BWW Reviews: With His 'Eyes Wide Open,' Broadway's CHEYENNE JACKSON Gets His Feet Wet in Cabaret at the Café Carlyle

The extremely personable Cheyenne Jackson landed in Café Carlyle last night as if on the moon. A hardscrabble, Ohio childhood and late start in the business explain the artist's astonishment at finding himself in the prestigious nightclub. While Jackson's resume includes leading roles in Broadway musicals such as All Shook Up (2004), Xanadu (2007), Damn Yankees (2008), and Finian's Rainbow (2010), he took the Carlyle stage with only one cabaret appearance under his belt so the genre is as unfamiliar to the vocalist as the venue.

Jackson's debut offers a glimpse of the past two years of his life that included a divorce and remarriage, overcoming alcohol addiction, and the death of his grandparents. Patter is warm, sincere, amusing, and a bit excessive. Some songs specifically relate; others, like "A Foggy Day" and the schmaltzy "Besame Mucho" are included in the set without apparent rhyme or reason.

A rendition of "Your Song" (Elton John/Bernie Taupin) is sweetly dedicated to the performer's new husband. Jackson sits rocking back and forth on a stool, his hand at his chest, eyes closed. Sincerity is palpable. Three Elvis Presley numbers performed in the jukebox musical

All Shook Up offers just the right attitude, inflection, and rotating pelvis. The vocalist can slip-slide from tenor to baritone with ease, much like Presley. He wisely channels rather than imitates the icon.

"The Edge of Glory" (Lady Gaga/Fernando Garibay/ DJ White Shadow) is rock/gospel. Jackson's sandpapery voice adds to impact here. Phrasing is pithy and effective. "Falling Slowly" from the musical Once is simply lovely. For the first time we hear a partially smoky vocal and long-lined musical phrases. A slight sob is apparent when register shifts. Jackson wraps himself in the song.

The sole unique arrangement comes on Joni Mitchell's "A Case of You," which is slow and savored. Evocative, musical passages connect each verse while the performer sits in stillness. Jackson makes this one his own with meditative rather than lively delivery. He's even a bit whispery at the end. The audience breathes more quietly.

Cheyenne Jackson has an authoritative, sandpapery tenor shown to best advantage in numbers featuring sliding octaves. He tends to sing lyrics as written on the page, pausing mid-sentence instead of musically continuing the thought. This works splendidly with rock, but breaks the musicality of selections from the American Songbook.

Jackson is in need of a director. Storytelling requires editing. A great many numbers are performed at exactly the same intensity regardless of lyrical meaning. Perpetually closed eyes, shutting out the audience are an issue (ironic, given the show's title).

A mixed bag.

Photos by Michael Wilhoite for Café Carlyle

Eyes Wide Open- Cheyenne Jackson
Cheyenne Jackson-Vocals
Willy Beamon-Musical Director/Piano
Vancil Cooper-Drums, Michael O'Brian-Bass
Café Carlyle, 76th & Madison Ave.
Though January 24, 2015

http://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/the-carlyle-new-york/location/things-to-do/events-at-the-carlyle

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