Amanda McBroom grew up in Hollywood, the daughter of actor David Bruce, the studio lots her playground. Plenty of fertile material for a would-be singer/songwriter. Starting with her own recollections (“Growing Up in Hollywood Town”) and moving through to her first tastes of movie musicals (Irving Berlin’s 1954 “The Best Things Happen While You’re Dancing” and 1938’s “Change Partners”) to her stunningly beautiful tribute to run-down Hollywood actress Mary MacLaren (“Wheels”), McBroom breathes life and genuine sincerity into the music.

Expressing lyrics is second nature to McBroom, as one would expect from a gifted songwriter.  Versions of “The Rose,” “Dance’ and her loving portrait of her father, “Errol Flynn,” are stories that universally tug at our collective heartstrings.  Her lovely contralto is backed by Musical Director/arranger/pianist Shelly Markham and Daniel Fabricant on bass. McBroom sings Jerome Kern/Dorothy Fields (“The Way You Look Tonight”), Sammy Cahn/Jimmy Van Heusen (“Love Is) The Tender Trap”) and the Harold Arlen/Ira Gershwin torch song “The Man That Got Away.” The latter, as well as Hoagy Carmichael’s suggestive blues “Baltimore Oriole” seemed out of McBroom’s wheelhouse, either lacking the pathos and anger of Man, and the sly innuendo and sexiness of “Oriole.”

Movie music has the ability to whisk us away to new worlds, old familiar emotions and comforting or challenging stories.  Who better to take us on that ride than Amanda McBroom?

Steve Murray
Cabaret Scenes
September 7, 2012
www.cabaretscenes.org