Miranda Music Artists :Kitty Skrobela Turns 75

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Miranda Music Artists

Kitty Skrobela Turns 75

Metropolitan Room, NYC, January 18, 2016

Reviewed by Rob Lester for Cabaret Scenes

Kitty-Skrobela-Cabaret-Scenes-Magazine_212It was a love-in. Saluting their musical godmother/record label’s guiding force, singers whose work has seen CD reality on the Miranda Music line of releases were full of praise, song, and sometimes tears of gratitude. The lady of the hour: Kitty Skrobela (pictured; profiled in the Jan/Feb 2016 Cabaret Scenes issue). Clearly they deeply appreciate the support—emotional and financial (making CDs ain’t cheap, and the cabaret market can be sadly low-profile)—but also the woman herself. Kathleen France showed both “wow”-factor chops and crystallized the adoration situation with “You Are So Beautiful to Me.”

After slews of sentiment, with sincere, ballad-heavy turns, singer-pianist-musical director Tracy Stark began her solo turn with slow and dramatic chords, then quipped in jest, “This is the most upbeat song of the night.” Preceding another effectively earnest turn, it was a funny moment. Bounce and perkiness were nearly absent, besides Bill Zeffiro and Marissa Mulder’s adorable go-to chipper duet of “Me and My Shadow,” re-creating the Frank Sinatra/Sammy Davis, Jr.
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lively special-material treatment. Hilary Kole was magnetic on a self-accompanied “Over the Rainbow,” proving that even the most-performed, best-known standards can enthrall when personalized and invested with real-feel involvement.

Labelmates Lina Koutrakos and Marcus  Simeone made a powerfully soulful duo, and Karen Oberlin re-teamed with guitarist Sean Harkness for their atmospheric take on Paul Simon’s “Train in the Distance.” Then Oberlin, the label’s second artist to be signed, summed up what many were likely thinking when she called the generous Skrobela presence in her life “a blessing” and crooned an unaffected, a cappella “Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep).” Also ably participating were some not represented with solo CDs on the label, but adjunct “family members”: Maria Ottavia, Sue Matsuki and Tim Di Pasqua. Many happy returns (and CD re-spins).

Rob Lester

2015 is native New Yorker Rob Lester's eighth year as contributing writer, beginning by reviewing a salute to Frank Sinatra, whose recordings have played on his personal soundtrack since the womb. (His Cabaret Scenes Foundation member mom started him with her favorite; like his dad, he became an uber-avid record collector/ fan of the Great American Songbook's great singers and writers.) Soon, he was attending shows, seeking out up-and-comers and already-came-ups, still reading and listening voraciously. He also writes for www.NiteLifeExchange.com and www.TalkinBroadway.com, has been cabaret-centric as awards judge, panel member/co-host, and produces benefit/tribute shows, including one for us.