Absent from New York for too long, Paula West returned to town to present her special brand of jazz in a concert setting at the 92nd Street Y’s Kaufman Auditorium. Perfor-ming strongly with her, sometimes as group backup, some- times in individual dynamic solos, was the George Mester- hazy Quartet, featuring Mesterhazy, Paula’s long-time accompanist, on keyboard, Ed Cherry on guitar, Paul Beaudry on bass, and Jerome Jennings on percussion.

At ease at the center of the broad stage, West seemed to fill it with her presence, sometimes stretching out her arms, sometimes moving in and out of the microphone, always in contact with the audience. Her varied program included many of her fans’ favorites, such as “Waters of March” (Antonio Carlos Jobim), “I’m in Love Again” (Cole Porter), and four by Rodgers and Hart: “Have You Met Miss Jones?”; “My Romance”; “Lover”; and “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered.” Two of Bob Dylan’s songs, “Don’t Thik Twice, It’s All Right” and “Like a Rolling Stone,” were delivered with a warmth and smoothness that made it seem as if they were written for her. Back on hand was her rendition of “The Snake” (Oscar Brown, Jr.) in a richer interpretation than in earlier outings.

Members of the band took solos on several songs: Beaudry on bass with a dynamic fast break on “Lover,” and Jennings on a long, intricate, pulsing interpretation of Eden Ahbez’s “Nature Boy.” Throughout, the obvious musical rapport between West, center stage, and Mesterhazy and the band surrounding her, added a glow to the show.

Peter Haas
Cabaret Scenes
November 19, 2011
www.cabaretscenes.org