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October Return of: "I'm a Brass Band":- Jim Speake At Don’t Tell Mama--- October 12 (4 PM) and October 20, 23 (both at 7 pm) This review of Jim Speake’s show was written some months ago by Jan Wallman in the initial run of this act when it played at another venue. Its October engagement is at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 West 46 Street.
At 2:30 PM on a Saturday afternoon, the houselights dimmed and plunged the Metropolitan Room into darkness to allow Jim Speake and his musicians to get in place on the stage to present I’m a Brass Band, a tribute to songwriter Cy Coleman. When the stage lights came up, they centered on Speake sitting on the piano! I have always disapproved of this use of a defenseless musical instrument. My first thought was, "How did you get yourself trapped into this assignment, Jan? You're going to hate this show!" But after a few bars, this completely- unknown-to-me--- but very attractive and well-dressed --- man climbed down from his perch on the Yamaha, greeted his audience and proceeded to deliver one of the best programs of its kind that this reviewer has seen in a long while! All the elements came into play: There’s the comfortable venue, the inspired Steven Ray Watkins Trio (with Fred Kennedy drums, and Matt Wigton on bass), those great Cy Coleman hit tunes written with some of the cleverest lyricists of their day (Dorothy Fields, Carolyn Leigh, to name a couple), lights and sound by Michael Barbieri, direction by Lennie Watts and this ingratiating performer- what more can an audience ask for?
With a minimum of talk, most of it utterly charming and to the point, Speake, a captivating Southern gentleman who has morphed into a sophisticated urbane New Yorker, gave us a show to remember. Culled from Coleman's best songs written over several decades, first for his own jazz trio, and pop/jazz singers (think Sinatra and "Witchcraft") to a string of Broadway shows in later years, notably Sweet Charity and Barnum. These songs celebrated the career of one of the high priest composers of the Great American Song Book.
Speake has a strong emotional connection to this material, all of it top drawer. High points were the Carolyn Leigh section where he sang the lesser known but utterly delightful "I Walk A Little Faster" and, for me, a definitive version of "The Rules of the Road," a number that has been done a lot, but never better. Then, he moved on to Dorothy Fields (Sweet Charity): a rousing exercise of "I'm a Brass Band" and entreated us to "Come Follow the Band" written with Mike Stewart for Barnum. I swear to you that if the trio led by Jim Speake had marched off the stage playing this stirring piece, the entire audience would have marched along out to West 22 Street with him. This was truly exhilarating Cabaret and we can hope to see and hear more of Jim Speake. (Editor’s Note: Well, folks, now you can! See dates above.)
Don’t Tell Mama, where the act is seen this October, is on Restaurant Row, 343 West 46 Street, between Eighth and Ninth Avenues. Phone number for reservations is 212-757-0788. There is a $15 cover charge and a two-drink minimum. MAC/AEA/Cabaret Hotline discounts apply to cover charge. Cash only. More on this singer at www.JimSpeake.com
October Return of: "I'm a Brass Band":- Jim Speake At Don’t Tell Mama--- October 12 (4 PM) and October 20, 23 (both at 7 pm) This review of Jim Speake’s show was written some months ago by Jan Wallman in the initial run of this act when it played at another venue. Its October engagement is at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 West 46 Street.
