BWW Reviews: Singer Matt Zarley Rocks Sterling's

On Sunday April 28 at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal, Matt Zarley debuted his new show Broadway to Billboard, celebrating his latest album Change Begins With Me. It won the 2012 OutMusic Award as Best Single and Album of the Year. This guy with his powerhouse voice and delicious, down-to-earth charm had his audience swooning from the top. First up, a colorful video montage followed by his opening number, a medley of tunes representing all the Broadway roles he has played so far. Entitled My Great White Way, he included "What I Did For Love", "Pinball Wizard" from The Who's Tommy, "Memory" from Cats, "Kiss of the Spider Woman", "All That Jazz" from Chicago, a triumphant march from Les Mis, and closing with another round of "What I Did For Love" from A Chorus Line, which was his first Broadway show in 1988. When Zarley sings, it's an ecstatic, full-throttle experience. This opening provided all that...and... this was just the beginning.

Other highlights were Zarley's personal compositions, which he confided, are being considered for a brand new Broadway show about Couples. If it happens, this will be Zarley's Broadway debut as a composer. Great luck with this project! Songs he performed from the latest album were: "Thank You For You", "Perfect", "Forgive Me", a very tender "Apology", and the title song "Change Begins With Me". From past recordings: "Had I Known", "Where Did You Come From", to his new lover David, and the popular "Here I Am", which replicates to the letter his deeply genuine nature. There was also a beautiful dedication to his mentor Whitney Houston which included lines from her superhit "I Will Always Love You". The evening concluded with a very funny video of Zarley as a candidate for President with a sexually checkered past to the strains of his hit tune "Trust Me". Very hip and laugh.out.loud stuff! Accompanying Zarley throughout the 65-minute set were: Aron Forbes on guitars and MD; Alex Balderston, bass; Kiel Feher on drums; and William Herrington at the keyboard.

Matt Zarley is a performer that is exciting to watch and one that you want to see over and over again. He lives and breathes his music and shares his personal feelings with one and all. A very special talent! Oh, did I mention that he's cute and sexy too? But, he's taken, so we'll just have to keep on swooning!