Valarie Pettiford — is she a dancer who sings or a singer who dances? If you saw her one-night only show, Thankful, at Birdland, you know would know that Pettiford dazzles in both song and dance. This outgoing personality is also a television and film actress. Formidable on any stage, cabaret and theatre, she stole the Broadway show Fosse with her Tony/Grammy/Outer Critics Circle Award-nominated role; on a cabaret stage, she is a persuasive singer with a gorgeous face that expresses every emotion in every song.

Wearing a white satin mini and sequined stilettos, Pettiford was backed by music director/pianist Ron Abel leading a percussion-heavy rhythm band. They presented a song list based loosely around ten things for which she is most grateful. This was an expedient theme, giving her a selection of songs from the vaudeville favorite, "Me and My Shadow" to an '80s pop hit, "Chuck E's in Love."

Thanks went to her family as she put Fosse twists and flicks to Duke Ellington's "I'm Just a Lucky So-and-So." More thanks went to "PR," referring not to press reps but the Puerto Ricans' spirit. She called up a few more bongo players and let loose with "Shakin' the Blues Away" done her way, with emphasis on the shakin'. She called audience members to come up and add their own moves.

A full alto, rich with honeyed lower tones, she gave each song a self-assured jazz fusion of pop and rock. She took the notes on long adventures, letting them fit the spirit of the song. While she zings with vitality, she approached ballads with introspection, offering a Sting favorite, "Sister Moon" and Ann Ronell's standard, "Willow Weep for Me," both heavy with longing. She thanked Ron Abel, another versatile talent, calling him and lyricist, Chuck Steffan, "My Kander and Ebb." With particular poignancy, she sang their ballad, "Where Do I Find Love?"

The sassy rhythmic opener, "All That Jazz," indicated Pettiford's most important professional major influence, Bob Fosse. She chose his favorite tune, "Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries" to close the show, a song with optimism and humor. "Don't take it serious/ Life's too mysterious." She quoted Fosse as saying, "'I've been at the top of the heap and the bottom of the barrel and neither place is permanent."

Valarie Pettiford is not in town often enough, so note her next appearance and do not miss this most energizing lady on any size stage.

Elizabeth Ahlfors
Cabaret Scenes
July 21, 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org