In “the city that never sleeps” (at least until later), even on the frigid night of Valentine’s Day, it was a sold-out midnight special by Broadway’s Lillias White, currently in Fela! Down the road a piece on Broadway, The Iridium welcomed loose- as-a-goose Lillias who strutted, sashayed and sang her Valentine heart out with energy and voice to burn as we burned the midnight oil with her. Demonstrating deep tones and jazz chops/ scat occasionally recalling Sarah Vaughan (and Dinah Washington whom she played in the stage piece Dinah Was), she was more than just the belting Broadway bombast. Songs from The Great White Way did not dominate but all were done in the great White’s way of personalizing—or, rather owning—everything, no matter the style. “Besame Mucho” had a slow Latin intensity and there were bluesy numbers, playful comedy pieces, a serious entry into the dark despair of “The Man That Got Away” and basking in the glow of contentment with “I’m Just a Lucky So-and-So.”

At ease with her audience and quintet of musicians, encouraging their response, Lillias has a ready laugh and alternates between personas of an ageless, wise, warm earth mother and red hot mama. Generous of spirit, her generous-length show showed no signs of petering out in its energy (likewise the vociferous crowd) by the time she got to the perhaps inevitable encore of “My Funny Valentine,” singing, “Stay, little Valentine, stay.” She’d be welcome to stay and stay for more.

Rob Lester
Cabaret Scenes
February 14, 2010
www.cabaretscenes.org