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Regional Reviews: San Francisco Meg Mackay, Billy Philadelphia, Russ Lorenson and Veronica Klaus are the Royalty of San Francisco Cabarets Also see Jeanie's review of Death of a Salesman and Richard's reviews of Nick & Nora and The Braggart Soldier, or Major Blowhard Four of San Francisco "singing treasures" recently performed in San Francisco cabarets and I was privileged to see all four in three separate venues. Meg Mackay and Billy Philadelphia at Society Cabaret Meg Mackay and Billy Philadelphia have been called the "the royal couple of cabaret" and they been have entertaining and delighting audiences in the Bay Area for many years. This incomparable couple has a balanced, focused act that never loses it way. Meg Mackay still has delightful velvety vocal cords while her husband and accompanist Billy Philadelphia has a unique raspy voice that borders on a Hoagy Carmichael style. He tickles the keyboards like no other pianist in the Bay Area. Meg and Billy presented an eclectic mix of seventeen songs from Broadway musicals, comedy songs, and standards from the American Songbook on March 27 at the Society Cabaret in the Hotel Rex. Opening the show was the perfect combination of the couple singing Irving Berlin's "You're Just in Love" from Call Me Madam. Meg sparkled in many of the songs solo, especially her hilarious renditions of Stephen Sondheim's "I Never Do Anything Twice (Madam's Song)" from the film Seven-Per-Cent-Solution and "Alto's Lament" by Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich. She beautifully sang with thematic resonance such songs as "It Might as Well Be Spring," "(You'd Be So) Easy to Love," "I've Got a Right to Sing the Blues," and "The Party's Over." Billy Philadelphia came into his own playing and singing with natural grace "I Don't Worry About a Thing," "Hard Hearted Hannah," and "New York State of Mind." He excelled playing and singing his own composition "Hereditary Rag" with words by Nancy Schmel. The couple ended their 80-minute gig singing a duet medley that featured such songs as "Side by Side," "Let's Fall in Love," "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off," and "I've Got You Babe" to name just a few. They appeared at Society Cabaret for two nights, March 27 and 28, 2015. For the current lineup of the club please go to www.societycabaret.com. Russ Lorenson at Feinstein's The elegant performer Russ Lorenson revived one of his most famous gigs, A Little Travelin' Music, for one night recently at Feinstein's at the Hotel Nikko. Russ is widely known for his faultless musical taste and vocal phrasing. He has a voice reminiscent of some of the great singers like Tony Bennett, Chet Baker, and a little of Mel Tormé. All of his deliveries seem natural and heartfelt. A Little Travelin' Music centers on his 90-minute act about traveling to various countries around the world. His fans heard songs from George Gershwin, Jimmy Van Heusen, Noël Coward, Cole Porter, and Burton Lane. All of this was backed up by Kelly Park on piano, Reid Whatley bass, Kent Bryson on drums, and Tony Malfatti on sax. Opening up with a swinging arrangement of Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn's "It's Nice to Go Traveling," the show got off to a great start. He shone on such songs as "Come Fly with Me" which segued into "Let's Get Away from It All." His pleasurable voice was cool on a medley of "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" and "A Foggy Day In London Town." Sax player Tony Malfatti did a vibrant jazz solo when Lorenson sang Cole Porter's "I Love Paris" and then the artist did a great camp rendition of Henry Mancini and Leslie Bricusse's "Gay Paree." Russ had a surprise guest star that evening. The very talented singer Stephen Vaughn did a droll duet with Lorenson on Noël Coward's "Why Do the Wrong People Travel?" before Russ ended the show with a "Gypsy in My Soul" medley that included "My Kind of Town," "San Francisco" and of course "I Left My Heart in San Francisco." Russ Lorenson's A Little Travelin' Music played at Feinstein's at the Hotel Nikko on April 1, 2015. For Feinstein's upcoming artists go to www.hotelnikkosf.com Veronica Klaus at Oasis The fabulous Veronica Klaus cannot be described with one word. She has glamor, style, poise, presence and a sultry voice, with great phrasing and a respect for each song she sings. Her voice has a deep sound and when she speaks she sounds like Veronica Lake. She reminds me of those cabaret artists who used to sing in Greenwich Village clubs late at night. Backed by the Tammy Hall Trio, Veronica presented a wide-ranging mix of songs, from "down and dirty" blues songs like Joseph "Kansas Joe" McCoy's "Why Don't You Do Right?" to heartfelt songs like Ahmet Ertegün's "Somebody Touched Me," made popular by Buddy Knox and the Rhythm Orchids. She started her 80-minute show with a Latin beat singing Ervin Drake's "It Was a Very Good Year" and then going into a soulful arrangement of Maria Grever and Stanley Adams' "What a Difference a Day Makes" and Arthur Hamilton's "Cry Me a River." A highlight was Smokey Robinson's "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game" made popular by The Marvelettes. Veronica Klaus ended her gig with the stirring "Come Back to Me" from On a Clear Day You Can See Forever." Veronica Klaus performed at Oasis on April 3, 2015. For upcoming events, visit sfoasis.com.
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