"A trip on a train," "a shadowy lane," "moon shining down on some little town" – all singular Johnny Mercer images in "I Thought About You" (Sammy Cahn). Mercer, who could write urbane as well as Gershwin (think "Satin Doll"), had his roots in Savannah, Georgia. He was matchless in country vernacular, not the faux-Dixie of Manhattan lyricists, but the authentic down-home talk displayed in a surprisingly up-to-date "The Country's In the Very Best of Hands," (from L'il Abner by Mercer and dePaul). Even with the cosmopolitan mood of "When the World Was Young," (French lyrics by M. Philipe-Gerard), Mercer's English lyric referred back home with, "Ah, the apple trees."

This is the Johnny Mercer that Tony DeSare celebrates in his show Mercer, Moon River and Me, at the Algonquin Hotel's Oak Room. DeSare is a country boy himself, raised outside Glen Falls, New York, where he discovered a love for standards and jazz. It is DeSare's jazz sensibility that brings that other vital Mercer aspect to his show. Johnny Mercer was strongly influenced by the jazz of his day, and wrote some of his best lyrics with jazz-influenced composers.

While DeSare absorbed the influences of American jazz, standards, and Sinatra, he also developed his own intelligent and unassuming style. His phrasing and communication is sharp. He finds a comfortable middle ground for honest, conversational interpretations and for authoritative piano interludes with pops of surprise. "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening" (Hoagy Carmichael) is delightfully sprightly, but DeSare is increasingly authoritative in his interpretation of ballads. For one Mercer/Arlen standard, he steps neatly into character, moving in front of the piano and singing to his guitarist, Ed Decker as Joe, telling him the story of why he needs "One for My Baby," and another for the road. With a strong blues arrangement, he delivers another of Mercer's memorable collaborations with Harold Arlen, "Blues In the Night," supported by Decker's guitar and Steve Doyle on bass.

The three race away with "Something's Gotta Give" (Porter), but it is DeSare alone with a driving piano take-off on "Autumn Leaves" (Kosma) mixing up rhythms of ragtime, boogie-woogy, even baroque and a strong stride.

DeSare includes two original tunes, "A Little Bit Closer" and "Dreaming My Life Away." The latter is paired with Mercer's "Dream," and while the rhymes are not yet up to the immaculate Mercer wordplay, he writes catchy melodies.

Tony DeSare is at the Oak Room through Feb. 21.

Elizabeth Ahlfors
Cabaret Scenes
February 4, 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org