The three pros are at it again!  It’s Holly Jolly time and Scott, Lennie and Steven couldn’t wait to regale their small but very enthusiastic audience of cabaret lovers and perfomers with their fine musicality, opening with original “'Bout This Time Each Year” by Steven Ray Watkins.

Reminiscent of the Manhattan Transfer and their close harmony style, these three tenors give pause to the usual Christmas songs, raising them to new heights with their creative arrangements and stylization, with Steven Ray Watkins as both pianist and vocalist.

New lyrics, such as “Shout Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanza,” in counterpoint puts a new spin on the tried and true combination of “Get Happy"/"Happy Days Are Here Again” (counterpoint arrangement for Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand). And it gets better, although sad, hearing the talented and recently departed D.Jay Bradley’s “Don’t Let Christmas Pass You By,” sung by Lennie Watts with as much heart and soul as it deserves.

Even the classic “Jingle Bells,” sung by Steven with harmonic backups, has a new "Ja Ja Jingle" angle. Baby Jesus must be smiling broadly hearing Scott Coulter’s angelic tones on the three-song medley, with Lennie Watts, “Silent Night"/"Away in a Manger"/"O Holy Night” and shed tears of joy with the sweetness of Scott’s “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.”

Lest we forget, Lennie reminds us that the highest suicide rate occurs between Thanksgiving and New Year's. It’s no wonder when you hear their “Christmas Blues Medley” with lyric lines like “I’ll have a blue, blue Christmas” or “They never let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games.” How sad, how funny!

All told, the harmonic blend and clever antics of these three are joyful. Try not to miss this show with the “Happy New Year to You” encore composed by Karen Benedetto.  Additional dates include December 8 and 15^th at 9:30 p.m. at the Metropolitan Room.

Sandi Durell
Cabaret Scenes
December 1, 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org