Karen Oberlin is not the first popular singer to be trained in classical music; Judy Collins and Kristin Chenoweth are certainly among the best known.  The daughter of two classical musicians, Oberlin made her opera debut at the age of six and, in her teenage years she migrated to leading a rock band.  Eventually, she discovered the Great American Songbook and became one of its best practitioners.

Having presented shows featuring the songs of Doris Day, Frank Loesser and Mickey Leonard, she came into Kitano with the Jon Weber Trio and addressed the music of songwriters as diverse as Harold Arlen, Vernon Duke, E.Y. Harburg, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Billy Strayhorn.

Oberlin’s song choices were as eclectic as their composers and lyricists, beginning with “The Shadow of Your Smile,” sung in a sultry, dreamy voice, which added poignant emphasis to lines such as “all the lovely things you are to me.”  Jon Weber played his first of several piano solos, underscoring the standard’s special appeal.  He has an impressive resumé, as do Sean Smith on bass and Russ Meissner on drums.  The fabulous trio connected to Oberlin and together they all seemed to be having fun and into pleasing the audience.

Perhaps anticipating the winter-like weather on an early spring night, Oberlin sang “Spring Will Be a Little Late This Year,” a holdover from last year’s Loesser show.  Her rendition of “April in Paris” was particularly good, especially since she performed the second verse in French.  An inspired aspect of the show was the inclusion of a Billy Strayhorn set which included a raucous “Just A-Sittin’ and A-Rockin’” (Strayhorn/Ellington/Gaines) and a hypnotizing “A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing.”

Karen Oberlin is a good storyteller.  Her voice is subtle, her phrasing is perfect and she communicates the meaning of the lyric and the feeling behind it.  If classical music, rock & roll and popular standards can combine to produce such a singer, who knows what future talents will emerge from all those piano lessons and garage bands?

Jerry Osterberg
Cabaret Scenes
March 23, 2011
www.cabaretscenes.org