The stage at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola n the Time Warner Center has a dramatic backdrop of the skyline. As the skies darken, the city’s lights come on and the room feels magical.  This was the perfect setting for Rondi Charleston’s “one night only” show celebrating the release of her CD/DVD In My Life.  A terrific band backed her up with some of NY’s finest musicians: Pete Levin on piano and synthesizer, Jay Leonhart on bass, Alvester Garnett on drums, Dave Stryker on guitar and Joel Frahm on tenor sax.  Rondi entered in a lovely red strapless gown singing “Someone to Light Up My Life” to a lively Latin beat.  This club has great acoustics and the sound never overwhelms the singer. It was apparent that Rondi and her band have worked together and were in perfect sync, having just completed a six-city tour in seven days.

Rondi introduced several of her original songs: “Telescope,” written by Rondi with Bruce Barth and inspired by a trip to the Planetarium with her daughter, and “Galilee” written with guest artist, pianist Lynne Arriale, inspired by a family trip to Israel.  Rondi began her career as an investigative reporter, working for ABC’s Diane Sawyer on Primetime Live, winning both Emmy and Peabody Awards.  This explains her poise on stage and the communication skills she displays both in her patter and performance.  At one point, she said that she was shifting gears and singing “I Hear Music” - a Frank Loesser song. Yet this song has music by Burton Lane, so if you mention one songwriter, it is a good idea to mention the collaborator. However, quibbles aside, this was a wonderful jazz arrangement featuring drums and bass. Rondi likes to take standards and sing them in unexpected ways, as she did with the unusual rhythms of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Shall We Dance.”   This fine vocalist sings in many styles with her eclectic tastes ranging from Cy Coleman to Carole King and even Sting—a lovely “Until” from the film Kate and Leopold.  She introduced “No More Blues” talking about her affinity for Brazilian music. She's even begun taking Portugese lessons.

The closing song was captivating. Rondi had Bobby McFerrin’s “Freedom Is a Voice” translated into Zulu. She brought three young girls on stage to sing back-up, one being her eleven-year-old daughter, Emma.  It was quite moving as the audience clapped and swayed to the African beat. Rondi is quoted as saying that “what drives me is my passion to breathe life, honesty and integrity into every song and story.”  It was apparent in this impressive evening that Rondi certainly accomplished what she set out to do.

Linda Amiel Burns
Cabaret Scenes
June 1, 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org