It is risky business presenting a show. This is especially so when it is primarily made up of your own original songs. Up that ante with a performer who is a charismatic stage talent but is not yet that familiar in the cabaret and jazz worlds. Up the ante even more by focusing the entire evening on Brazilian melodies with lyrics interpreted in English by an American vocalist.

Luba Mason took the risk because she is enamored by the rhythms and moods of Brazilian jazz. The risk paid off. A one-night only show at Birdland, Krazy Love, was crazy with sensuous sounds and whispery lyrics of love. Mason sang ten songs from her upcoming CD of the same name. Three featured her original lyrics and melodies. The two cover songs were by Brazilian musicians, "E Com Esse Que Eu Vou" by Pedro Caetano and Chico Buarque's "Olhos Nos Olhos." Mason sang them in Portuguese and co-wrote the remaining five songs with Brazilian artist, Renato Neto.

Mason is six feet of statuesque blonde, engaging and poised. She has a dexterous voice with strong breath control that can embrace the room or whisper into your ear. Mason performed numerous times on Broadway, most recently as Velma opposite Brooke Shields' Roxy in Chicago, but she cooled down her stage theatricality here to match the introspective detachment of the genre. In Krazy Love, a breathy bossa nova tone lends itself to the samba rhythms, shading the words with intimate sensuality. Mason is backed by the heat of her five-piece Latin band, Kava, and their combination of fire and ice supports images of moonlight, calm waters and crickets ("A Summer Night") and murmuring lyrics like "shadows, hovering shadows..." (Krazy Love)

Mason's original lyrics are mostly of love. Closest to home is "Christmas in July," celebrating the romance she shares with husband, Ruben Blades. "This House" displays the memories of her childhood home and features an engaging release. Mason eschews songs about those boys from Ipanema although "Gorgeous Fool," the wittiest song in the list, pokes fun at a guy in her past. Mason's parents are from Slovakia, and in many of her melodies, you can catch the intriguing sounds of Eastern European harmonies mingled with Rio rhythms.

Her encore was another sensuous melody, Bacharach and David's "The Look of Love," but Luba Mason turned again from the familiar and delivered the song in Portuguese.

Supported by training, experience, musical expertise, and oh, yes, that elusive something called talent, Luba Mason's Krazy Love is not crazy at all, but brainy and engaging.

Luba Mason's second CD, Krazy Love, is scheduled for release in January 2009.

Elizabeth Ahlfors
Cabaret Scenes
October 7, 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org