DSC00005 MMDSC00014 ChristineDSC00019 Uggams

PC192263 Belles groupPC192230-2 FurshpansPC192210 Belles

By: Sandi Durell

 

Belles, belles and more belles rang out clear and crisp on December 19th when three of our favorites graced the stage at the Town Hall in a holiday concert produced by Joanne and Bernie Furshpan.

 

PC192157 MMBelle #1 – Marvelous Marilyn Maye, in a glamorous blue outfit, with Billy Stritch on piano, was full of spice and vinegar with some of our favorites – Old Friends/I Love Being Here With You/Happy Medley and Rainbow Medley.  This gal knows the “Secret of Life!”

 

DSC00012 Christine ABelle #2 – The lovely voiced Christine Andreas (Don Rebic on piano) was loose, easy and smooth with a jazz waltz spin on “Show Me,” a passionate “All My Tomorrows,” the beautiful “Is This The Way It Feels to Love” (from hubby Martin Silvestri’s new show The Countess of Storyville) and audience pleaser, in English/French, “La Vie en Rose” – grand!

 

DSC00021 UggamsBelle #3 – Sassy jazzy Leslie Uggams (who’s worked with everyone from Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and The Beatles) strutted her stuff on many great American songbook favorites: “It Had to Be You,” a fervent “If He Walked Into My Life,” a tribute “What I Did For Love” to Marvin Hamlisch, and a pulsating “Stormy Weather.”

 

Julie Budd, Grace Cosgrove, Victoria Edwards, Cristina Fontanelli, Mary Foster Conklin, Laurie Krauz, Jillian Laurain, Rosmary Loar, Sue Matsuki, Marieann Meringolo, Marissa Mulder and Susan Winter all joined at the end  for some holiday song favorites.

 

Ray Kildare was on bass and Ray Marchica on drums. The concert was conceived and directed by Michael Bush.

 

*Photos: Maryann Lopinto

*Video: Magda Katz