Less is more.

Pared down is the direction we’re going here. Musical Director/ pianist Jesse Gelber keeps the other instrumentalists—Doug Largent (bass), Kevin Dorn (drums), Nick Russo (guitar), Alan Gruber (violin), along with the singular Julian Yeo himself—moving with swaying, undulating hips (ours if not theirs), unerringly carrying us with South-of-the-bossa nova rhythms unfettered through this CD. Seductive ornamentation on the piano and golden-earring work on strings only underscore the clutterless Yeo approach to vocals.

One is tempted to defer his style to some European influence or—excuse please—Far Eastern inscrutable exotica, but I think it is all Julian’s internal, well-designed, controlled style outwardly expressed.

It is difficult, unnecessary really, to single out any one number for either criticism or praise. The song palette—including Porter, Berlin, Loesser, Weill & Nash—is smartly chosen and arranged in muted tones all of a piece. When everything is said and done, we have a happening.

No applause please: just a quiet smile.

Noah Tree
Cabaret Scenes
May 2010
www.cabaretscenes.org