With the presentation of the annual Nightlife Awards at Town Hall last night, audiences had the opportunity to sample from a smorgasbord of New York's finest entertainers from the worlds of cabaret, jazz, and comedy. The awards – produced by Scott Siegel – have a unique and truly innovative format. The ceremony is all-entertainment, no acceptance speeches are heard. Instead, the performers, some presenters and a host of affiliated artists do what has made them among the city's finest – they simply deliver their work.
If the evening got off to a somewhat unusual start with Phoebe Snow's contained and somewhat idiosyncratic performance of "I Do It for You," the Nightlife Awards swung into full, and exquisitely smooth gear with John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey performing two medleys as they accepted their honor as "Outstanding Cabaret Duo or Group in a Major Engagement." In a "Bell" medley, Molaskey embraced the syncopation of Frank Loesser's "If I Were a Bell" from Guys and Dolls and imbued it with a sinewy playfulness. Pizzarelli, riffing on guitar, was equally adept with Pizzarelli's own "Ring-a-Ding Ding". Presenter Jim David kept the audience in stitches with his hilarious routines mocking airlines' automated phone systems and the trend of outsourcing at companies like America Online before John Mulaney (winner this year as Outstanding Comedian) took to the stage to share often hilarious observations about everything from mean drag queens to the stock characters found on television's "Law and Order."
The other comedy winners – Louis CK (Outstanding Comedian in a Major Engagement" and Flight of the Conchords (Outstanding Comic Duo or Group) were not present, but comedy prevailed throughout the second half of the Nightlife Awards as Christine Pedi (winning for Outstanding Cabaret Comedy or Characterization) delivered "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" from Dreamgirls as a host of Broadway's most revered divas – from Julie Andrews to Mary Martin to Ethel Merman. Winning as Outstanding Cabaret Duo or Group, Modern Man riffed on middle age with parody of the Beach Boys' "Surfin' USA" and an original hip-hop tune "Assisted Living."
Among the other cabaret winners included Barb Jungr (Outstanding Cabaret Vocalist) who delivered Charles DeForest's "When Do the Bells Ring for Me" with searing intensity; and Natalie Douglas (Outstanding Piano Bar Entertainer) who performed Flaherty and Ahrens' "The Human Heart" from Once on This Island with melodic grace. The evening closed with Marilyn Maye – this year's winner for "Outstanding Cabaret Vocalist in a Major Engagement" – offering a trio of "day" songs including "On a Beautiful Day Like Today" and "It's Today" from Mame – with the showmanship and flair of a Broadway diva of the first caliber.
The evening's most touching moment came as television newsperson Cindy Hsu introduced Allan Harris (Outstanding Jazz Vocalist). She recounted how he was one of the first to make her newly adopted daughter (now 3 and also present in her mom's arms) respond to outside stimulus. Following Hsu's introduction, Harris took to the stage and performed the classic "L-O-V-E" so that it not only felt heartfelt and amorous, but also vaguely giddy. Award-winner Carole Sloane (Outstanding Jazz Vocalist in a Major Engagement) brought quiet vocal showmanship to "Just a-Sittin' and a-Rockin'" and Outstanding Jazz Combo Anat Cohen and the Anzic Orchestra imbued "Cry Me a River" with a jazzy klezmer sound that brought a certain buoyancy to the torch song standard. (Outstanding Jazz Soloist Hank Jones was not in attendance.)
As if these performances were not enough for audiences last night, a host of other performers were on hand to pay tribute to their colleagues and underscore the vibrancy of New York's cabaret, jazz and comedy worlds. Particular highlights of these performances included Sandy Stewart's "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" – a classic that somehow developed a new and compelling intensity in Stewart's intimate and confidential interpretation; and Lari White's delivery of a marvelous comic number – a love song for the 21st century – "Why Do Lovers Leave." Here the Nashville-based performer, who arrived in the city specifically for the awards, mined the song's humor and melancholy in her vocals and phrasing.
Although the show's announced host Bruce Vilanch was not present (due to a recent knee surgery), he sent a comic letter of apology that set the audience a-roar and last minute replacements Charles Busch and Julie Halston admirably kept the jokes flying with each of their appearances; equally comic – before delivering their more "official" introductions – presenters Sandy Duncan, Bill Irwin, John McDaniel and Lucie Arnaz.
With direction by Carl Andress and musical direction from Ted Firth, the 2008 Nightlife Awards moved with grace and sounded glorious – once again a glittering tribute to the diversity of the city's vibrant entertainment community.
