Esther Bennett and Helen Theophanous make a good pairing in a show focused on the songs of Duncan Lamont, which included the songwriter and extremely gifted saxophonist amongst the band.  Bennett has a more edgy quality to her voice, while Theophanous is a smoothie, with deliciously warm, clear tones, and this gave us some very nice vocal variety.

I’m not all that familiar with Lamont’s songs, but was delighted to learn more about him tonight.  He’s definitely a songwriter cabaret and jazz artists should seek out.  His songs tell wonderful stories and are highly listenable.

Our first glimpse of Lamont was Bennett’s gritty bossa version of “Such Pretty People,” a song which felt as if it could have come directly out of Sondheim’s Company.  Bennett nailed the bitter sarcasm of the song perfectly and I particularly liked the ending with just voice and bass, mirroring the loneliness of those sad, pretty people.

Theophanous then flexed her vocal chops and treated us to a wonderfully rich “Lullaby of Birdland,” with some truly terrific scatting.  She showed us a completely different side of Lamont with his very sweet and winsome “You Were Born to Smile,” and the simple yet deeply emotional, “Just Another Sunday,” which had us hanging on her every word.  However, she really knocked our socks off with her frantic samba version of “Caravan,” which is still in my head.  I kind of wish Theophanous had really let go on the vocals, taking the song an octave up, and belting some high notes, which I know she can do.  THAT would have brought the house down.

Bennett’s own song, “Please Save Me,” was a highlight to the evening. However, the Latin version of “Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be?)” didn’t work vocally at all.  Musically, it was a treat, and John Crawford’s piano solo was truly amazing, but those lyrics just don’t fit a speedy Latin rhythm.  The song lost all its internal pathos, and Bennett seemed like a crazed psychotic singing that arrangement.

An unexpected guest was another highlight of the evening when Mandy Bell gave us a smoking hot “Moondance.”  Theophanous’s favorite Lamont song, “I Didn’t Know You at All,” was the best of the night for me, although her funky version of “Sunny” came a close second.

The duo was given terrific musical support by Crawford on piano, Simon Little on bass, Steve Taylor on drums, and Lamont on tenor sax.  Each musician performed a myriad of truly fabulous solos throughout the evening – far too many to mention individually.

One big beef.  I spend much of my time complaining that jazz singers are too internal and don’t connect enough with the audience, but here’s a situation where there was too much connection.  By the second set, Bennett began to babble and take time away from the music, which really got up my nose at some point.  I felt cheated musically, particularly when the owner asked for the duo to end the show before the song list was completed.

I was very happy to have discovered the Map Café.  It’s an intimate bôite in a part of London I don’t often get to, but I’ll definitely be back.  There’s a really nice atmosphere to the place, and the carrot cake is almost worth the trip alone!

Harold Sanditen
Cabaret Scenes
September 6, 2012
www.cabaretscenes.org