From the subtle kitsch of his shiny jacket with bejeweled buttons to his dashing mustache, Philip Fortenberry is the image of an entertainer unafraid of showing off his many musical talents. Give My Regards… is Fortenberry’s life story in song. Born in a small town in Mississippi, he displayed uncanny pianistic talents at age five. His technical virtuosity took him from entertaining at church socials and amateur piano recitals to working with the leading lights of Broadway including Flaherty & Ahrens, Andersson & Ulvaeus and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Starting off with Liberace’s humorous take on “Chopsticks,” he graduated to real classics—a Chopin Étude, Khatchaturian’s “Sabre Dance” and Lacuona’s “Malagueña” with stops at a rock version of Beethoven’s Fifth—and a number of songs from the musicals he worked on including Ragtime, Seussical (both by Flaherty & Ahrens with whom he had a close professional relationship), and a quick bomb, Cleavage, for which he wrote the music. (Its poster probably proudly hangs on the wall at Joe Allen’s.)

Mr. Fortenberry always skirted over-sentimentality with his direct, honest, almost boyish personality and superb technique, even when dedicating numbers to the victims of 9/11. He gave a fresh spin to a medley of Rodgers and Hammerstein chestnuts. He also joined Lennon’s “Imagine” with “Over the Rainbow,” somehow making emotional sense of two songs from vastly different periods of songwriting.

Guest Franc D’Ambrosio—of Godfather III fame—sang a haunting “Danny Boy.”

A clever slide show presented photos from Fortenberry’s life as well as song titles, sheet music, posters from shows and images of New York City, adding clarity and color to the proceedings.

Philip Fortenberry not only has consummate style and technique, but also has charm, warmth and great enthusiasm for communicating the music he loves.

Joel Benjamin
Cabaret Scenes
January 8, 2011
www.cabaretscenes.org