Barbara Rosene clearly digs the music of the Tin Pan Alley era and made quite a case for it with her band (“The New Yorkers”) for the Iridium’s Big Band Tuesday series.

Leading off with “There’ll be Some Changes Made,” Barbara leisurely rolls out some of the rarer early jazz works of the '20s and early '30s.

Her sound is basically light and flute-like, but she ably employs some earthy hot vocal grinds throughout the show.

She is intent on educating with her program, an example being her explanation that the Ethel Waters hit “Am I Blue” was introduced by Annette Hanshaw, prolific in her day but now a footnote.  She was full of surprises as she tangoed to a fiddle and later pulled out a ukulele to accompany herself on an exquisitely sung Fat’s Waller’s “Keeping Out of Mischief.”  Oscar Levant’s (“Blame it on My Youth”) early song, “Loveable and Sweet,” was the find of the evening.

Rosene’s slender voice soared over the band, achieving a rare balance as many big bands just knock out even the biggest of voices.  Kudos to the sound man, Kevin Hunt, our “unsung” hero of the evening and the always swinging band, consisting of Jon-Erik Kellso (cornet), Michael Hashim (saxes), Matt Szemela (violin), Conal Fowkes (piano), Kevin Dorn (drums) and Doug Largent (bass).

Melody Breyer-Grell
Cabaret Scenes
February 19, 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org