Shy? Demure? Silent? Maybe the old Keely Smith, but not the recently-turned-80 Keely Smith who wowed the Rrazz Room with a boisterous, often bawdy, always delightful set of swing and ballad. Opening with "Let the Good Times Roll," Smith set the tone of her new stage persona – a lively raconteur who more often than not, broke into colorful banter both with her 6-man band and any audience member within shouting distance.

Keely had a great time poking playful fun of her handsome 28 year-old bassist Daniel Fabricant, remarking “I have shoes older than you!.” Choice lyrics from her love songs were directed at him and the audience ate it up. She worked the room and the band on "Jump, Jive," "Gigolo/Nobody" and her classic "Old Black Magic," her low register huskier and still powerful.  Lovely versions of "I Wish You Love," "The Way You Look Tonight" and "More Than You Know" showed Smith can still maneuver a soft ballad, slowing down the tempo to slow crawl on "You Go to My Head." The superb band, which included a two-piece horn section, the aforementioned Fabricant on bass and Smith’s son-in-law Dennis Michaels on piano revved up the evening to a very special level.

Smith has been touring to SRO audiences and at age 80 shows no signs of slowing down. Both a link to a historic past and a vital and dynamic present, Smith will be delighting old and new fans for quite a while.

Steve Murray
Cabaret Scenes
March 20, 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org