Wildhorn, Holmes, Monheit – Doesn’t Get Much Better!

 

By: Sandi Durell

 

 

A very smart, intuitive person said to me last night as I was leaving the Café Carlyle, “it doesn’t get much better” – referring to the compilation of musical talents that are now gracing the historic stage.  And he’s right!

 

Tunesmith Grammy Winner and Tony Nominee Frank Wildhorn is on the ivories playing all his remarkable musical songs spanning four decades, while the best of the best in jazz and pop bring them to life. I’m referring to the top vocal talents of Clint Holmes and Jane Monheit in a celebration of the release of their new album “Frank Wildhorn & Friends: Live in Las Vegas.”

 

The night is hot, sensual, tender, loving, passionate and filled with the tunes you swing to, cry and sigh to, bringing memories to life – “where was I when I first heard that song?”

 

Holmes and Monheit emerge as a finally tuned instrument playing off each other and enjoying every moment.  From sexy “Havana” duet to Monheit’s sensual “How ‘Bout A Dance” (lyrics Don Black, “Bonnie & Clyde”) and beautiful ballad “Easy”  (lyrics Jack Murphy, “Zelda”) which Frank says he wrote with Garland in mind, the night ebbed and flowed and seemed to pass too quickly.

 

Holmes tender, loving rendition of “Sarah” (lyrics Jack Murphy, “The Civil War”) to Latin passion  “Amor Perdido” – Love Is Elusive (lyrics Jack Murphy, “Havana”), the duo turning up the heat.

 

Frank Wildhorn’s contributions to pop music, Broadway theater and the world are well documented – but in case you forgot – he and Leslie Bricusse are responsible for Broadway’s “Jekyll & Hyde” – “Someone Like You” (delivered soulfully by Ms. Monheit) and Holmes’ monumental “This Is The Moment” (the latter being the last song Sammy Davis, Jr. ever sung (taught to Davis by Wildhorn).  The hit song that gave Frank his freedom to “get my heart broken in theater” was a No. 1 hit for Whitney Houston “Where Do Broken Hearts Go? (lyrics Chuck Jackson) sung by Clint.

 

This is an awesome evening of entertainment by the best in the business made even better with David Mann on woodwinds, Julia Adamy on bass and Clint De Ganon on Drums.

 

 

Tapping fingers, toes, oohing and ahhing in the audience were Ervin and Edith Drake, Bill and Carol Boggs and DeeDee Bridgewater.

 

 

 

Frank Wildhorn & Friends – Clint Holmes & Jane Monheit appear at Café Carlyle, Madison Ave./76^th Street, thru February 1^st.  212 744-1600

Photos/Video: Sandi Durell