CHICAGO - MIDWEST CABARET REVIEWS

TIM HAIRSTON SALUTES BOBBY SHORT:
ROMANCE IN THE DARK

Reviewed by Carla Gordon

As an avid Bobby Short fan, I eagerly anticipated Tim Hairston's musical salute to Short. Once, I had one night only in Manhattan and decided to spend it (and enough money for retirement) seeing Bobby at THE CAFE CARLYLE. That day, I also got my first real gig in cabaret (at THE GENTRY in Chicago). After shows, Short held court in an adjacent salon. I told Mr. Short how it was a special day for me indeed, getting my first cabaret job and seeing a legend. Short shook my hand warmly, grabbed a show card and wrote encouraging thoughts. That card remains among my favorite possessions.

Tim Hairston, performing his tribute at DAVENPORT'S (1383 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL - 773-278-1830 - http://www.davenportspianobar.com/ ) did not disappoint. The title well set the tone for this show. The reference to "the dark" carries references to the African American heritage both Hairston and Short share (Central Illinois born Short faced decades of challenges as a touring Black performer.) as well as Short's signature room, the darkly paneled CAFE CARLYLE.

The romance, of course, was also palpable. Like Short, Hairston appeared elegant in his dinner jacket. His opener, the rarely performed, "I've Got Five Dollars" by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart set a bright tone. Written in deep depression 1931, the lyric tells of one down to five dollars, four shirts and collars and borrowed out life insurance offering all that and especially his lips to the lady love.

While Hairston made no attempt to impersonate Short (good choice), his salute is effective; like Short, his pitches are lovely. I have watched Hairston perform in the past few years (even directing him in a Chicago Cabaret Professionals' showcase) and could clearly see how studying Short helped Hairston grow as a cabaret artist. Short's consonant-driven diction was among his trademarks, and Hairston didn't (pardon the pun) sell his honoree short.

Due to Short's enormous repertoire, selecting tunes for a Bobby Short tribute is daunting. Standards such as "Where or When" (also Rodgers and Hart), and "I'll Be Seeing You" by Irving Kahal and Sammy Fain brought familiar comfort. Amy Cole, who delights at the lovely listening alcove inside CLUB 3160 (3260 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL - 773-327-5969) joined Tim for a jazzy duet of Paul Simon's "59th Street Bridge Song" ("Feeling Groovy"). This added both a well timed lilt to the program and reminded us how many years Short's career spanned. Nevertheless, the lesser known tunes that gave Hairston's program its best moments. I had never before heard William Roy's "Chicago Illinois." This lush ballad should be a staple in the local cabaret repertoire. We Chicagoans have "My Kind of Town," that one about the man dancing with his wife, and Susan Werner's smartass "Chicago Any Day," but Roy's tune captures the sentimental side of Chicago. Kudos to Tim for bringing this song to Davenport's and for his thoughtful delivery.

Jeff Roscoe provided musical direction and a fun solo. I often work with Jeff while marveling at his versatile talents. In the Gershwin song, "I Love to Rhyme," we enjoy hearing Roscoe become carried away with the art of rhyming. The rhymes range from the elegant to the deliberately forced. I was particularly fond of the nickel, pickle, fickle triplet. Short could be funny as anything, and Roscoe reminds us.

Although one can analyze technicalities of why "Romance in the Dark" works, the ultimate reason is arguably subjective. When Bobby Short performed, his pleasure in giving the audience joy was palpable. It is this quality that Tim Hairston captured best of all.

DAVENPORT'S is located at 1383 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL - 773-278-1830 - http://www.davenportspianobar.com/

Copyright, 2006 by Carla Gordon

 

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