Anthony Santelmo Jr created an "Imaginary Ballroom" bringing us back to a time when woman wore wrist corsages and men opened car doors. He entered the Beechman stage resplendent in a white dinner jacket and bow tie surrounded by Maestro Barry Levitt on piano with his "small orchestra" consisting of Rob Thomas on Violin, Bob Magnuson on Sax, Clarinet & Flute, Brian Grice on Drums, Morrie Lowden on Bass, and Robby Kirshoff on Guitars, Banjo. The two "upfront singers" were Stephanie Roberts and Rebecca Weiner who added harmonies to the mix. Anthony met Ford Winter in 1999 when they were both in a production of Guys & Dolls in Bridgeport, Connecticut and Ford showed him some of the songs that he had written. Anthony's longtime accompanist Nan Butcher "painstakingly transcribed" and arranged some of the songs which was included in every one of Anthony's shows. This was the release celebration of the CD of the same name with sixteen of Ford Winter's songs. Anthony is a strong classical singer with a beautiful and powerful voice and the songs are reminiscent of a time when crooners fronted big bands, albeit with an operatic touch. The ballad, "When I First Loved You" is the first song that Winter wrote and the country style song "Breakin' Hearts Again" was fun and bouncy. Kudos to Barry Levitt for his brilliant arrangements and orchestrations creating a great variety among the tunes which, in lesser hands, could have sounded alike. A moving "My Little Room"—with just piano and violin—was a tribute to Nan Butcher as she sat in her studio making music with her students. "The Good Old Days" was the song that summed up the evening with a fine singer at the helm, listening to lovely music and fine lyrics, bringing us all back to a bygone romantic era.
Linda Amiel Burns
Cabaret Scenes
May 22, 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org
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