Victor Janusz delivered cool Seattle jazz as a welcome respite from the Desert’s triple digits as part of Les Michaels’ popular Sundays in Summer series. Accompanying himself with a soulful jazz hand, Janusz performed an offbeat set ranging from standards to Steely Dan to several of his innovative compositions.  Janusz took us on a vivid journey from his early days as a play-by-ear wunderkind who was “fired” by his piano teacher, to his years as house pianist for Nordstrom’s, to his bread and butter work at clubs, restaurants and weddings (154 and counting).  Relating tales of his multi-ethnic family (“the Polish-Mexican war never ends… it’s an unwinnable war”), he proved to be a masterful monologist, abetted by director Lori Larsen’s deft pacing.

Janusz is at once a laid-back and commanding stage presence.  His arrangements introduce unexpected chord progressions to back up his pleasing, mellow vocals.  Standouts included: “Give a Little More” by Dory and André Previn, which set up a nice anecdote about playing the song for André Previn who was wandering through Nordstrom; “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” (Dennis and Brian Wilson), with a clever rewrite about marriage equality; and a satisfying medley of two identically-titled wedding requests – “For All We Know” (Sam Lewis and Fred Coots, 1935 / Fred Karlin, Robb Wilson and Arthur James, 1971).

Janusz’s own “Guadalupe,” in which a young boy sees the family’s cleaning lady as his mother’s iconic Lady of Guadalupe, melds a catchy samba with a heartwarming story. “Born in a Tent,” which is reminiscent of Kurt Weill (lyrics by Janusz and Wade Madsen) is a fantasy instigated by watching the movie Trapeze on television.  “Mannequin Blues (Bored Some at Nordstrom)” is a comic gem. Savvy singers might want to add a Janusz composition to their repertoire.

Jerome Elliott
Cabaret Scenes
June 8, 2012
www.cabaretscenes.org