By Alix Cohen
Thirty five year ago, Laurie Krauz and MD, Daryl Kojak had a regular gig at Danny’s Skylight on West 46th Street. In an effort to recreate those “casual” appearances, the collaborators are presenting a series of “Sets” at their next historical stop, Don’t Tell Mama. In light of the shows’ polish, however, one can hardly call them casual but for arriving without theme and Krauz’s added repartee.
The vocalist is an unhomogenized jazz lady. She and Kojak hear things we don’t. Phrasing is unique, often experimental. A rendition of the Gershwins’ “Fascinating Rhythm” is discordant, unrecognizable. Other selections emerge with unaccustomed tone. To Krauz, scat is a language. Nobody does it better.
An aptly noir “Angel Eyes” (Earl Brent/Matt Dennis) performed to trenchant piano arcs from melancholy to anger. “If I Love Again”
(J.P Murrray/Ben Oakland) is sheer torch. Krauz seems to be holding back tears. “I’ll close my eyes…” she sings, extending an arm with flat, defensive palm… “and see your face.”
Four red hot mama songs are audacious highlights. Kojak’s sweet n’ low down arrangement of “Sugar in My Bowl” (Nina Simone) acts as a biological trigger eliciting Krauz’s dancing. Pleasure sounds erupt. “Personally I think a fake orgasm is needed in every cabaret show,” she quips.
Prefaced by a stand-up-worthy story about hunky firemen, “Temptation” (Arthur Feed/Nacio Herb Brown) takes us to Morocco. It’s sinuous, evocative, painterly. Scat undulates. The vocal for “Pencil Thin Papa” (Bob Hall/Mike Vernon) rises and slides down ricocheting through honky-tonk wah-wahs.. “Six feet tall, one inch thick/But I can knock him down/With just one lick…”
Tonight’s version of “Honeysuckle Rose” (Andy Razaf/Thomas “Fats” Waller) is inspired by having ‘shared’ a health club sauna with Brian Stokes Mitchell. The experience was real, the come-on fantasy not. She purrs like a jungle cat.
“Way Over Yonder,” a selection from the collaborators’ upcoming album interpretation of Carole King’s Tapestry, evokes genuine expression of social despair: Krauz tremulously reads from Anne Frank’s diary. Then, “We need to do what we’re doing to change things, but we also need to actually believe it’s possible.” The song is evangelistic, gospel, stunning. It’s easy to imagine a choir.
Sets II has a penchant for the dark and sobering. Despite its hopefulness, “All My Tomorrows” (Sammy Cahn/Jimmy Van Heusen) feels gloomy. The only smiling lyric in “My Favorite Things” (Richard Rodgers/ Oscar Hammerstein II) is “girls in white dresses.” Otherwise the traditionally happy song is dramatic and sad. A wordless encore of “When You’re Smiling” (Mark Fisher/Joe Goodwin/Larry Shay) is oddly weighty.
Krauz and Kojak are committed, brave and formidably talented. One might wish for a bit less woe.
Photos by Stephen Hanks
Laurie Krauz & Daryl Kojak- Sets II
Don’t Tell Mama 343 West 46th Street https://donttellmamanyc.com/
