Cabaret Scenes Review - Karen Oberlin

Beginning a new 2010 Ritz Supper Club season, Jeffrey C. Williams, host of the radio show At The Ritz! (heard Saturdays on WVOF’s, 88.5 FM and continuously on www.attheritz.org), followed his earlier hugely successful presentation of Tony DeSare and introduced rising star Karen Oberlin to a savvy and appreciative Fairfield County audience gathered at Cinzano’s of Fairfield in Connecticut.

Looking lovely and lacey in a becoming black sheath, Ms. Oberlin, along with pianist Jon Weber, opened with the Duke Ellington/Bob Russell jazz standard, “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.” Contrary to the song’s lyrics, she’s been getting around plenty, having recently concluded a three-week engagement at the famed Oak Room in the Algonquin Hotel. On this evening, she included several of the songs from her tribute to the great Frank Loesser. “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve” and “Hamlet” were three of his masterpieces that suited Oberlin’s elegantly astute yet playful interpretations.

Oberlin shines on ballads and her reading of “How Are Things in Glocca Morra” resulted in audible “oohs” and “aahs” from listeners who were obviously impressed by the clarity of her diction and the deep connection to the story she was telling. Perched on top of the piano, she brought a breath of fresh air to a medley of two other Loesser ballads, “Heart and Soul” and “I Wish I Didn’t Love You So.”

As good as these ballads were, the real highlight of her set was a song by Joni Mitchell, “A Case of You,” that she said was one of her all-time favorites. Open to numerous interpretations, the song is generally about the bittersweet nature of love and our willingness and preparedness to accept the “bitter” along with the ”better.” In Oberlin’s silky soprano voice, it’s a sweeter version than you’d perhaps hear from Tori Amos, k.d. Lang or Mitchell herself, but soulful nevertheless.

The Ritz Supper Club series will also include Christine Pedi, Eric Comstock and Barbara Fasano, and Will & Anthony Nunziata. Mr. Williams remains committed to presenting New York-style cabaret entertainment with the convenience and affordability that a Fairfield County venue provides.

The season is off to an excellent start!

Lynn DiMenna
Cabaret Scenes
October 30, 2010
www.cabaretscenes.org



	Karen Oberlin The Ritz Supper Club Fairfield, CT
Beginning a new 2010 Ritz Supper Club season, Jeffrey C. Williams, host of the radio show At The Ritz! (heard Saturdays on WVOF’s, 88.5 FM and continuously on www.attheritz.org), followed his earlier hugely successful presentation of Tony DeSare and introduced rising star Karen Oberlin to a savvy and appreciative Fairfield County audience gathered at Cinzano’s of Fairfield in Connecticut. Looking lovely and lacey in a becoming black sheath, Ms. Oberlin, along with pianist Jon Weber, opened with the Duke Ellington/Bob Russell jazz standard, “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.” Contrary to the song’s lyrics, she’s been getting around plenty, having recently concluded a three-week engagement at the famed Oak Room in the Algonquin Hotel. On this evening, she included several of the songs from her tribute to the great Frank Loesser. “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve” and “Hamlet” were three of his masterpieces that suited Oberlin’s elegantly astute yet playful interpretations. Oberlin shines on ballads and her reading of “How Are Things in Glocca Morra” resulted in audible “oohs” and “aahs” from listeners who were obviously impressed by the clarity of her diction and the deep connection to the story she was telling. Perched on top of the piano, she brought a breath of fresh air to a medley of two other Loesser ballads, “Heart and Soul” and “I Wish I Didn’t Love You So.” As good as these ballads were, the real highlight of her set was a song by Joni Mitchell, “A Case of You,” that she said was one of her all-time favorites. Open to numerous interpretations, the song is generally about the bittersweet nature of love and our willingness and preparedness to accept the “bitter” along with the ”better.” In Oberlin’s silky soprano voice, it’s a sweeter version than you’d perhaps hear from Tori Amos, k.d. Lang or Mitchell herself, but soulful nevertheless. The Ritz Supper Club series will also include Christine Pedi, Eric Comstock and Barbara Fasano, and Will & Anthony Nunziata. Mr. Williams remains committed to presenting New York-style cabaret entertainment with the convenience and affordability that a Fairfield County venue provides. The season is off to an excellent start! Lynn DiMenna Cabaret Scenes October 30, 2010 www.cabaretscenes.org

Karen Oberlin

The Ritz Supper ClubFairfield, CT

The Ritz Supper Club
Fairfield, CT