The Cabaret Chronicles: Jim Van Slyke, Cast Party, and 'Bout This Time Each Year!

Hello, Winter!  Okay, so the calendar says we officially have 2 more days, but I'm not buying it!  We're in the midst of the first big snowstorm of the season this weekend, and the city has been freezing all week...but I'm happy to report that the nightlife has been as sizzling as ever! 

This week, it all began on Monday evening, when I headed over to Feinstein's at Loews Regency to see Jim Van Slyke in The Sedaka Show.  I'd had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Van Slyke perform this show earlier in the year, and, as much as I enjoyed it the first time around, I loved it even more this time!  For one thing, the music and the patter have truly become one with the performer.  With most cabaret/concert entertainers, there comes a time when a show simply becomes an extension of the performers themselves; it's no longer a matter of "performing," per se, but, rather, LIVING the material, and it seems that Mr. Van Slyke has reached this point with The Sedaka Show.  He's been doing the show quite a bit, and it has truly found its rhythm and pace.  Also, his voice sounds incredible!  The material in the show ranges from well-known light pop tunes such as "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" (which gets a bluesy ballad treatment in this show) and "Laughter In The Rain" to the more soulful "Love Will Keep Us Together," to more legit material like "Turning Back The Hands of Time," which has lyrics by Neil Sedaka and music by Giacomo Puccini!  Yes, Mr. Sedaka wrote some beautiful lyrics to go along with Puccini's gorgeous "Nessun Dorma," and Jim's vocals just soared on this!  Another highlight of the show is the "Doo Wop Medley," which comprises "Oh Carol," "Calendar Girl," "Happy Birthday Sweet 16," "Next Door to An Angel," and the iconic Connie Francis hit, "Where The Boys Are."  It was hard to tell whether Mr. Van Slyke or the audience was having more fun with this medley!  Now, as if the show wasn't already terrific enough, what really sealed the deal was that Neil Sedaka, himself, was there to introduce Mr. Van Slyke.  He spoke of how the show had come to his attention, so he'd gone to see it earlier in the year, and how he was simply blown away by what Mr. Van Slyke was doing with his material.  Talk about a "wow" moment!!  In addition to Mr. Van Slyke, many kudos go to his musical director, the talented Tim DiPasqua, and his director, Broadway veteran Brian Lane Green.  Congrats to all three men for putting together one terrific show! 

After The Sedaka Show, I headed on over to Birdland for Jim Caruso's Cast Party, which was (as always!) loads of fun!  There was an abundance of talent, including Michael Winther, The Bobs, William Blake, Aaron Weinstein, Elena Bennet & Fred Barton, and Broadway veterans Mark Kudisch and Jeffry Denman, all of whom wowed the crowd with their excellent performances!  Host Jim Caruso was his usual charming, witty, entertaining self, and Tedd Firth & Steve Doyle (on piano and bass, respectively), provided stellar accompaniment for the talented folks who got up to the mic! 

Tuesday evening, it was off to Don't Tell Mama to see Scott Coulter, Lennie Watts, and Steven Ray Watkins in their holiday show, 'Bout This Time Each Year.  I've had the pleasure of seeing this show several times over the past 3 or 4 years, and it always puts a smile on my face and the holiday spirit in my heart!  Featuring well-loved Christmas favorites like "Jingle Bells," "Silent Night," "Merry Christmas Darling" and "The Christmas Song," as well as some lesser-known songs like "Tennessee Christmas" (which I remember listening to as a child, on an Amy Grant Christmas tape!) and D. Jay Bradley's "Don't Let Christmas Pass You By," the show is full of great harmonies, terrific solo turns, and whole lotta heart. One of my favorite parts of the show is the "Christmas Blues Medley," which is preceded by the fact that the time period between Thanksgiving and New Year's sees the highest suicide rates (cheery, I know!).  The three men then proceed to give their opinion of why this is so, in a hilarious medley including "Blue Christmas," "Bells Will Be Ringing," "Another Auld Lang Syne," "River," "Last Christmas," and "The Christmas Shoes," before taking it to a whole 'nother level of funny with new takes on the sadder parts of "Rudolph" ("All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names)" and "Frosty" ("Frosty the Snowman knew the sun was hot that day..."), and finally, rounding it out with "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer," "Do They Know It's Christmas" and "We Need a Little Christmas."  The show is at times heartwarming, at times laugh-out-loud funny, and always well-performed!  The boys say they're putting it to rest after this year, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they come back with new one - I can't wait to see what else they come up with! 

Where I'm going this week...  

Monday, December 21^st:  Cast Party at Birdland.  Hosted by , this fantastic open mic runs from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.  Be sure to get there early if you want to sing!Jim Caruso

As it's Christmas week, that's all I'm going to be seeing before heading up to Middletown, NY to spend the rest of the week with my family!  I'll be on hiatus for the holiday next week, but check back for a new article on Saturday, January 2^nd.  Until then, I wish you all the best for the happiest of holidays!  Stay warm!

Pictured: Jim Van Slyke

 

 

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