The Cabaret Chronicles: Danielle Grabianowski, Helena Grenot and More!

Happy November!  Boy, this year is just flying by, isn't it?!  Well, it certainly helps when there's such terrific entertainment every night...and I was lucky enough to be able to take in some more of it this week!  On Wednesday evening, I headed to the Metropolitan Room to hear cabaret newcomer Danielle Grabianowski in her debut show, Old, New, Borrowed and Blues.  As the first runner up in this year's MetroStar competition, Ms. Grabianowski made quite a splash over the summer and her debut was eagerly anticipated!  Happily for her, she had the likes of veteran director Lennie Watts and talented musical director Nate Buccieri to help her shape her first venture into the world of solo cabaret.  As indicated by the title, the show was a mixed bag of all kinds of music, including standards, showtunes, pop, folk, and (of course!) blues!  Displaying a playful, carefree charm, Ms. Grabianowski easily wound her way through the program, showing herself to be equally at home in the many genres of music covered in the show.  One of the highlights for me was a bright, jazzy "Shuffle Off to Buffalo," which was done as a duet with Mr. Buccieri, who, like Ms. Grabianowski, hails from the cold, upstate NY city!  I also quite enjoyed "Bumble Bee," a double-entendre-filled Memphis Minnie blues, which was performed as the encore.  With this show, Ms. Grabianowski has shown herself to be a welcome addition to the cabaret community, and I'll be looking forward to seeing what she comes up with in the future! 

Friday evening found me at Don't Tell Mama for Helena Grenot in As I Was Singing..., a show which marks her return to the stage after a fifteen year absence.  Joined by longtime collaborator and musical director Barry Levitt on piano and Morrie Louden on bass, Ms. Grenot put together an entertaining program, including many well-loved standards as well as a few lesser known tunes such as Phoebe Snow's "Harpo's Blues."  Having toured in Fiddler on the Roof with Robert Merrill and Christine Andreas,  she revisited one of the songs from that show, "Matchmaker," but in this case, it was given a snazzy new jazz arrangement, which breathed some new life into it, both for Ms. Grenot and the audience!  One of my favorite selections of the evening was an interesting pairing of Carly Simon's "Love of My Life," which was paired with Stephen Sondheim's "Children Will Listen."  The coupling of the two songs was very effective, and Ms. Grenot's connection to the material was evident.  Throughout the evening, Ms. Grenot's sheer joy in singing came shining through.  Now let's just hope we don't have to wait another 15 years to see her onstage again! 

Where I'm going this week...  

Tonight - Saturday, November 7^th:  MetroJam  at The Metropolitan Room.  I have the pleasure of hosting this monthly open mic at The Metropolitan Room, which is backed by the fantastic trio of John DiPinto on piano, Ritt Henn on bass, and Bobby Sher on drums.  This month's special guest, who will be performing a three-song set, is the fabulous Ray Jessel! 

Sunday, November 8^th:  The MAC Bazaar at Don't Tell Mama.  This is the first of what will hopefully become an annual event, featuring live performances, raffles, a silent auction, and a flea market.  Running from 11-3, it is a fundraiser for MAC (Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs) and should be a fun time!  Items up for silent auction include lunches with cabaret legends Marilyn Maye, Julie Wilson, Amanda McBroom and Julie Gold; a photo shoot with a leading NYC photographer, a gown from a Metropolitan Opera star, and more!  

Maureen Taylor at The Metropolitan Room in her new show, Taylor Made: Bob Merrill.  The lovely and talented Ms. Taylor will be paying tribute to prolific songwriter Bob Merrill ("How Much Is That Doggie In The Window," "Mambo Italiano," "Love, Makes The World Go Round" and more!).  Show begins at 4 p.m. 

Ricky Ritzel at The Metropolitan Room.  Nightclub fixture Ricky Ritzel is back with a brand new show, Hysterical Blondness, in which he talks about his 30+ years in the biz, his brushes with celebs and "running over an alligator in Florida."  Sounds like a blast!  Show begins at 7 p.m.  

Monday, November 9^th:  Sue Matsuki  in her first new solo show in two years!  Directed by Eric Michael Gillett, this show by the cabaret veteran has generated some terrific buzz - can't wait to see it for myself!  Show is at 7 p.m. 

Ray Jessel at Don't Tell Mama, singing the songs of...Ray Jessel!  One of my all-time favorite performers, Ray's material can have you falling out of your chair laughing one minute and wiping away a tear the next.  Show is at 9:15 p.m.  

Cast Party at Birdland.  Hosted by Jim Caruso, this fantastic open mic runs from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. but make sure you get there early to sign up if you want to sing! 

Pictured: Danielle Grabianowski