How does a guy who spends most of his time chopping heads off fish as Chef Louis in the smash Broadway hit Little Mermaid find the time to celebrate the release of his debut CD? In fact, how did this culinary ‘Jack the Ripper’ find the time to record a CD?

Energy abounds as this soaring rich tenor takes the stage to “Count The Stars” (written by Steven Silverstein) and his blessings as we travel on his journey. Beginning with Lerner/Lowe’s “On The Street Where You Live” paired with “Almost Like Being in Love,” not only do our ears feel blessed but we soon realize that JT is a quick witted, affable performer who is down-right funny! “What a relief,” says JT as the audience applauds wildly, “there are people here! I’m an international recording artist. My CD has sold copy in the United Kingdom, copy in Australia, copies in Denmark…” His song selections: “because I like them!”  “Somewhere Only We Know" (Keane) with “Wonderful World of the Young” (Tepper/Bennett) followed by audience participation in “Nice Work If You Can Get It” (Gershwins), the romance of Leslie Bricusse’s “Happiness” and Howard Blake’s “Walking in the Air.” We’re shaken to a reality of wondering what heaven is like in Adam Guettel’s “How Glory Goes” from Floyd Collins accompanied by Frank Piazza on guitar.

Stepping back into JT’s childhood in Westchester, we get a glimpse of life at age five fishing with grandpa while grandma is yelling at the damn cat, Mr. Noodles! This brought waves of laughter from the mostly theatre audience, including Norm Lewis. John had related that he credits Christine Pedi for getting him to audition for Jekyll & Hyde, his first Broadway show, after which it was all uphill as he went from understudying several roles in Broadway’s The Producers to eventually taking over the role of Max Bialystock.

Back in the cabaret—when was the last time we heard “Unrequited Love March” from the 1965 off-Broadway musical revue Wet Paint (Ronny Graham)? Well, this is definitely a frantic and funny show-stopper, taking a genius to get all those lyrics out to the drum beat march …”why don’t you love me; I’m very neat, I’m very clean, I’m into waxing.”

Frank Wildhorn’s “Sarah” from Civil War, followed by every Irish tenor’s mantra “Danny Boy,” (Weatherly), bring us to a clever swing-latin arrangement of “Shall We Dance” (Rodgers/Hammerstein II) into the hilarious Murray Grand/Elisse Bond’s “I’d Rather Cha Cha Than Eat.” JT sends us off on our journey with “I Wish You Love” (Trenet/Beach) and encore “The Path You Choose” (Silverstein/Williamson).  With musical director/arranger Steven Silverstein, Kerry Meads, drums; Paul Ivory, bass and Frank Piazza, guitar, a singer can’t do any better! Try to catch the one remaining show on Sunday May 26^th at 9:30 p.m. You’ll be happy you did!

Sandi Durell
Cabaret Scenes
May 11, 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org