CHICAGO - MIDWEST CABARET REVIEWS

TONY ANDRIACCHI SINGS AT THE SKOKIE THEATER

Reviewed by Carla Gordon

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Someone warned me that I might not appreciate Tony Andriacchi's performance because he is a "crooner, not a cabaret singer." Nevertheless, I enjoyed My. Andriacchi's performance at the Skokie Theater much. I have pontificated that cabaret is more about lyric than voice. Yet, because Andriacchi's interpretations are spacious, he certainly qualifies to sit at the cabaret big kids' table. While he has a fine voice, rich in the lower register (which I would have liked hearing more of), he has a gift for phrasing. Unlike many "crooners," Andriacchi does not extend every ending note nor is he afraid of silence. Often it is in brief interpretive silences that best enables the audience to connect to the truth of a song.

I also appreciated how Andriacchi talked to the audience explaining how when his friends were listening to the Rolling Stones he was listening to "Don't Get Around Much Any More" from his father's allegedly off-limits record collection.

The challenge for a crooner in a longer show is to bring variety to the presentation. "I've Got No Strings on Me" is from Walt Disney's 1940 film, Pinnocchio (music by Leigh Harline; lyrics by Ned Washington). In the film, the tune is sung by a wooden puppet longing to become a living boy. By Mr. Andriacchi, it takes on a new slant-perhaps the viewpoint of a man choosing hiatus from romantic entanglements? While upbeat, the words are thoughtful. The audience responded strongly to this particular number. Andriacchi is booked to perform his show again at the Skokie Theater and doubtless, at other venues. I hope he considers even more tunes like "I've Got No Strings" to add variety.

Jeremy Kahn on piano and Billy Harrison on bass provided just the right support. While Kahn's jazz riffs were complex and lush, the man at the piano knew when it was his turn to shine versus the Andriacchi vocalist's moments. (Kahn also played beautifully for Cory Jamison in her recent show at Davenport's).

Andriacchi ended the evening with "What a Wonderful World." (Although many assume that Louis Armstrong wrote the tune, songwriter credits belong to George Weiss and Bob Thiele.) Andriacchi's accompaniment is not the melody of the tune. Rather it is Johann Pachelbel's Canon in D. Andriacchi floats the song over the other but never dissonant melody. "Wonderful World" is lovely, but can come across preachy. The arrangement performed by Andriacchi is unique and becomes a purely personal reflection and is richer for it.

The newly refurbished Skokie Theater is an excellent cabaret performance space. While it is a traditional theater setting rather than tables, it is cozy. Its ample wood creates warmth for both ambience and acoustics. (Convenient parking is a nice touch, too.) Skokie Theater has been featuring jazz and classical performances, but let's hope to enjoy more cabaret at this venue. And I certainly hope to hear Tony Andriacchi all about town.

The Skokie Theater is located at 7924 North Lincoln Avenue, Skokie IL - 847-677- 7761 - http://www.skokietheatre.com/

Copyright, 2007 by Carla Gordon

 

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