Bill Henderson, Dena De Rose &
Eric Comestock kick off the Algonquin Oak Room's Fall Season in
"Made in the Movies, A Hollywood Songbook," designed
by Comestock, who brought us the successful "Our Sinatra."
"Songbook also provides a trio of singers, with a rhythm
section (Matt Wilson on drums and Chris Berger on bass), alas,
somewhat of a burden on the Oak Room's limited sight-lines. When
the whole is greater than the sum of its parts (which isn't always
the case), the result flies.
The range of material spans cinema-songland from such standards
as "The Shadow of Your Smile," and "You Don't Know
What Love Is," (from an Abbott and Costello movie, if you're
into trivia) to a riveting take of "Shining Hour" Major
moments consist of first rate renditions of "The Days of
Wine & Roses" & the haunting "Laura." While
Comestock and De Rose are fine musicians and display versatile
vocal equipment, Mr. Henderson, a septuagenarian who worked with
Count Basie, steals the stage. His rich voice and magnetic presentations
of "I'm an Old Cowhand." and "Hooray for Hollywood"
are show-stoppers.
The wisdom of adding a 2nd grand piano to the intimate
Oak Room is questionable, but "Made in the Movies" is
made to be enjoyed and rates A+ On J. Walman's Entertainment &
Cabaret Report Card.
Walman's and Nancy Preiser's reviews are available and have been seen on the Internet. Click here to see an index of other reviews on the worldwide web <http://www.punchin.com>. <http://www.wineonline.net>. They have been heard on WNCN, WEVD & WQXR radio, seen in Fodor's and Mobil Guide Books, and printed in Chocolatier, Troika and Metropolitan Millionaire magazines and newspapers and throughout the world, including the NY Post, Women's Wear Daily and the NY Times, via the Punch In International Network. This review may be reprinted free of charge, so long as source and byline credit are included: "J. Walman's Restaurant Report," "Punch In International®," Wine On Line International®.
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