Winther - Grigsby - Wilfert: "New Love Songs" at the Metropolitan Room, Feb. 10 & 18

[TulitaPepsi]

Posted: 2/1/08 at 5:57pm

Warning - Shill Alert! :)

Longtime posters know that my favorite male singer-actor is tenor Michael Winther, whom I first encountered in SONGS FROM AN UNMADE BED in 2006 – since then, I've made it a point to catch him whenever he performs (even if it’s just for one song). A bit later, I was introduced to Sally Wilfert (most recently seen in the lamentably-closed MAKE ME A SONG) at Jeff Blumenkrantz’ Songbook Concert at the Zipper - and even amongst such august company as Audra McDonald, Rebecca Luker and Jennifer Simard, Sally stood out for me as a singer of remarkable warmth. Both performers have a special direct expressiveness in conveying the emotion behind a lyric that makes them both especially qualified to sing material by some of the best contemporary songwriters- Ricky Ian Gordon, Jeff Blumenkranz, Adam Guettel, Joe Thalken, Steve Marzullo, William Finn and Deborah Abramson. Winther had originally intended his forthcoming Metropolitan Room concerts with the jazz pianist Dan Tepfer, but as the latter had an unexpected gig in Germany, Winther (with the help of the musical director of SPRING AWAKENING, pianist Kimberly Grigsby) pulled together a program of love songs by the aforementioned writers for his Met Room gig. I had long wanted to hear Winther and Wilfert together (they are both at Robert Kapalow’s “What Makes It Great?” Gershwin concert in Boston this weekend, but I could not make it to that), so I am especially excited that Sally will be Michael’s special guest for his two performances on Sunday, February 10 (9:30 pm) and Monday, February 18 (7 pm). Although the songs were “selected especially’ for Valentine's Day, even if you (like me) loathe that holiday, you are bound to have a terrific time with some beautiful singing. And bring a handkerchief.
New Love Songs