BWW Reviews: Apollo Theater Presents APOLLO CLUB HARLEM

If you are ever in Harlem make sure you visit the Apollo Theater. During the 30's and 40's this was one of New York City's hottest night clubs, the place where the music of Billie, Ella, Dinah, Sarah, Duke, and Dizzy became legendary. In an effort to recapture that bygone glory, the theater is presenting Apollo Club Harlem, an enterprising and captivating attempt not only to revive the jazz spirit of 125th Street, but rekindle it as well for a new generation of jazz and pop music enthusiasts.

Legendary song and dance man, Maurice Hines, hosted an evening of glamour, glitter and top tier entertainment. From the 16 piece Apollo Club Harlem Orchestra lead by accomplished conductor Daryl Waters to the chorus of Hot Steppers, the nightclub styled show offered an evening's entertainment that superseded quaint nostalgia. John and Leo Manzari, respectively 19 and 17, tap danced to Rhythm Is Our Business, handling their routine with fun, style, and precision. Cecile McLorin Salvant, a dynamic and beautiful woman, sang a sexy, melodic Fine and Mellow by Billie Holiday. Sharlane Connor and Slim Mello seemed to share a passionate love affair as they danced to Sidney Bechet's Petite Fleur. Emerging Hip Hop artist, Storyboard P-- a reincarnation of Earl "Snakehips" Tucker, known as the Human Boa Constrictor after the dance popularized in Harlem in the 1920's--mesmerized with his rendition of The Mooche, replete with four sultry, erotic dancers wearing banana skirts popularized by Josephine Baker.

The ever gracious Mr. Maurice Hines returned to sing It's Only A Paper Moon. A very attractive 70, Maurice Hines was reflective and hilarious as he recalled his past, sharing memories of his father, mother and brother Gregory Hines saying, "Gregory and I were raised right here in Harlem on 150th and Amsterdam; this is like coming home, being here at the Apollo."

A change of pace was offered by Dormeshia, a femme fatale tapping to Flying Home. Three-time Grammy award winner and Tony winner, Dee Dee Bridgewater, sang a vibrant and scorching Evil Gal Blues by Leonard Feather and Lionel Hampton, Blue Gardenia by Sidney Russell and Lester Lee and What A Difference A Day Makes by Maria Grever and Stanley Adams. By the time she finished her set the audience was thunderstruck. To be honest, so was I.

Apollo Club Harlem was conceived by Mikki Shepard, Apollo's Executive Producer. Ms. Shepard has conceived and produced over twenty five productions, festivals, and events including two major tap events, Steps In Time and Tappin' Uptown. David Berger (Music Director) was a fine choice to give her vision that authentic big band sound, being that he is a jazz composer, arranger and conductor, as well as an internationally recognized Duke Ellington and Swing era specialist. The beautiful and elegant costumes were by Emilio Sosa, who received a Tony Award nomination for his work on Broadway's "The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess" and a 2012 Lucille Lortel Award for By the Way, meet Vera Stark.

Make sure the Apollo is on your agenda of places to visit.

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