Comfortably seated on a stool making his Metropolitan Room debut, jazz vocalist Jack Donahue seduces his audience with his boyish mannerisms, good looks and smooth mellow sound. A busy performer around the country and on cruises, it’s been a while since New Yorkers have seen him live other than for the release of his CD A Small Blue Thing more than a year ago.

Clearly at ease, he opens with “Where or When” and his attention to diction and the lyric is immediately evident, along with an appealing phrasing pattern that continues throughout the evening. The show is about songs he hasn’t done in a long time.

Although the 1965 musical The Yearling’was a flop, it did produce the song “Why Did I Choose You” which stirred some special emotions in Donahue.  Dubbed the "kinder and sunnier cousin to 'Send in the Clowns',” Jack puts a new spin on “Before the Parade Passes By” as a bossa, which is an eye-opening unexpected turn on the familiar. We get another jolt of surprise with the fast jazz version of “Put On Your Sunday Clothes” which he admits to always having a problem with. "No blue Monday" anymore Jack! Perfection!

Considering this one of the best songs ever written, Donahue’s favorite is the Betty Carter version of Fran Landesman/Tommy Wolf, Jr’s “Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most.” Jack’s lingering vocal quality seeps into the soul leaving his own poetic stamp. What was once background music in the film Modern Times, got lyrics in 1954—Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile,” one of the saddest cheerer uppers soulfully, sung by Donahue!

The patter is quick and easy and remaining songs such as “How Does the Wine Taste,” “Get Out of Town” and fast swingin’ “But Not For Me” are delivered with inventiveness.

Musical backup consists of a trio of fine musicians including Dan Kaufman, piano, Eric Privert, bass and Dave Brophy, drums.

Sandi Durell
Cabaret Scenes
December 8, 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org