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Review of
As the Crowe Flies by: Jan Wollman
 For
her debut show last year, Joan Crowe had a considerable
amount of good press in this and other publications,
but until this recent go-round, she was just a name
to me. Now I’m sorry I didn’t catch her
earlier because the lady totally captivated me. She
and her show are stunning. She can do it all and in
several styles. She’s at home with contemporary
pop, has a strong jazz feeling, and the voice to move
you with a serious ballad plus the time to tickle you
with comedy.
The act hits on
all levels. It is very personal. She speaks with great
affection of her mother who was German and a fan of
Marlene Dietrich, which leads her into some hilarious
sinning in German and a tribute to that star. She alludes
to her suburban life and makes it charming when she
sings “Them There Eyes” as if to her kids
and she tells of her close association with the late
songwriter, Tom Brown, whose work was the focus of her
previous show. So many performers seem to go too far
with “The Story of My Life” kind of thing
which can leave an audience yawning, “who cares?”.
With her, it is like a book you can’t put down
and it never becomes too much. The songs are varied
and interesting in themselves. My favorites in the humor
department were “Surrey With the Fringe on Top”
sung in German and a recreation of the U.S.O. show that
Dietrich did playing the musical saw. But it is not
all just fun and games. “Back When We Were Beautiful”
(Matraca Berg) could break your heart. Her musicians,
Brian Hurley (piano) and Ben Mauro (bass) accompanied
her sensitively and their back-up vocals added musical
strength.
Since her successful
first show at Don’t Tell Mama last year, Ms. Crowe
has been getting a lot of attention at cabaret venues
around the country. Here in New York, she appeared in
an ASCAP showcase and this year’s Cabaret Convention.
If you have not yet had the pleasure, I suggest you
watch for upcoming dates. If you have seen her, I’m
sure you are already a fan and are waiting impatiently
for her next show, as I am. |
