JAM Magazine: June/July 1998 Issue: Scrapple From The Apple

by Russ Dantzler

Swan Songs from Rosemary Clooney?
Stunning Manhattan views and an opulent Art Deco interior make anything at the Rainbow & Stars worth anticipating. May 12 was the opening night of a two-week engagement for Rosemary Clooney, culminating on May 23, her 70th birthday. To celebrate, she was releasing Rosemary Clooney 70, a recommended overview of her work for Concord. The CD runs 70 minutes, with two new songs out of nineteen.

Rosemary was helped onto the barely-elevated stage and joked with her first-rate six-piece band, including long-time music director John Oddo on piano and regular New York guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli. She opened with "The Secret of Life," by James Taylor. "If we're on our way down, we might as well enjoy the ride," were lyrics delivered with foreboding grace and trimmed phrasing.

"I almost wasn't here," she said after warmly greeting her audience. She introduced us to Dr. Len Hovitz in the front row who "saved my life." She told of her February visit when she went to Lenox Hill Hospital instead of Carnegie Hall, running a fever higher than most people live to tell about. She depicted being in a coma in a most inviting fashion, with silly dreams. And all night she made us smile, but never laugh.

"Sylvia Porter said I should try this song -- Cole Porter wrote it for Roy Rogers -- it's true!" was the introduction to "Don't Fence Me In," which I've never enjoyed that much.

"George, sing!" Rosemary proclaimed as she sat down to enjoy trumpeter George Rabbai's Sachmo-derived vocal on "Smiles."

Audience members appeared to be shocked. Rosemary then had bassist Jay Leonhart sing one, and brought up the unmatched show-tune writing team of Betty Comden and Adolf Green to do their own "New York, New York" with pizzazz. I was told she'd never asked anyone to sing without her in ten years of performing in this room.

Pizzarelli's licks on Rosie's touching "Thanks For the Memories" were perfect underpinning. Her second David Frishberg song of the evening, "Do You Miss New York," sounded as if she would. "Will You Still Be Mine" was delivered at the highest tempo of the evening, although just a gentle medium-up trot.

While introducing her last song she was actually panting. Her considerable weight now seemed threatening. Yet each poignant song had been a story well told. No cabaret or jazz singer has ever made an audience feel more like they had just been invited to share in someone's rich lifetime.

Contact Russ Dantzler at: hotjazz@idt.net
And visit his web site at: http://soho.ios.com/~hotjazz/HOTJAZZ.html

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© Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.






	Search our site:		by Russ Dantzler Swan Songs from Rosemary Clooney? Stunning Manhattan views and an opulent Art Deco interior make anything at the Rainbow & Stars worth anticipating. May 12 was the opening night of a two-week engagement for Rosemary Clooney, culminating on May 23, her 70th birthday. To celebrate, she was releasing Rosemary Clooney 70, a recommended overview of her work for Concord. The CD runs 70 minutes, with two new songs out of nineteen. Rosemary was helped onto the barely-elevated stage and joked with her first-rate six-piece band, including long-time music director John Oddo on piano and regular New York guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli. She opened with "The Secret of Life," by James Taylor. "If we're on our way down, we might as well enjoy the ride," were lyrics delivered with foreboding grace and trimmed phrasing. "I almost wasn't here," she said after warmly greeting her audience. She introduced us to Dr. Len Hovitz in the front row who "saved my life." She told of her February visit when she went to Lenox Hill Hospital instead of Carnegie Hall, running a fever higher than most people live to tell about. She depicted being in a coma in a most inviting fashion, with silly dreams. And all night she made us smile, but never laugh. "Sylvia Porter said I should try this song -- Cole Porter wrote it for Roy Rogers -- it's true!" was the introduction to "Don't Fence Me In," which I've never enjoyed that much. "George, sing!" Rosemary proclaimed as she sat down to enjoy trumpeter George Rabbai's Sachmo-derived vocal on "Smiles." Audience members appeared to be shocked. Rosemary then had bassist Jay Leonhart sing one, and brought up the unmatched show-tune writing team of Betty Comden and Adolf Green to do their own "New York, New York" with pizzazz. I was told she'd never asked anyone to sing without her in ten years of performing in this room. Pizzarelli's licks on Rosie's touching "Thanks For the Memories" were perfect underpinning. Her second David Frishberg song of the evening, "Do You Miss New York," sounded as if she would. "Will You Still Be Mine" was delivered at the highest tempo of the evening, although just a gentle medium-up trot. While introducing her last song she was actually panting. Her considerable weight now seemed threatening. Yet each poignant song had been a story well told. No cabaret or jazz singer has ever made an audience feel more like they had just been invited to share in someone's rich lifetime. Contact Russ Dantzler at: hotjazz@idt.net And visit his web site at: http://soho.ios.com/~hotjazz/HOTJAZZ.html RETURN TO JUNE/JULY 1998 MAIN INDEX ------------------------------------------------------------------------ © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.