Beginning a new season of monthly outdoor concerts to celebrate the alleged arrival of spring in New York City, one of the better days in an often rainy and cold period was the lucky luck of the draw to draw a nice crowd at the garden in the residences across from the United Nations. The series has always brought established cabaret performers and Great American Songbook standards. This time, they thought outside the (flower) box with the theme of “Folk Singers/Songwriters Take the Park!” and veteran folkies Danny Quinn and Buskin & Batteau brought refreshingly rootsy (and with the duo, occasionally cutesy!) songs. The series, produced by—and always featuring—singer Raissa Katona Bennett had its opener named for Tom Paxton’s cautionary song. She led this one, with the appropriately serious, lamenting, haunting tone. Her husband, just-blooming “cabaret newcomer” plastic surgeon Dr. Garrett Bennett gave the evening a different kind of lift than he usually performs by singing and playing guitar on a couple of affecting original songs, in a sweet-voiced, sincere manner.

In solo moments and in the ensemble (in folk tradition, team work/sitting in was frequent), guitarist Sean Harkness and bass player Ritt Henn were added pleasures. The Ritt wit was on full display with quips and funny songs. A sometime collaborator of his, Mary Liz McNamara also added humor with “Haiku” and Raissa riotously relished “Bacon” a McNamara MAC-winning song.

With free admission, great music in the great outdoors—and raffle prizes(!) what’s not to like?

Rob Lester
Cabaret Scenes
May 5, 2010
www.cabaretscenes.org