The seven-year hiatus between Paul Bernhardt's shows obviously have not dulled a strong stage presence. To the room full of followers who had diligently reappeared two nights after the blizzard-caused postponement of Berhardt’s original performance, their post-snow return to the Metropolitan Room seemed well rewarded.

Bernhardt is an appealing baritone whose jazz bent is evident in his phrasing, his active body language and his occasional submersion into the music—almost as if he and his band were the only ones in the room. Not surprisingly, he was at his most trenchant with the blues, notably Oscar Brown, Jr. and Nat Adderley's “Work Song,” as well as several standards that were given equally poignant renditions, including “Send in the Clowns” and “One for My Baby (And One More for the Road).”

That penchant for the blues notwithstanding, Bernhart is not a one-note player. While his long suit was sharing emotions with his musical storytelling, his renditions of “Don't Deny Me" ("satisfy me") and “Your Mind is on Vacation” were spirited. His delivery and some good-natured, half-amusing/half amused vocals evoked reminiscences of Dean Martin in the Rat Pack days.

Don Rebic was Musical Director and pianist, amply aided by Tom Hubbard on bass, who paired brilliantly with Bernhardt on “Work Song,” George Kormendi on guitar, and one of the happiest drummers I've run across, Dan Gross, who cheerfully grinned while playing his way through the entire show. J-P Perreaux was the agile hand on lights and sound.

One area needed more consideration. Bernhardt included a couple of patter songs, but the rapid lyrics on which the songs depended got lost in their frenetic rendition. Slowing them down might help, or putting them back in the piano bench to make room for a couple of replacements might be an even better choice.

Peter Leavy
Cabaret Scenes
February 12, 2010
www.cabaretscenes.org