Daniel Boys is sweet, cute and charming, with a lovely, lyric voice, and presents a sweet, cute and charming show. There’s no doubt it’s a good night out, but, for my money, it would have greatly benefited from some darker, edgier, perhaps fewer Glee-type songs as well as some more interesting arrangements. Overall, it was just a little too sweet for my taste. Also, stylistically, there seemed to be a similarity to most of his songs, and that, coupled with a breathy quality in Daniel’s voice, left the show feeling just a bit static to me.

Still, Daniel’s voice takes wing, and we’re drawn along with it and his enthusiastic good nature. My favorite songs of the evening were John Denver’s beautifully simple “Annie’s Song,” Anthony Drewe and George Stiles’s “They Don’t Make Glass Slippers,” Amy Foster-Gillies, Michael Bublé and Alan Chang’s “Everything” and John Bucchino’s “It Feels Like Home,” which could use some work on the phrasing to make it that bit more moving.

Daniel was provided with terrific support by Alan Dale (drums), Hugh Davis (bass), Dan Lewis (guitar) and Douglas White (piano). He was also joined by guest artist Jodie Jacobs, whose lovely voice helped keep the Glee atmosphere of the evening going. I have to ask, though, “What is it with “Taylor, the Latte Boy” lately?!! Does every woman have to sing that song nowadays?

Daniel can be seen on June 17 at Wilton’s Music Hall, London and on July 17 at Pizza Express, Maidstone.

Harold Sanditen
Cabaret Scenes
April 21, 2010
www.cabaretscenes.org