A West Coaster and a record company exec, Lee Lessack’s appearances at the New York clubs are infrequent.  Too much so.  His Metropolitan Room tribute to lyricist and songwriter Johnny Mercer, Too Marvelous For Words, was largely a reprise of the songlist from his CD by the same name. But this was the kind of live entertainment one hopes for, with the combination of Mercer’s music, Steven Ray Watkins’ accompaniment and Lessack’s continuing evolution as a beguiling soloist.

Mercer may well have been slow at his lyric-writing tasks, but the number of his songs that remain instantly familiar confirms his brilliance as well as his successes. It seems as if Mercer could handle anything, from the song termed by Lessack the most romantic song he’d ever heard, “Out of This World,” to “The Atchison, Topeka and the Sante Fe” and “Jeepers, Creepers” or “Pineapple Pete,” a novelty song with Lessack accompanying himself on the “fluke,” a first cousin to a ukelele.

Lessack is clearly enamored with Mercer.  His patter was engaging, light and interesting. He’s got a mellifluous voice, and he persuasively delivers the lyrics with both appreciation and understanding.  No cabaret show could present all Mercer’s hits, even with a break for dinner, but Lessack included many.  “Black Magic,” “My Shining Hour,” “Dream,” “Moon River,” and others.  Most impressive was Lessack’s immersion in each song’s lyrics.  He effectively communicated the anger in “I Wanna Be Around,” the wistfulness of “I Thought About You,” the mystical quality of “Laura,” the playfulness of “Too Marvelous for Words.”  From beginning to Lessack’s closer, a Mercer/Henry Mancini medley of Academy Award winners, Too Marvelous For Words presented songs and a show to prize.  To paraphrase the Irving Berlin tune, the music has ended, but the memory lingers on.

Too Marvelous For Words plays again at the Metropolitan Room on Sunday, June 14th.  It moves to San Francisco’s Rrazz Room, with Linda Purl co-starring, for three nights beginning November 23^rd.

Peter Leavy
Cabaret Scenes
June 8, 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org