Scobar Productions scored at Iridium with the presentation of Mike Berkowitz and the New Gene Krupa Orchestra.  Berkowitz, a gifted drummer and the musical director, led the orchestra in a variety of songs long identified with Krupa, one of America's legendary percussionists. The arrangements were exact and a refreshing demonstration of swing music as played by historically-important orchestras in the 1930s-1950s.  Aficionados could recognize touches of Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Duke Ellington, and Woody Herman.

Spotlighted songs and instrumentalists included trumpeter Craig Johnson with Hoagy Carmichael's "Rockin' Chair"; Andy Fusco on alto sax with Michel Legrand's "What Are You Doing the Rest Of Your Life?" and the eternal Benny Goodman version of "Sing, Sing, Sing" featuring Frank Fieroski and his clarinet. The group also got its juices into high gear with the Dixieland warhorse and guaranteed audience-pleaser, "Indiana."

The feratured vocalist, Cassie Miller, is a seasoned singer who’s played jazz clubs around the world.  She revived the atmosphere of the swing era with the Anita O'Day arrangement of "That's What You Think," and then sparkled on Duke Ellington's "Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me."

Mike Berkowitz’s exciting technique was on display the entire show. It was an illustration of precision and taste accompanying a spectacle of arms flying, snares thumping and cymbals ringing.

Seymour Spilka
Cabaret Scenes
January 13, 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org