Where in the world would cabaret performing in New York be without the contributions of Jan Wallman, the “Godmother of Cabaret,” and Chris Barrett, one of its “favorite sons”?

In his-first ever performance at Don’t Tell Mama, presented by Ms. Wallman, Barrett showed us why he has endured in this fragile genre for so long. There is something about him that brings to mind a combination of the blues-inspired saloon singer Hugh Shannon and the big band singer turned entertainment media mogul, Merv Griffin. In the tradition, he appears capable of singing all night if asked to and my guess is he would do it joyfully with a broad, twinkling smile and Griffin-esque charm.

His years of polished performances in many of the most prestigious rooms in this country and abroad enabled him to recover from a few insignificant slip-ups that might have derailed a less experienced performer. So solid is his vocal technique that a drooping microphone never threatened his interpretation of one of the many autumnal selections. Clearly, the show's title, Mercer and Manilow's "When October Goes," is one of his favorites and his reading was appropriately timely and melancholic. Two other songs stood out: "The Colors of My Life" (Stewart/Coleman), which he related to his own love for color and, one suspects, his overall colorful life perspective, and a beautiful, somewhat obscure Sammy Cahn/Jimmy Van Heusen song, “September of My Years,” that was particularly poignant and lovely in his voice.

It's a pleasure to have Chris Barrett performing in NYC this fall and he should be more than welcomed back in any other season he chooses.

Lynn DiMenna
Cabaret Scenes
October 15, 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org