“Sometimes it seems like I’ve spent my entire adult life in piano bars,” said Heather Sullivan.  If saloons are the boot camp of cabaret singers, Sullivan must have graduated as a full colonel.  Focusing on songs of the “piano girls” – Laura Nyro, Joni Mitchell and Carole King, she gave a brief nod to Billy Joel’s “Piano Man” before shifting her attention to abundantly talented women, and the audience loved it.

Central to her program were Caroel King’s huge hits, all from Tapestry, an album which has sold 40 million copies.  So well did her fans (including several family members) know the words to “I Feel the Earth Move,” “It’s Too Late ” and “So Far Away,” that the response lines were audible, causing Sullivan to feign annoyance – “Hey, it’s my show!”

“Angel,” written by Ms. Sullivan for the “man in black,” was prompted by a chance meeting with a long-ago patron of a piano bar who was taken with her singing on one of the worst days of his life.  She performed the poignant song with much tenderness, effectively transporting the listener to that time.  Unlike “Moon River” and “Over the Rainbow,” which were almost excised from Breakfast at Tiffany’s and The Wizard of Oz, respectively, Sullivan’s “Autumn Rain” wasn’t as lucky, eliminated from a Richard Gere/Winona Ryder movie, Autumn in New York, at the eleventh hour.  Nevertheless, this beautiful song needs to be heard.

There were many bright gems scattered through the delightful show.  Elizabeth Sullivan, Heather’s mother and a voice teacher/singer of some renown, joined with her daughter in “Chimes,” a heartwarming story song written by the elder Sullivan, who is evidently the muse behind those of her children who perform.  The younger Sullivan, who accompanied herself on all but two numbers, received strong support from Mark Peterson on bass guitar, with her for ten years, and John DiGuilio on drums, both of whom are exceptional musicians.

Daryl Sherman, a popular New York-based singer/pianist, played and sang with Sullivan on “Peel Me a Grape,” a hilarious tune written by David Frishberg and immortalized by Blossom Dearie. The arrangement was appropriately cool and hip, the hysterical laugh line split between Sherman – “When I say do it,” and Sullivan – “jump to it!”

“Big Yellow Taxi,” Joni Mitchell’s best-known anthem, was performed a cappella by Sullivan, the song every bit as exhilarating as when it was first heard forty years ago.  Her country-tinged voice was perfect for the famous tune and she had fun with it, drifting into the audience while absorbing the high-spirited energy.  One of the finest moments came near the end, a fresh and innovative rendition of “My Way,” perhaps one of the most recorded songs of all time.  Inspired by Nina Simone’s extraordinarily emotion laden version, Sullivan imbued the familiar lyrics with a deep sense of urgency that held us in awe until the very last note.

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