Earlier this month I attended the cabaret debut of Jeffrey Brian Adams at Feinstein's at the Hotel Nikko in San Francisco. This young man has been making a name for himself, starring in the role of Chuck Baxter in Promises, Promises at the San Francisco Playhouse and playing one of the sons in Death of a Salesman on the Peninsula. He will be appearing as the "normal" boyfriend of Wednesday in The Addams Family at San Jose Stage in June. Jeffery is from San Jose but spent several years in New York appearing in plays at the New School for Drama and the New York Fringe Festival. His family still lives in San Jose.

Jeffery Brian Adams has an impressive full-throated voice when singing. When he belts out a song, he reminds me a little of British singer Adrian Lester whom I saw as Bobby in the London revival of Company in 1995. He also croons a little like Frank Sinatra.

Jeffrey opened his laid back 75-minute show with the Sinatra favorite "Come Fly with Me." During the breaks in the song he talked about growing up in San Jose, his time in New York living on Goldfish crackers and Campbell's soup, and his romance with a Jewish girl in the Big Apple. The artist did an appealing version of "My Unfortunate Erection" from The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. His melodious voice rang out singing "Shiksa Goddess," and he beautifully belted out "Being Alive" from Company.

Jeffrey also had guest stars in his gig at the club. His mother Gina Adams took center stage to softly sing "Proud of Your Boy." Courtney Hatcher, who will play Wednesday in the San Jose Stage The Addams Family, also performed. She had a mellow voice singing "Crazier than You." Jeffrey was joined by his brother Nicholas Adams and they were harmoniously energizing singing "Standing on the Corner" from Most Happy Fella and "Agony" from Into the Woods.

Monique Hafen, who was Jeffrey's co-star in Promises, Promises, was also a guest during the evening performances. She had pitch perfect resonance singing "I Turned the Corner," segueing into "I'll Never Fall in Love Agan," and ending up beautifully singing "The Next Ten Minutes."

Jeffrey Brian Adams ended the show vibrantly singing "The Impossible Dream." For his encore he did another Sinatra song, "Fly Me to the Moon."

For information on upcoming shows at Feinstein's at the Nikko, 222 Mason Street, San Francisco, visit www.hotelnikkosf.com/feinsteins.aspx.

Cheers - and be sure to Check the lineup of great shows this season in the San Francisco area

- Richard Connema