The exotically named Boston-based Follen Angels consists of a traditional stand up singer backed up with a quartet, performing traditional Gershwin and Porter tunes.  Many successful shows are possible consisting of old chestnuts, but one would have expected Follen Angels to go a bit deeper into the repertoire.

Leading the band was vocalist Hildy Grossman, with Rieko Tanaka on piano/vocals, Kenneth W. Dantzig on drums, Rick Stone on sax/clarinet and Nicholas Thibault on bass.

The attractive singer fronted with a pleasant, dark-hued voice.  Much of her patter was educational, with a few good stories about the Gershwins and Porter.  The song list included “My Heart Belongs to Daddy,” “The Man I Love,” and “I Love Paris,” with none of the rarer pieces in earshot.

Ms. Grossman promised arrangements of such originality that they would have had Cole Porter “spinning in his grave.”  Actually the arrangements were pretty standard although, if handled with panache, could have succeeded.  In an example of “Bands Gone Wild” the drums and horns ran amuck, undermining her chances of shining; the most grievous case being the excruciatingly loud drum.  The horn player had quite a bit of facility, but became tiring as he had a disproportionally large percentage of solos in most tunes, while the pianist and none and the bass player only one, getting his solo in the encore.

The best moments of the evening were Tanaka harmonizing with Hildy on a couple of duets. Beautiful music was made but Ms. Tanaka was sorely under-utilized as was the promising bassist.  It is up to Grossman to take charge and make sure her band is balanced and musical.  This can be a real challenge, but she might be up to it.  She could then focus more internally on the lyrics and support her voice with relaxed concentration.

All in all, many of the “pieces” where there but requiring a better “roadmap” to link them together for success.

Melody Breyer-Grell
Cabaret Scenes
May 30, 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org