After her SRO shows at Feinstein’s at Loews Regency in the fall celebrating the release of her new album, Speak Love to Me, inter-national beauty and en-gaging chanteuse Yanna Avis is on a roll. The CD captures this beguiling lady, who is all about illusions and romance, in a manner that is as unconventional as it is compelling.

Singing in her trademark breathy voice, La Chanteuse, as she is known to her fans, offers one of the best quality cabaret albums of the year. She does this with the help of a superb team of craftsmen starting with musical directors/arrangers Lee Musiker and Jeffrey Zahn. Tedd Firth is also a part of the album on “Mon ménage à moi.” The rest of the ensemble of top-notch professionals includes David Finck and Jay Leonhart on bass, Warren Odze on drums, Jay Berliner on guitar, Jim Sapporito on percusssion, Warren Vaché on trumpet/cornet, Lou Marini on flute, Harry Allen on saxophone, Ken Peplowski on clarinet, Angelo DiPippo on accordion with Antoine Silverman on violin. It was all supervised by legendary producer Jim Czak and Bill Moss at Nola Studios. There’s hardly been a better professional effort since Dietrich teamed with Burt Bacharach. No matter how you put it, the album is a sterling example of olde world cabaret in the 21st century.

The sophisticated disc is brimming with distingué highlights. As always, Mme. Avis sings in several languages, including French, German, Spanish and Italian. This only adds to the urgency and seduction of the well-crafted songs of lust. While there are many highlights, particular standouts include torrid readings on Cole Porter’s steamy “Love for Sale,” a sexy “Sway” (English and Spanish,) a rhapsodic “Mon ménage à moi” (French) and a tender “The Shadow of Your Smile,” capping off this romantic journey by a foxy femme fatale who deserves more attention.

John Hoglund
Cabaret Scenes
January/February 2010
www.cabaretscenes.org