After a rocking beginning with "Raise the Roof" from Andrew Lippa’s off Broadway show The Wild Party, Russ Lorenson, who possesses one of the great male voices in cabaret, begins his new show, Standard Time with a question: "Who says the Great American Songbook" stopped in 1959?" The selections are a treasure trove of obscure beauties and make Lorenson’s show a must see for all singers in search of lost beauties!

All the songs in Standard Time (with the exception of one) have been written in the last twenty years by contemporary songwriters and current cabaret familiars. The roll call includes Michael Feinstein, Ray Jessel & Cynthia Thompson (two songs), John Pizzarelli (two songs) and Jessica Molasky, Maury Yeston, Harry Connick Jr. (two songs) Bob Levy (two songs), Peter Cincotti & Cynthia Cincotti (two songs) & Pia Cincotti, Michael Garin, Tony DeSare, and Ronny Whyte and Francesca Blumenthal.

Lorenson and his brassy band (Kelly Park, piano/musical director, Tom Hubbard, bass, Brian Carmody, drums, and Terrence Brewer on guitar), burst into "Swing Is Back in Style," a 1999 composition of Feinstein, Jessel and Thompson that begins

"I don’t wanna knock the music called rock
But it’s been around for a while.
Life’s like a ring, it’s a circular thing
Now swing is back in style!
The rap songs they do, well I like a few
But most are just juvenile
After winter comes spring, so ring-a-ding-ding
Swing is back in style!"

before erupting in big band merriment. What does he follow that with? Well, the MAC 2006 best original song winner "The Party Upstairs" by Whyte and Blumenthal. Russ, with rhythmic grace, exudes sex appeal as he sings about the pretty upstairs female neighbor whose wild party is disturbing his chandelier and keeping him awake. The hopeful note is the next day he’ll meet her and be invited to the party upstairs!

Lorenson slows down and sensitively sings some sweet ballads, "Are You the One?" (2003) by the Cincottis, and "Ask Me If I Care (2005) by Levy. The second chorus of "Ask Me If I Care" is faster and brassier with a repeated line

"Let the trumpets blare!
Ask me, oh ask me if I care.
Ask me if I care!"

The third ballad is a song he found on an album by gospel singer Chris Rice, "When Did You Fall" (2005). It is a beautiful confession of the secret of love slipping out by the enchanted’s behavior:

"I can tell now by the way you’re looking at me
I better finish this song so my lips will be free."

The fourth ballad is a touching "How I Will Say I Love You" (2005) by DeSare and Mike Lee and then there is an hysterical adult comic song sung with rapid, appropriate gestures, "My Hand"(1998), written by Michael Garin with additional lyrics by Lorenson!

Two clever songs by Connick Jr.: "Forever, For Now" (1990) with lyrics by Ramsey McLean and "I Dream of You Again" (1990) follow, the latter again sung with great feeling and depth. "Fools in Love" (1974), another confessional love song, is the older song by written by Kelly Park when he was 17 to his high school crush, his future wife, and the mother of his children.

Cabaret legend Andrea Marcovicci made a guest appearance, singing in her trademarked style a sincere and moving "Two For the Road" (1967) directly to Russ. They dueted on the second chorus of that great classic Henry Mancini -Leslie Bricusse song. Andrea could not conceal her joy at certain members of the audience stating "How nice to see older folk drinking." Russ countered back by singing to Andrea "Lucky Charm" (2002) by Pizzarelli and Molasky.

"Danglin’" (1978) is a Maury (Nine, Titanic)Yeston torch song done in the traditional style of great crooners.

One of the highlights of the show is saved for the end. It’s Jessel and Thompson’s "I’m All Right Now" (1992), recorded only by Feinstein and, on a London label, Peggy Lee. Russ sings it softly with strong emotion and the effect is heart-breaking.

His closing is inspired by Ronny Graham’s song from New Faces of 1952 with the same title "It’s Raining Memories" (2008). Quoting some of the original’s lyrics, Lorenson sang it as a straight torch song rather than as the original parody. It’s poignant and demonstrates the full range of Lorenson’s splendid voice.

The band led by Kelly Park was given many opportunities to solo on the breaks and they were brilliant. Lorenson has done some tribute shows in the past but Standard Time"really exposes to us what a glorious instrument his voice is and how he knows when to sing strongly and when to sing gently to place the most appropriate importance on the lyrics. This show is a must see for singers looking for brilliant new material!

Russ Lorenson and Standard Time appears at the Metropolitan Room Saturday, October 25th at 9:45 p.m. and Tuesday, October 28th at 9:30 p.m.

Joe Regan, Jr.
Cabaret Scenes
October 12, 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org