Besides the usual suspects, low-profile, high-quality places in NYC serve up good music, booming and blooming. The Baha’i Center in Greenwich Village regularly hosts concerts in a cozy auditorium. With two sets in this close-up set-up, up stepped veteran conductor/pianist/ composer/recording artist Russ Kassoff. Tight ensemble players took turns soling, duly credited, spotlighted and applauded; audiences can see the respectful, appreciative way they listened to each other. Down-to-earth bonhomie of our host/maestro made the atmosphere relaxed—with high-energy, brassy blasts and serene soaring. Frequent colleague, sparkling and so-smart singer Catherine Dupuis, was aboard. “I’ll be over here if you need me,” joked conductor Kassoff casually, moving just a few feet to allow her to take the stage. She warmed up “Indian Summer” with emotive, mature phrasing. In her comfort zone with “Too Close for Comfort,” close to the instrumentalists, they exchanged feisty, festive fits of joy. Catherine positively glowed with ebullience on “On the Street Where You Live,” clearly not the only one in the room to feel “several stories high.” It’s contagious.

Unflappingly alternating fluid piano-playing with in-command conducting thusly hands-off/hands-on, Kassoff likewise alternated between his originals (a moving “As Life Disappears”) and other choices, like “It Only Takes a Moment” (Hello, Dolly!) and “Oleo.” And among rock-solid players was that terrific trumpeter Glenn Drewes (“Drewes’ Blues” drew much applause). A standout for me was versatile, very attentive, super-sensational Kurt Basher, young lion among graying heads. A hand for the band! Bring back Catherine Dupuis! Maestro, take a bow!

Rob Lester
Cabaret Scenes
September 13, 2011
www.cabaretscenes.org