| . | 01/17/2009
Top Ten Cabaret in 2008
By: John Hoglund
In spite of the shaky economy, 2008 was a fierce year for cabaret in Manhattan. Cabarets and jazz rooms continued to fade with few new ones on the horizon. Yet, as in other years, it was a banner year for some great artists from the high-end rooms to the small clubs. And, a bounty of those shows played to sold out houses and left audiences yelling for more. Another year for great performances and memorable shows, it was also one of the most eclectic servings in recent years:
 Baby Jane Dexter: IF... - Metropolitan Room at Gotham With her best show to date, Dexter secured herself as one of the greatest cabaret stars in the genre. Two amazing runs in '08 covered powerhouse anthems from “Superstar” to her now signature wail of “Hold on!” while belting “Everybody Hurts,” the lady has no peers. A unique talent molded from the same harvest that gave us Bette Midler, she can make you laugh or cry in a heart beat. Similarly possessing all the qualities that made Julie Wilson a legend, Dexter offers a sincerity and honesty non pariell.
 Tammy Grimes – “Miss Tammy Grimes” – Metropolitan Room at Gotham Walter Kerr called a genius. Noel Coward couldn't say enough. Returning once again to the cabaret stage, and once again bringing a lifetime of musical theater and night club memories with her, this Broadway legend's show was a must-see and proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that she “ain't down yet.” This unsinkable Theater Hall of Famer and two time Tony Award winner brought an unparalleled richness to the stage that included songs by Noel Coward, Tom Waits and Kurt Weill providing one of cabaret's stellar moments in 2008.
 Photo: Ben Baker
Maude Maggart: speaking Of Dreams – The Oak Room at The Algonqion Hotel In one of the year's most perfectly structured cabaret shows, Maude Maggart proved once again what all the fuss is about. She didn't just live up to her previous rave reviews in the press – she surpassed them! This most personalized show to date offered pieces of dreams stitched together with pieces of time from her life in one of the most fully realized shows offered at this war horse cabaret room. She even made the pricey cover charge worth it.  Photo: Maryann Lopinto
Euan Morton: Stranger In A Strange Land – Metropolitan Room at Gotham Tony nominee (“Taboo”) and devilishly lovable, Euan Morton jumped onto the stage amid wild applause from his zealous fans. Then, he proceeded to belt out songs in a crisp, expressive pop tenor. He also peppered the show with engaging anecdotes on anything from politics to his emergency stomach surgery. By the times he launched into Leonard Cohen's “Hallelujah,” now a signature song for him, his fans are at a fever pitch of excitement. And with good reason. Morton may be a stranger in a strange land. But he's a star with a glorious voice and a talent that keeps getting better.
 Jon Peterson: Song Man, DanceMan - The Triad Cabaret Theater Giving his (temporary) regards to Broadway and stepping into the cabaret spotlight, definitive entertainer Jon Peterson grabs a spirit of the song and dance man like no other since the likes of Danny Kaye or George M. Cohan. Offering one of the year's best solo turns, he sang and tapped his way through 90 minutes of rock solid entertainment that equaled Liza Minelli's turn at The Palace. Paying homage to the likes of Astaire and Kelly, Aznavour, Newley Sammy Davis, Jr., and Cohan, Peterson knocked it all out of the park with this tour de force show that is sure to return and find the wide audience it deserves for this brilliant talent from London.
 Miles Phillips: Quiet Stars – Metropolitan Room at Gotham Presenting one of the year's most ambitious shows, this master of tackling difficult material with intelligence and panache offered a tough to top eclectic song list that included intricate, dynamic works by many including, Kate Bush, Frank Loesser, the Bergman's, The Bee Gees, Jobim and Sondheim. With musical director Jason Wynn, it was all offered with his trademark intelligence and humor.
Marcus Simeone: The Heart – Metropolitan Room at Gotham
Presented by director/producer Jason Darrow, the force behind Jane Olivor's legend, this multi-octave tenor reached new heights in a demanding show made up of soaring ballads and heart wrenching story songs. In a tearful, angelic voice, Simeone proved he has few vocal peers also introducing a new Stephen Schwartz song and lush vocals on the likes of “Alone Again (Naturally)” and a haunting “No One like You.” Often compared to Johnny Mathis, he takes more vocal chances than any pop singer since Streisand.
 Gabrielle Stravelli: - The Laurie Beechman Theater at The West Bank Cafe' One of today's most promising vocalists on the cabaret scene, Gabrielle Stravelli is a pop/jazz cross between Norah Jones and Jane Monheit – only better. Whether crooning sultry standards like “Skylark or “My Foolish Heart” or playing with Pink Floyd, she embraces each line with perfect, supple phrasing and effective breath control that rivals all that the competition longs for. With luck, she will be picked up by a jazz label and given the world stage her talents deserve.
 Frank Torren: First Times - Broadway Baby/Don't Tell Mama This totally engaging, affable musical theater troubador returned to clubs after a sabbatical and tenderly revisited cabaret/theater pearls like “I See Your Face Before Me,” “The Days of the Waltz” and “There's Always One You Can't Forget” with simple honesty and touching sincerity that outdid many more histrionic show cases last year. With brilliant musical director Rick Unterberg, he easily made this audience laugh and cry with a trenchant delivery that came straight from a heart that has lived it all.
 LennieWatts: Manilow: '73-83 – Metropolitan Room at Gotham Paying tribute to one of the most successful entertainers of our era is no easy task. Award winner Lennie Watts was more than up to it with this dynamite show of hits and more hits. Along with brilliant musical partner Steven Ray Watkins, a full band and back up singers, this cabaret act became a serious “event” that packed them into the Metro Room and rocked the place like no other show last year. With great confidence and a sharp humor, Watts had the room cheering and singing along with gusto.
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