CHICAGO
- MIDWEST CABARET REVIEWS
JOAN CURTO at DAVENPORT'S
In Defense of Ira Gershwin
Reviewed by Carla Gordon
In
her latest show, performed at DAVENPORT'S PIANO BAR AND CABARET, Joan
Curto means to right a wrong. The wrong is that too often "Gershwin
standards" are introduced as "written by George Gershwin." Were Gershwin
standards merely melodies, George Gershwin would today be remembered
only for Rhapsody in Blue rather than for show tunes. While Ms. Curto's
show, titled "Of Thee I Sing, Ira," offers a banquet of Gershwin standards;
here focus is on lyricist Ira Gershwin. Due, of course to George's
early death, Ira's career as a tunesmith lasted many decades longer
than George's. Ira lived on to collaborate with other songwriters
including Harold Arlen, Jerome Kern, and Kurt Weill.
Joan Curto shines as our tour guide through Ira-land.
The stops she makes are well chosen. Thinking of Curto as a performer,
the word "elegant" is the first to surface. Nevertheless, Joan's versatility
sparkles in "Boy What Love Has Done to Me." She makes us laugh sharing
the notion of romantic error with comedic flair. In a hilariously
exaggerated Brooklynese, Curto sings,
"My life he's wrecking, bet you could find him
now
Out somewhere necking somebody else's frau
You get to know life when married to a low life
Boy! What love has done to me."
Ms. Curto especially shines in "My Ship" which Ira Gershwin wrote
with Kurt Weill. Joan's ship may hold a paradise of luxury cargo,
but without her "own true love" the "pearls and such" don't mean that
much. "My Ship" has a vocally demanding melodic flow, particularly
in its bridge. Although Joan has glorious soprano chops to spare,
she wisely chooses not to make this tune about her voice. Better that
we sail with Joan on a voyage powered by Ira's words in which the
finest of material things are, in the end, only things, while love
and hope are the treasures.
Jazz pianist Bobby Schiff accompanied Joan richly with
unassuming stage presence and lush jazz interpretations. Although
the gracious Schiff never competed with the vocalist for the limelight,
there were times when his detailed, complex musical phrasing was too
compelling not to draw attention. Some lovely moments occurred as
Joan Curto held on to solidly extended whole notes while Schiff supported
her with a waterfall of sixteenths.
Cabaret-goers appreciate when singers have strong voices,
but attend performances for the emotional experience. Cabaret is not
opera. Joan can knock out the high Cs with the best of 'em, but is
selective in her choices; she (under capable direction by Ron Cohn)
knows when the opera chops are effective and when they aren't. In
"By Strauss" (originally written for The Show Is On, in 1936) Joan
lets the vocal stops out and we are ready. Selecting this as encore
tune is a smart choice. Joan captures George Gershwin's comic melodic
take on the Viennese waltz adding Ira's smart-ass lyrics. Ms. Curto
aces notes tall as the Sears Tower without sacrificing how effectively
Ira wags his finger at musical pretense. Who else but Ira would rhyme
"nighclubbin' souses," with "Waltz that must be Strauss's"? Who else
but Joan Curto can take this song and make us fly so high?
DAVENPORT'S is located at 1383 North Milwaukee Avenue,
Chicago, IL - 773-278-1830 - http://www.davenportspianobar.com/
Copyright, 2005 by Carla Gordon
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