“I’ve Heard That Song Before”- The Music of Jule Styne

The New York Cabaret Convention – Second Night
Hosts Klea Blackhurst and Billy Stritch

By Alix Cohen

Jule Styne (Julius Kerwin Stein 1905-1994) was a British American songwriter who contributed to over 1500 published songs and 25 Broadway shows. He was a 10 year-old prodigy when told by his teacher that the fourth finger on his left hand was weak- i.e. a classical career was out of the question. The boy was not upset. He became a favorite pianist at Chicago mob clubs, played in a band, worked in Hollywood, and acted as vocal coach at Twentieth Century Fox.

An Evening with buddies Klea Blackhurst and Billy Stritch is like being invited to a living room where talent parties. Banter flows freely lightening festivities.The pair welcome us with a Styne medley including Blackhurst’s wry rendition of Academy Award winning “Three Coins in the Fountain” (lyric Sammy Cahn) as if to say, out of 7 nominations, he got it for this?!

Gabrielle Stravelli joins Stritch for a frisky, harmonized “Just in Time” (Bells Are Ringing– lyric -Betty Comden & Adolph Green) When the two scat, it’s as if there are 5 instruments on stage. Stravelli then solos “As Long As There’s Music” (lyric Sammy Cahn) from Step Lively. It arrives unembellished and just beautiful.

Introduced as “the longest running Chip (the teacup) in Beauty and the Beast”, Nicolas King offers two sentimental, eminently adult songs, “I Don’t Wanna Walk Without You” (lyric Frank Loesser) and “The Things We Did Last Summer” (lyric Sammy Cahn). One elbow on the piano, both are crooned with artful grace.

Blackhurst lists the Styne shows by which she’s been influenced, including Peter Pan (Moose Charlap/Carolyn Leigh/Betty Comden & Adolph Green.) She shares a recurring dream about auditioning for the musical in which she asks “Is this any use to you?” and literally flies. The response? “We’ll call you.”

With Billy Stritch at the piano, Max Von Essen sings the Mel Tormé arrangement of “All I Need is The Girl.” Performance is too polished to believe the song’s ingenuous lyrics. In Act II, he and Nicolas King duet on a subdued “If Mama Was Married” with which they could’ve had more fun. (both Gypsy– lyric Stephen Sondheim)

Natalie Douglas’s “Never Never Land” emerges a capella, then becomes airbrushed. It’s sheer, sighing essence. In contrast, “Cornet Man” (Funny Girl– lyric Bob Merrill), replete with hip and shoulder action, swings in engagingly sassy.

The arrangement of Christine Ebersole’s “Make Someone Happy” (Do Re Mi – Betty Comden & Adolph Green) is musically in dour opposition to its title. Later, however, the artist performs a rhapsodic version of “The Music That Makes Me Dance” (Funny Girl– lyric Bob Merrill) Billy Stritch- piano.

Irrepressible Sidney Myer is saddled with two less than funny songs, one from Bells Are Ringing (lyric -Betty Comden and Adolph Green) one from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (lyric- Leo Robin). This may be the first year the iconoclastic performer, through no fault of his own, didn’t bring the house down except upon introduction. Tracy Stark- piano.

Karen Mason’s “It’s Magic” (lyric- Sammy Cahn) floats like a milkweed pod on a summer breeze. Two more songbook selections follow, these with a wiggle and some intentional schmaltz. Range has never been an issue. Mason is the recipient of the 2025 Donald F. Smith Award endowed by Adela and Larry Elow. She eloquently expresses thanks.

Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch duet, as they’re often wont to do, on a lively “Saturday Night is the Loneliest Night of the Week” (lyric -Sammy Cahn) and “Together Wherever We Go” (Gypsy– lyric – Stephen Sondheim) in service of Caruso’s veteran Monday night Cast Party at Birdland.

Blackhurst’s unique arrangement of “Don’t Rain on My Parade” (Funny Girl– lyric- Bob Merrill) is flat out fabulous. She rules over unique tempo with piercing lucidity. “Now if we could only get her out of her shell,” Stritch quips. Stritch’s “It’s You or No One” (lyric -Sammy Cahn) is country-club-dance-plumy.

The electric Aisha De Haas offers a probing “Being Good Isn’t Good Enough” (Hallelujah, Baby!– lyric- Betty Comden & Adolph Green) and vivacious “Put’ Em in a Box.” (lyric- Sammy Cahn). The latter features a swell, musical conversation between Michael O’Brien’s bass and Daniel Glass on drums.

Ben Jones enacts “My Fortune is My Face” (Fade Out Fade In– lyric- Betty Comden & Adolph Green) ending with a good cartoon cry, then pungent, rarely performed “Killing Time.” (lyric- Carolyn Leigh)

Neither song harmonized by the otherwise marvelous Moipei (Maggie, Mary and Marta) lends itself to the sisters’ style and originality. Choreography is, as usual, infectious. Blackhurst and Stritch then present to Moipei the first annual Iris Williams Grant with a check for $10,000, endowed by Williams’ partner, Tory Fretz. The ladies are gobsmacked.

This evening closes with the mastery of Clint Holmes: “I Guess I’ll Hang My Tears Out to Dry” and “Time After Time.” (both lyrics -Sammy Cahn.) Music viscerally courses through this artist- he often bends or kicks; every lyric is meaningful. Holmes plays the microphone handle as if it had keys, oh, and he melodically whistles!

Mr. Styne must be smiling.

Unless otherwise noted, tonight’s band: Jon Weber- MD/piano, Michael O’Brien- bass, Daniel Glass- drums

Photos by Richard Termine
Opening: Billy Stritch, Steve Doyle, Klea Blackhurst

Rose Hall at Time Warner Center October 22, 2025
The Mabel Mercer Foundation: https://www.mabelmercer.org/