Cabaret Scenes Review - Carig Pomranz

Everyone talks about the weather, but does nothing about it — except Craig Pomranz, who’s singing about it in a bright and … er, breezy fashion.

And not just weather, but the link between weather and love — a combination that finds its way into a surprising number of songs, including the little-heard opener that could have been written as a theme song for this show: Irving Berlin’s “Love and the Weather.” (Sample lyric: “Love and the weather/Birds of a feather/Can’t be depended upon.”)

But audiences can always depend on Pomranz, a master showman who brings boyish enthusiasm and sublime emotion to all his performances. Blessed with a multi-octave range, he sings in a way that defines cabaret art. Whether crooning the haunting “Blackberry Winter” (Alec Wilder/Loonis McGlohon) or singing a sultry “Ill Wind” (Harold Arlen/Ted Koehler), he is able again and again to grab and hold an audience with the beauty of his voice, causing many listeners to let out soft, deep sighs as his final notes fade out.

In fact, the evening is a series of brilliant arrangements — devised by the singer and his musical director and pianist, Stephen Bocchino — that are always a hallmark of Pomranz’s shows. So it seems appropriate that Pomranz should share so much of the spotlight with Bocchino —through verbal exchanges, instrumental solos or vocal duets, none better in this show than their collaboration on Neil Sedaka and Phil Cody’s “Laughter in the Rain.”

The show also included a brilliant and oh-so-logical medley of two Arlen/Koehler songs: “Stormy Weather” and “When the Sun Comes Out” — the first sung gently, with the “stormy” power of Pomranz’s voice held in check, the latter sung with the full power of which that voice is capable.

Another highlight was the pairing of the usually light-hearted, up-tempo “I Found a Million Dollar Baby (IN a Five and Ten Cent Store)” (Billy Rose/Mort Dixon/Harry Warren), slowed to a smooth, gentle stroll, combined with a lovely take on “My Blue Heaven” (George Whiting/Walter Donaldson).

The show — directed by Ron Cohen — closed on a quiet note: Noël Coward’s gentle, poignant “Come the Wild, Wild Weather” from a show called Waiting in the Wings. And, for an encore, Pomranz sang the always welcome “Rain Sometimes” (Arthur Hamilton) in an emotional tribute to Effie Joy, a Gardenia regular who died in early July.

Elliot Zwiebach
Cabaret Scenes
July 20, 2011
www.cabaretscenes.org



	Craig Pomranz Love and the Weather Tom Rolla's Gardenia Hollywood, CA
Everyone talks about the weather, but does nothing about it — except Craig Pomranz, who’s singing about it in a bright and … er, breezy fashion. And not just weather, but the link between weather and love — a combination that finds its way into a surprising number of songs, including the little-heard opener that could have been written as a theme song for this show: Irving Berlin’s “Love and the Weather.” (Sample lyric: “Love and the weather/Birds of a feather/Can’t be depended upon.”) But audiences can always depend on Pomranz, a master showman who brings boyish enthusiasm and sublime emotion to all his performances. Blessed with a multi-octave range, he sings in a way that defines cabaret art. Whether crooning the haunting “Blackberry Winter” (Alec Wilder/Loonis McGlohon) or singing a sultry “Ill Wind” (Harold Arlen/Ted Koehler), he is able again and again to grab and hold an audience with the beauty of his voice, causing many listeners to let out soft, deep sighs as his final notes fade out. In fact, the evening is a series of brilliant arrangements — devised by the singer and his musical director and pianist, Stephen Bocchino — that are always a hallmark of Pomranz’s shows. So it seems appropriate that Pomranz should share so much of the spotlight with Bocchino —through verbal exchanges, instrumental solos or vocal duets, none better in this show than their collaboration on Neil Sedaka and Phil Cody’s “Laughter in the Rain.” The show also included a brilliant and oh-so-logical medley of two Arlen/Koehler songs: “Stormy Weather” and “When the Sun Comes Out” — the first sung gently, with the “stormy” power of Pomranz’s voice held in check, the latter sung with the full power of which that voice is capable. Another highlight was the pairing of the usually light-hearted, up-tempo “I Found a Million Dollar Baby (IN a Five and Ten Cent Store)” (Billy Rose/Mort Dixon/Harry Warren), slowed to a smooth, gentle stroll, combined with a lovely take on “My Blue Heaven” (George Whiting/Walter Donaldson). The show — directed by Ron Cohen — closed on a quiet note: Noël Coward’s gentle, poignant “Come the Wild, Wild Weather” from a show called Waiting in the Wings. And, for an encore, Pomranz sang the always welcome “Rain Sometimes” (Arthur Hamilton) in an emotional tribute to Effie Joy, a Gardenia regular who died in early July. Elliot Zwiebach Cabaret Scenes July 20, 2011 www.cabaretscenes.org

Craig Pomranz

Love and the Weather

Tom Rolla's Gardenia Hollywood, CA

Tom Rolla's Gardenia
Hollywood, CA