At the peak of her vocal powers, Shaynee Rainbolt successfully scaled a mountain and career peak, her September 23rd NYC concert following two in California. The love-fest at West 16th Street’s big-staged, classy Highline Ballroom was a high. Smashingly singing compositions and arrangements of legendary arranger Russell Garcia, she also had the now-92-year-old (but very vital and affable) man himself on stage, conducting a sensational band featuring his trademark four-trombone sound. Pianist Barry Levitt and bassist Tom Hubbard were great assets, too. Exciting instrumentals and one ravishing vocal of a standard were added to the main course: their new CD, Charmed Life: Shaynee Rainbolt Sings Russell Garcia. The standard was “Someone to Watch Over Me,”—it seems Mr. Garcia plays that watching-over role as he’s guided her, taking her under his wing, but given her wings to soar, “Flying Free,” to employ the title of one of the splendid songs. Lest we forget, another — “I Remember,” by Garcia and Rainbolt — won Song of the Year from MAC. The aforementioned metaphorical musical mountain is in the shadow of a sort of Mount Rushmore of jazz and pop: the Garcia resume includes memorable work with Margaret Whiting, Mel Tormé, Anita O’Day, Frances Faye, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong… quite a set of footsteps to be following in while mountain climbing! Recreating their richly textured CD live was the next well-met challenge. Then, how to have the man share anecdotes/ long-view perspectives and make the very rare appearance (he lives in New Zealand!) also a tribute. No problem. Shaynee made a fuss about Russ, and her very charming Charmed Life mentor praised his pro of a protégée and displayed wit.

Performed live to closely recreate the album, a couple of its introspective tracks work better as pure listening experiences, with less audience contact. Conversely, “Go Slow” works better in person with playful interplay and facial expressions.

Next up. Shaynee performs/hosts The Iridium Jazz Club’s multi-artist fun Election Night music/comedy/nail-biting party, big screens showing TV news between sets. Meanwhile, the reign of Rainbolt singing Garcia gets my vote as one of the concert and CD standouts of the year. I’ve become an avid “Shaynee-ac.”   

Rob Lester
Cabaret Scenes
September 23, 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org