-- Andy Propst
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NIGHT LIFE AWARDS 2008 SMASHINGLY ENTERTAINING
Where can you find on one variety bill the level of talent that contributed to the kind of smashing evening of entertainment offered by the 2008 Nightlife Awards show on Monday, Jan. 28? The answer is nowhere, except maybe at next year's Nightlife Awards or one of the terrific Broadway by the Year shows that producer/writer Scott Siegel has created as an ongoing series. The beauty of these awards is that the winners perform instead of making speeches thanking everyone in their professional and private lives. In addition to the winners, other artists show up to help pay tribute. Here is some of what those attending at The Town Hall were treated to this time around. The classy team of John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey, winners in the Outstanding Cabaret Duo in a Major Engagement category, showed why with their inventive “Baby Medley” and “I Wanna Be Happy” arrangements.
Sandy Stewart and Bill Charlap, who made it only as finalists in that category (Ashford and Simpson were the other finalists), were also highlights, with Charlap demonstrating his piano virtuosity with "Sophisticated Lady" and Stewart cutting through a favorite song's emotional haze with great clarity in giving us a heartfelt “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.”
The great Marilyn Maye, voted Outstanding Cabaret Vocalist in a Major Engagement, couldn't be a better program closer as she brought the audience to an ovation for her rendition of “You're Gonna Hear From Me” and a topper symbolizing her epic talent and continuing spirit and energy, “It's Today.” Wait—there was a lot more.
Lari White brilliantly sang a challenging number, “Why Do Lovers Leave?” combining country, pop and a with-it contemporary appeal. International star Barb Jungr, named Outstanding Cabaret Vocalist, scored impressively with “When Do the Bells Ring for Me?” Natalie Douglas, winner in the Outstanding Piano Bar Entertainer category, gave her thanks with “The Human Heart.” The celebrated Phoebe Snow was on hand to open the show with “I Do It ForYou,” a number enabling her to demonstrate her rangy vocal flights. Handsome Allan Harris, chosen as Outstanding Jazz Vocalist, turned on the sex appeal with “L-O-V-E.” Hilary Kole poured sexuality as well as tenderness into “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered.”
An unusual treat was the performance by the winner in the Outstanding Jazz Combo category, Anat Cohen and the Anzic Orchestra. Cohen, leader of the quartet, is an absolute whiz on the clarinet, as well as being one of the rare women who shine in that department.
What would such an evening be without comedy? Humor became an ingredient right at the start. Julie Halston and Charles Busch set the tone with their banter when they on short notice valiantly substituted as hosts for Bruce Vilanch, who was bedridden after knee surgery. (Producer Scott Siegel read Vilanch's apology, which was hilarious and raunchy—almost as good as if he'd been there.) Halston in the course of her various introductions kept a satirical eye on the proceedings with characteristic comic instincts.
Jim David, as a special guest presenter, delivered a belly-laugh routine that included a battle with making automatic airline reservations and also satirizing the rote routines of a conductor announcing stations on the Long Island Railroad. John Mulaney, as the man he introduced as winner of the Outstanding Comedian category, quickly garnered laughs satirizing drag queens who try to look like women but windup behaving like men and might just as well have saved themselves the trouble.
In the category of Outstanding Cabaret Duo or Group, the winning oddball Modern Man trio of singer-musicians with a hillbilly look but ultra-slick comedy was a funhouse sensation romping through “Channel Surfin' ”.
More hilarity came from the clever Christine Pedi, the winner for Outstanding Cabaret Comedy or Characterization, who triggered gales of laughter with her “And I'm Telling You” medley of female impressions gloriously on target.
Other award winners, chosen by 28-critics and writers who cover the nightlife scene, included Carol Sloane, winner as Outstanding Jazz Vocalist in a Major Engagement, Hank Jones, Outstanding Jazz Soloist; Louis CK, Outstanding Comedian in a Major Engagement; and Flight of the Conchords, Outstanding Comic Duo or Group.
Celebrity guest presenters enlivened the evening, including Sandy Duncan, looking so fit and effervescent—she playfully said of herself, “I'm perky”—that she seemed as if she could still play “Peter Pan;” Lucie Arnaz, elegant and attractive as always, John McDaniel; Bill Irwin, and TV anchor Cindy Hsu, who charmed the crowd by appearing with a cute babe in arms, her adopted daughter from China. The show was directed by Carl Andress, with musical direction by Tedd Firth.
-- William Wolf |
