (tongue-in-cheek) at the hefty cover charges at Cafe Carlyle and Feinstein's at the Regency, praised the cabaret community. The playwright introduced cabaret's first family, John Pizzarelli ('the prime interpreter of American song and his wife, Jessica Molaskey ("gorgeous, sexy and talented!"). Honored as outstanding cabaret vocalists, the pair will make a Cafe Carlyle debut in May. They followed a simmering bossa nova medley with a daring bit of Sondheim's tongue-twisting declaration '(I'm Not) Getting Married Today,' sung in counterpoint by Molaskey with Pizzarelli romping to John Hendricks' 'Cloudburst.'

....

Freddie Cole, who took the male jazz vocal honor, offered a beautifully subtle perf. Not only posing an ardent question, Cole found a dash of seductive humor in "What Are You Afraid Of?," from his new Hi Note CD. While several performers came out swinging, Cole proved less is more with a cunning demonstration of class and taste.

...

For cabaret duo, Broadway's Christine Ebersole and piano partner Billy Stritch offered a delightful buggy ride with "Surrey With the Fringe on Top," and Ebersole reprised the poignant query 'Will You?' from 'Grey Gardens.'

Composer Rupert Holmes, primed for the Broadway opening of 'Curtains,' the new tuner whose book he co-authored, remembered late singers Nancy LaMott and Susannah McCorkle, who featured his composition 'The People That You Never Get to Know' in their repertoires."

Milla
Variety on 2007 Nightlife Awards Updated On: 1/31/07 at 05:17 PM

[do_re_milla]

Posted: 1/31/07 at 10:10pm

Jessica Molaskey & John Pizzarelli. They sang a duet comprised of her "I'm Not Getting Married Today" juxtaposed to his "Cloudburst" which was brilliant. & when John initially came out with "I need a job. Can someone give me a job?" I almost collapsed in laughter, especially when Jessica intro'd him as "Norman Main" & said he had just watched "A Star Is Born" last night.

Larry Gatlin's good hearted ribbing & performance of "All the Gold in California" [I loved singing harmony w/him fr the aud, after all I am a Country Girl ] got the evening off to a terrific start for me

Scott Coulter's breathtaking story & "I Won't Mind" had me in a puddle

Lorinda Lisitza's literally "knockdown" funny "Yolanda"

Anderson, Coulter & DePasqua singing "Peaceful, Easy Feeling" just brought me on home

Freddy Cole's yummy performance of "What Are You Afraid Of" [when he sang "take your shoes off, we're not goin' dancin' tonight" I kept thinkin' to myself "you bad, bad boy!" There may be snow on the roof, but there's definitely fire in the furnace.)

Christine Ebersole's hauntingly beautiful rendition of "Will You" fr "Grey Gardens" (ok, I was on the fence about seeing this show, but now I'm definitely goin!) coupled with Billy Stritch's virtuoso piano playing

Whose arrangement of "With A Song In My Heart" did Maureen McGovern sing? It was exquisite? Was that Peter Matz's or her mus. dir. for that night Jeffrey (was it?) Harms? I've heard MM's rendition of that & "My Favorite Things" @ the much lamented Rainbow Room.

Milla