From the moment you began watching the delightful clip from the Tonight Show, you knew that this musical energy bunny, Corky Hale, lives a high-powered, glamorous life. You also got a hint of her musical talents. The video segment saw her accompanying Tony Bennett on the harp, chatting with Johnny Carson and even giving him a few harp lessons. Then she went to the mike to belt out, "This Is the Life."

A few decades later, Corky Hale, live in person, appeared at the Metropolitan Room to continue the patter about her life, her loves, and her music. In between, she played the piano, lush with chords. On the flute, she rendered Luiz Bonfa's "Manha de Carnaval." She maneuvered her way to the harp and illustrated why she has been premiere jazz harp accompanist since the 1950s. "Ain't Misbehavin'" (Fats Waller) perked like no other harp, helped by the rhythm of bassist Dick Sarpola and her pianist/arranger/sidekick, Jeff Lass. In a different mode she delivered a nicely shaded "Here's That Rainy Day."

Her vocals included songs that became favorites over the years, most touchingly, a nod to husband, rock 'n roll writer, Mike Stoller, with her favorite from the Leiber/Stoller songbook, "Loving You," made famous by Elvis Presley. Opening night, despite some vocal dryness, she showed a confident security in her deliveries.

That's not all. She never got around to mentioning the restaurant she owned in New York called, "Corky's" or the jazz club in Hollywood, called "Corky's." She is also a producer, and delivered a medley of Al Dubin and Harry Warren tunes from her show about the famed movie songwriting team. In her spare time – spare time? — she is a political activist, a fund-raiser, and a community leader. She founded Angel Harvest, an organization which redistributes unused foods from restaurants, hotels, and events to the hungry and needy people of greater Los Angeles.

Corky Hale proved her point with "Nobody Else But Me" and "Lucky to Be Me." It's been quite a ride for this Illinois country girl, and it was fun having her share with us her special blend of charm and gregariousness.

Elizabeth Ahlfors
Cabaret Scenes
November 10, 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org