Rob Sutton’s recent Don’t Tell Mama show, “Not the Boy Next Door,” was not so much an autobiographical program as it was a deeply personal musical reverie on what it means to live an authentic, self-aware life. That theme was hinted at in the show’s …Read more

In her recent one-night show at 54 Below, Alexis Cole demonstrated vocal dexterity, solid musicianship and a willingness to range over a variety of sources for her material. Her technical delivery, whether in a soothing or upbeat contralto, was super …Read more

Other songbirds may warble sweeter notes than Brenda Braxton. Other raconteurs may spout wittier quips. But where rapport with an audience is concerned, Braxton is hard to beat. Braxton is, first and foremost, a good host—she knows how to share a mom …Read more

At The New York Pops’ Christmas 2014 concert, a young singer by the name of Arlo Hill practically stole the show from Kelli O’Hara and Matthew Morrison; performing a number called “Songs of Freedom: A Celebration of Chanukah”, the baritone’s voice fi …Read more

In her current show at 54 Below, “Stardust: A Night in the Cosmos,” Jennifer Sheehan gets lost in the stars, mostly in a good way. No fewer than sixteen full songs referring to the moon, planets, space exploration, and just plain old distant points o …Read more

In an email promoting his show “CHARLIE! Anything but Basic” at the Metropolitan Room, Charlie Johnson made a few rather grand claims. He described it as “a terrific new act” and added that he has a “unique performance style [that combines] classic c …Read more

When singer-pianist Robyn McCorquodale claims that her career has taken her to all seven continents, you may wonder who, exactly, comprised her audience in Antarctica. Emperor penguins? It all makes better sense when she explains that she has worked …Read more

During her Frank Sinatra tribute at 54 Below, Marilyn Maye explained that she was not there to give us a biographical account of Ol’ Blue Eyes, “I’m here to sing the songs” she continued, “that’s where I live!”, and indeed, it’s the songs where the l …Read more

More than enough words have been spent remarking on gay men’s fascination with Judy Garland. But though Garland herself left the world nearly a half century ago, enthusiasm for her among this particular demographic seems to be stubbornly alive—that i …Read more

A New York legend by all means, Julie Halston has become synonymous with show business; having appeared on stage, film and television she simply seems to have done it all. And yet, she is constantly on the move. In 2015 alone she appeared onstage in …Read more