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Past Reviews Off Broadway Reviews |
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On the plus side (and a big plus it is) are the performances by singers Allan Harris, Cyrille Aimée, and Charenee Wade. Mr. Harris, who also plays guitar with the excellent eight-piece band, sings with a mellow baritone reminiscent of Nat King Cole. Ms. Aimée brings a European stylishness to her numbers, and shines brightest when singing in her native French ("Parlez-Moi D'Amour"). But it is Ms. Wade who really puts the swing into Café Society Swing, whether calling to mind the likes of Sarah Vaughan, or actually performing as Billie Holiday, especially on Lady Day's signature number "Strange Fruit" that closes the show. She commands the stage every time she lets loose, backed by the excellent eight-piece ensemble under Mr. Webb's direction from his place at the piano. Café Society Swing, running at just under two hours including an intermission, is generally in good hands musically (one odd choice has Ms. Aimée performing the traditional and decidedly non-jazzy ballad "Lord Randall," out of place even if logically selected in recognition of the club's inclusion of folk music at its Greenwich Village venue.) Where it falters is in relating the story of Barney Josephson, who supported the great rising stars of jazz and gave his club a political edge in the choice of numbers like "Strange Fruit," which he always had Billie Holiday perform as the closer. Mr. Josephson's story is most compelling. He thumbed his nose at New York's upper class socialite snobbery, and he was eventually hounded out of business after run-ins with the notorious House Un-American Activities Committee. Unfortunately, that part of the story of Café Society is given short shrift, told in snippets of expository and name-dropping segments by a charming Evan Pappas, who does what he can with the requirement of changing persona—from a newspaper reporter to a bartender at the club to Mr. Josephson himself—without much rhyme or reason. If you find yourself wanting more of that story, you might check out Josephson's memoir written with his wife Terry Trilling-Josephson, titled "Café Society: The Wrong Place for the Right People." Otherwise, head on out for the music, a mix of standards ("Stormy Weather," "What Is This Thing Called Love?)," politically oriented fare ("One Meat Ball," "Stalin Wasn't Stallin'"), and original compositions by Alex Wade.
Café Society Swing
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