By Alix Cohen
There’s little rhyme or reason to Ann Kittredge’s choice of songs this evening except nostalgia with starting her career at Don’t Tell Mama’s and gratitude to the venue’s heart and soul, Sidney Myer. The story is cozy. Highlights:
An appealing, original arrangement of Carole King’s “I Feel the Earth Move” arrives more restrained than that to which we’re accustomed. “Whenever you’re around…” she sings as knees bend, arms rise, eyes close with sexy, intimation. “The sky comes tum-bel-ing dawooon…”
“At the Beginning” (Lynn Ahrens/Stephen Flaherty) is a terrific song well rendered. I regret having missed a show Kittredge did in the songwriters’ honor. Phrasing is just right. Audience spontaneously claps in time. Then whoosh, hands-off the handlebars, she exults: Life is a road and I wanna keep going/ Love is a river I wanna keep going/In the end I wanna be standing /At the beginning/ With you.
1932’s “Besame Mucho” (Consuelo Velazquez) is generally delivered as camp. The Kittredge/Denny version, in pristine Spanish, is performed not only with style and earthy heat but credibly- we believe the emotion.
Lights up! “Accentuate the Positive” (Harold Arlen/Johnny Mercer), replete with welcome verse and just a little shoulder action, is also believable. Gestures are minimized and playful, not extraneous.
“Ordinary Miracles” (Alan & Marilyn Bergman/Marvin Hamlisch), the artist tells us, “symbolizes happiness and resilience, allowing us to give voice to things we might not get to say otherwise.” The song swells and retreats, swells and retreats like deep, wistful breathing.
Also completely unexpected is the inclusion and treatment of 1910’s “Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life” (Victor Herbert) from the vocalist’s first album. Sean Harkness materializes from the audience to accompany on guitar. The arrangement is beautiful, Harkness’s contribution impeccable, vocal gossamer. How does this not sound dated?!
To say Ann Kittredge is expansive this evening minimizes a show rife with distracting gestures. She has a stunning, well honed voice, capable of channeling emotion and character in song. Motion upon motion diffuses both intention and impact.
Photos by Conor Weiss
Love For Sale: Celebrating Ten Years of Cabaret– Ann Kittredge
MD/Piano- Christopher Denny
Director- Barry Kleinbort
Don’t Tell Mama 343 West 46th Street https://donttellmamanyc.com/
