Cabaret Scenes CD Review

Safe to say that Neil Sedaka songs are as cool as a delicious Brighton Beach popsicle, or—in this musical outing—pop cycle, on a sunny ‘50s summer day. His deceptively simple, straightforward melodies, flourished with surprising filips of clever ornamentation, matched by unobfuscated lyrics—usually by his most frequent and best collaborator, Howard Greenfield—make their stories as clear as those cloudless seashore skies. And all were performed in the past perfectly by the composer himself. Who better? He was the best.

Would you settle for second best?

Second only in the sense that Jim Van Slyke is the first person to sing these songs as successfully as they were in the first place, any place, by any person.

Given the imprimatur of that very first person who duetted with him seamlessly on two offerings, “Brighton” and “The Immigrant” (both penned with Phil Cody), one is hard pressed to separate the two voices which virtually and virtuosically become one.
Though vocal similarities are eerily—in the good sense—evident throughout, Mr. Van Slyke has his own voice: a voice so captivating that the musical arrangements by Tim DiPasqua serve as deft shadow support for the singer, as ideally they should. With an ease of production, flexibility, evocative presentation that is perhaps a bit more seductively breathy than Neil’s perky, persistent, relentless joie de vivre (do they say that in Brighton? Nyet!), it is quite a pretty sound and sometimes, somehow, somewhat also emotionally reminiscent of Dusty Springfield.

Many of the chestnuts are here. “Solitaire” and “Laughter In the Rain” (Cody), or Sedaka/ Greenfield representations highlighted by “Love Will Keep Us Together” and “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do.” With Van Slyke’s help, this go-round, “Wish I Was a Carousel”/”One More Ride on the Merry-Go-Round” gets a nod and a wink and a whirl and—wheee!—takes a Brel-like turn quite well.

As far as these Sessions go, Jim Van Slyke snatches the brass ring—no, make that gold—every time he merrily comes ‘round.

Noah Tree
Cabaret Scenes
November 2011
www.cabaretscenes.org

Jim Van Slyke

The Sedaka Show

LML Music



	Jim Van Slyke The Sedaka Show LML Music
Safe to say that Neil Sedaka songs are as cool as a delicious Brighton Beach popsicle, or—in this musical outing—pop cycle, on a sunny ‘50s summer day. His deceptively simple, straightforward melodies, flourished with surprising filips of clever ornamentation, matched by unobfuscated lyrics—usually by his most frequent and best collaborator, Howard Greenfield—make their stories as clear as those cloudless seashore skies. And all were performed in the past perfectly by the composer himself. Who better? He was the best. Would you settle for second best? Second only in the sense that Jim Van Slyke is the first person to sing these songs as successfully as they were in the first place, any place, by any person. Given the imprimatur of that very first person who duetted with him seamlessly on two offerings, “Brighton” and “The Immigrant” (both penned with Phil Cody), one is hard pressed to separate the two voices which virtually and virtuosically become one. Though vocal similarities are eerily—in the good sense—evident throughout, Mr. Van Slyke has his own voice: a voice so captivating that the musical arrangements by Tim DiPasqua serve as deft shadow support for the singer, as ideally they should. With an ease of production, flexibility, evocative presentation that is perhaps a bit more seductively breathy than Neil’s perky, persistent, relentless joie de vivre (do they say that in Brighton? Nyet!), it is quite a pretty sound and sometimes, somehow, somewhat also emotionally reminiscent of Dusty Springfield. Many of the chestnuts are here. “Solitaire” and “Laughter In the Rain” (Cody), or Sedaka/ Greenfield representations highlighted by “Love Will Keep Us Together” and “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do.” With Van Slyke’s help, this go-round, “Wish I Was a Carousel”/”One More Ride on the Merry-Go-Round” gets a nod and a wink and a whirl and—wheee!—takes a Brel-like turn quite well. As far as these Sessions go, Jim Van Slyke snatches the brass ring—no, make that gold—every time he merrily comes ‘round. Noah Tree Cabaret Scenes November 2011 www.cabaretscenes.org