Cabaret Scenes Review

He's a little older. He's a lot smoother. Australian/Austrian Tim Draxl first appeared on the New York cabaret scene about ten years ago and collected a MAC Award and a lot of critical acclaim. He returned to Australia and over the next years, he moved in and out of the singing business.

Cabaret audiences may recognize him as that talented kid who sang standards, but film fans recognize Tim Draxl for his film work, including the well-received Swimming Upstream with Geoffrey Rush and Judy Davis. Draxl recently appeared for two nights at the Metropolitan Room before returning to LA for more movie making. At 17, he was an amiable kid with a promising tenor voice but at 27, Draxl is a vocally toned crooner and confident belter. He has the easy audience appeal of a Las Vegas crooner. With a secure sense of time, he opened swinging with "Taking a Chance on Love," but he was not taking a chance on his audience, most of whom remembered him from his appearances a decade earlier and others who were captivated enough by his first show two nights earlier and came back for more.

With a casual demeanor and easy sense of humor, Draxl chooses his songs with taste and variety. He sings mostly standards in a light, swingy mode. His vocal tone has a unique brightness and his acting talents chop into the lyrics; he does not let the words suffer for the melody, and he builds drama to boost the song. There is not yet a Draxl signature. "You Go to My Head" is flavored with hints of Billie Holiday's phrasing, if not her soul. "Lullaby of Birdland," with "Love Me or Leave Me," displayed a less deliberate swing than Sarah Vaughan's signature delivery. A good touch at the end was Draxl's adding Sassy's familiar "Lullaby" vamp.

His interpretation is strongest with the more contemporary songs. In "I'm Alright Now" (David Ford), he poignantly expresses the struggles of getting over a love affair – what would cabaret singers and audiences do without that theme? "If It Wasn't for Your Love" (lyrics by Heather Headley), performed for his mother, had Mum and everyone else feeling his heart.

With Draxl was popular bassist Jered Egan who joined him for a driving rendition of "Down With Love" (Harburg and Arlen), with a catchy vocalese ending, a tribute to the late Peter Matz. Christopher Denny's piano invigorated "Who Will Buy?" from Oliver!.

Crammed with talent, Tim Draxl will hopefully continue carving his own path in music as well as follow his passion for acting. Odds are good that his musical path will be more authentically his own a few years from now.

Elizabeth Ahlfors
Cabaret Scenes
January 16, 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org



	Tim Draxl Metropolitan Room New York, NY
He's a little older. He's a lot smoother. Australian/Austrian Tim Draxl first appeared on the New York cabaret scene about ten years ago and collected a MAC Award and a lot of critical acclaim. He returned to Australia and over the next years, he moved in and out of the singing business. Cabaret audiences may recognize him as that talented kid who sang standards, but film fans recognize Tim Draxl for his film work, including the well-received Swimming Upstream with Geoffrey Rush and Judy Davis. Draxl recently appeared for two nights at the Metropolitan Room before returning to LA for more movie making. At 17, he was an amiable kid with a promising tenor voice but at 27, Draxl is a vocally toned crooner and confident belter. He has the easy audience appeal of a Las Vegas crooner. With a secure sense of time, he opened swinging with "Taking a Chance on Love," but he was not taking a chance on his audience, most of whom remembered him from his appearances a decade earlier and others who were captivated enough by his first show two nights earlier and came back for more. With a casual demeanor and easy sense of humor, Draxl chooses his songs with taste and variety. He sings mostly standards in a light, swingy mode. His vocal tone has a unique brightness and his acting talents chop into the lyrics; he does not let the words suffer for the melody, and he builds drama to boost the song. There is not yet a Draxl signature. "You Go to My Head" is flavored with hints of Billie Holiday's phrasing, if not her soul. "Lullaby of Birdland," with "Love Me or Leave Me," displayed a less deliberate swing than Sarah Vaughan's signature delivery. A good touch at the end was Draxl's adding Sassy's familiar "Lullaby" vamp. His interpretation is strongest with the more contemporary songs. In "I'm Alright Now" (David Ford), he poignantly expresses the struggles of getting over a love affair – what would cabaret singers and audiences do without that theme? "If It Wasn't for Your Love" (lyrics by Heather Headley), performed for his mother, had Mum and everyone else feeling his heart. With Draxl was popular bassist Jered Egan who joined him for a driving rendition of "Down With Love" (Harburg and Arlen), with a catchy vocalese ending, a tribute to the late Peter Matz. Christopher Denny's piano invigorated "Who Will Buy?" from Oliver!. Crammed with talent, Tim Draxl will hopefully continue carving his own path in music as well as follow his passion for acting. Odds are good that his musical path will be more authentically his own a few years from now. Elizabeth Ahlfors Cabaret Scenes January 16, 2009 www.cabaretscenes.org

Tim Draxl

Metropolitan Room New York, NY

Metropolitan Room
New York, NY