BWW Reviews: Broadway Vet Shoshana Bean Sings Final Free Concert at Americana at Brand, 6/2

What happens when you cram together the mesmerizing star quality of Barbra, the effortless riffs of Beyoncé, Whitney, and Mariah, the playful sass of Stevie, and the deep, emotional soul of Aretha? You get Broadway star and old-school soul revivalist Shoshana Bean. An undeniably gifted powerhouse vocalist with a singing voice that will floor even the most finicky listeners, Ms. Bean is one of those entertainers you just have to listen to live on a stage. When she sings, it's not just a performance---it's a full-bodied experience.

Of course, many of her long-time fans---myself very much included---know her best from her stints on the musical theater stage, particularly as one of the more favorite actresses to have ever slapped on green make-up to play Elphaba, the misunderstood Wicked Witch of Oz in the Tony Award-winning musical WICKED.

So when I learned that live music promoter and Upright Cabaret principal Chris Isaacson is producing a series of free outdoor concerts featuring this Broadway star at the Americana at Brand in Glendale for four consecutive Sundays, I knew I had to find the time to somehow schlep my way up from Orange County to see her. The last of these free outdoor concerts, by the way, is scheduled for this Sunday, June 2 starting at 3pm.

I have no shame in admitting that I love me a soul singer, and Bean is, I have to say, one of the best out there right now. Armed with a multi-octave range, raw grit, and a heart-piercing way with a ballad, Bean is one talented R&B powerhouse. It makes absolute sense considering she's shared the stage with the likes of Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Brian McKnight.

Personally, though, I truly fell madly in love with her after my first few exposures to her soulful twists on the usual Broadway-type tune, especially on tracks like, for example, her riff-tastic version of "I Believe In Love" from the 2005 Actor's Fund Benefit Recording of the musical HAIR or, yes, even "Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel" featuring her and the cast of HAIRSPRAY featured on one of the Broadway Carols for a Cure holiday compilation albums.

Bean, for me, represents the perfect mash-up of the two genres of music I love the most: R&B and Showtunes. Thus began, like any proud practitioner of fangirling, my repeat viewings of any YouTube video (bootlegged or not) that happened to feature her singing---and, to my utter delight, there's a lot out there. (Yay!) And if that wasn't enough, her debut album, Superhero, features perhaps my favorite cover ever of an Aretha Franklin song: "Ain't No Way." Good. Lawd. Just amazing.

And so, yes, to finally hear her belt this song and other incredible soul covers live this past Memorial Day Weekend---accompanied by her terrific, hardworking three-piece band---was as if I went to Sunday Service, because I can certainly say that my ears were blessed and my spirit was lifted. Man, she took us all to church. Whew.

Bean, dressed in appropriately sexy warm-weather couture, was one sassy, spunky preacher, and for three incredible hours (with short breaks in between), she took her gathered congregation---which, in this case was a mixture of random, transfixed casual shoppers, live music supporters, Bean super-fans, some theater folk, and a handful of her friends and family, including Bean's own mom---to the church of vintage soul and torch song heaven. To my wonderful surprise, her three-hour set wasn't filled with repeated material every hour (save for one or two songs at the top and the end).

Her entertaining twist on funk, soul, and blues---and her royal command of them all---was just, for lack of a better word, phenomenal. And, of course, to satisfy both fans and newbies in attendance, her show was peppered with equal doses of familiar covers and jaw-droppingly good original songs that had plenty snapping up her latest disc O'Farrell Street (which, conveniently enough, was for sale at the event). In this open, welcoming environment, I even found myself singing impromptu backup vocals---albeit, quietly to myself, but, apparently, within earshot of my fellow attendees, including (gulp) Bean's mom and Tony nominee Valarie Pettiford. (Gosh, I hope I was at least in tune, haha).

But, anyway, not only is she a pleasure to listen to, she's also quite fun to watch. And even though she repeatedly turned down repetitive shouted requests to sing some showtunes---an understandable request, sure, since Broadway helped her earn her earliest fans---everyone truly got on board Bean's strictly soul-only train with nary a complaint (I, for one, loved the tiny respite I got from having to listen to musical theater that afternoon).

While her Beyoncé, Stevie, and (her fave) Aretha covers were definitely all respectful and spot-on, she still managed to truly make them her own. She's an accomplished ad-libber, dispensing riff after riff that felt organic and effortless. But, to be honest, it's her original tunes that really smacks your attention and forces you into submission. Moving, deeply felt songs like "Blood from a Stone," "I Am Not Unchanged," and "Water"---which, coincidentally, in some act of divine choreography was in sync with the massive dancing water fountains that embraced the length of the stage---provided hints of Anita Baker, Jennifer Holliday, Teddy Pendergrass, and Phyllis Hyman and of even more contemporary folks like Jennifer Hudson, Maxwell, Adele, and N'Dea Davenport.

But as much as this star-on-the-rise certainly moved everyone with her balladry, this gal also knows how to get down and have a good time, too. She even egged on the young'ins to dance at the foot of the stage while singing an extended funk cover. And many sang along---and danced---to her fun, uptempo selections, including her infectious single "Cold Turkey."

So listen up, Southern California! Looking to watch a truly extraordinary music artist sing the bee-jeez-us out of soulful songs...live? Then do yourself a favor and head down to the Americana at Brand with some lawn chairs or a blanket and spend a few hours with Shoshana Bean---for free!

Photo courtesy of Chris Isaacson Presents.

Follow this reviewer on Twitter: @cre8iveMLQ

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Shoshana Bean's final outdoor concert presented by Chris Isaacson at the Americana at Brand takes place on Sunday, June 2 from 3 - 6 pm. Admission is free and open to the public (parking fees may apply).

For more information, visit www.ChrisIsaacsonPresents.com or Bean's web site at www.ShoshanaBean.com.

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