Thursday, January 27, 2011

I'mmmm backkkk.. .

Last night, Jane Harvey at L.A.'s M Bar was a textbook demonstration of what great singing and performance is all about. She hit the stage running, backed by Stuart Elster's trio, and showed that a ten year (or more?) break in performing had done nothing to dim her skills. In a turn lasting seventy minutes (but seeming like far fewer), and relying mostly on material from the Sondheim songbook, with a soupcon of Arlen, Kern et al thrown in for good measure, she nailed every lyric and NOTE. . .except for occasional spot-on forays into judicious note substitution. Jane isn't just great for her age, she's just flat-out great. As for her age, let's just say that she was the very first face ever broadcast on NBC-TV and let it go at that. And as for THAT FACE, it still looks great. I fearlessly predict that when Jane plays Feinstein's in New York this coming March, she'll blow the lid off the boite. P.S. If you want to consider this a rave review, please feel free to do so.

12 comments:

jeronimo said...

Hooray your back...

Incidentally bought this week Harvey's selftitled LP from 1974...It's simply great and according to this fellow waiting for a reissue...

j.

Bill Reed said...

Do great minds think alike? I also bought a nice copy from the U.K. this week. Made burn to CD, gave Ms. Harvey a copy. Brought back memories. She recalled that it was practically rec. in real time.

jeronimo said...

I think you're right, sir!
Was thinking after reading the liner notes, was this album ever released in the US? Or especially made to give Ms. Harvey wider exposure on the European scene?

Also spotted an LP (haven't bought it yet) with (live?) tracks with the Les Brown Orchestra...Will see if I can track it down again, and buy...

PS; hoping to see and hear her live...Probably wishfull thinking, but still...
Please let her know that she has a young fan at the otehr side of the world, and when I played it for some friends, they all said that they liked what they heared...

j.

Anonymous said...

very nice to hear Jane Harvey is still singing in all her beauty.
Sabbat years can do miracles to people! As long as you know the flow it comes back like old days were.
thanks for the review
sunbop

JohnnyLovesRecords said...

I am so glad you are back to blogging. I really missed you and reading your great posts. Now don't go away again. okay and please?

JohnnyUSA

jeronimo said...

Found today a broadcast LP of Lew Brown shere Miss Harvey replaced Doris Day because she had a cold...Harvey sings two songs on it...LP (re)issue (?) from the 80s.

j.

Bill Reed said...

I have one of the tracks, We'll Be Together Again. The other is Let it Snow.

jeronimo said...

Then you'll get 'Let It Snow' !

j.

kenmb said...

Would be grateful to know your UK source for '74 LP mentioned here. Thanks.

Bill Reed said...

Maxvinyl.com

Bill Reed said...

Thanks in advance for the Let it Snow.

kenmb said...

Would be great to hear from fortunate NYC friends details of Ms. Harvey's upcoming shows at Feinstein's.