With a theatrical flair, Craig Pomranz has a history of shining the light on worthy songs usually only heard in intimate rooms today. With his latest CD, More Than a Seasonal Thing, he also proves that as everything changes, everything stays the same— especially when it comes to the four seasons.

The affable crooner, who made his first mark on the cabaret scene in the early 1980s, retains the strong, expressive voice that first gained him considerable attention. On this concept album he offers a wealth of those aforementioned worthy songs appropriating the four seasons as a throughline. The CD also includes some cozy cabaret-style patter, with mixed results. While Pomranz doesn’t venture deep into obscure territory, he has chosen some pleasant gems that make this a special album, clearly put together with a great ensemble team featuring Don Rebic or Stephen Bocchino on piano.

Some of the nuggets he has dug up are “seasonal” favorites like “Winter Wonderland,” “It Might as Well Be Spring,” “Autumn Leaves” and “Auld Lang Syne.” While these chestnuts are well sung, some readings call for more dynamics to avoid a sameness. He is clearly capable of this. On lesser-known gems, like the beautifully sung ”Night Song” from Golden Boy (Strouse/Adams), Pomranz is in his element proving what all the fuss was/is about. It also makes for one of the album’s best cuts. And Tom Culver’s trenchant “Forever Didn’t Last ‘Til Spring” takes him further into the land of the obscure and the results are riveting. Here, his voice takes on a richer texture and a simple, more elastic dynamism that complements the rich, warm tones which are his strength, ultimately making this CD a winner.

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