Isn’t It Romantic?: A Salute to Adela and Larry Elow

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Isn’t It Romantic?
A Salute to Adela and Larry Elow

The Laurie Beechman Theatre, NYC, August 10, 2016

By Alix Cohen for Cabaret Scenes

Photos by Maryann Lopinto

Larry & Adela Elow
Larry & Adela Elow

Adela and Larry Elow exemplify those whose contribution to the lifeblood of American popular song/cabaret is priceless. Their devotion, enthusiasm, curiosity, and educated palettes raise the level of the art form. Both grew up listening to and appreciating music Larry describes as “standards, written by that special and uniquely brilliant group of lyricists and composers that flourished from the ’20s to the ’50s… forming the essence of America’s three great interrelated musical gifts to the world: jazz, popular song and the modern musical theater.”

KT-Sullivan-Cabaret-Scenes-Magazine
KT Sullivan

“These songs expressed the ethos, character and values of what came to be known as The Greatest Generation: the romance, grace, sensitivity, idealism and all those other life attitudes that we took for granted,” Adela adds. (Quotes from an interview on the Caramoor web site.)

The über-eloquent Elows are, unsurprisingly, artists. Larry Elow’s multifaceted career includes endeavors as a jazz pianist, composer, songwriter, conductor and musical director for Allied Artists studios. His soulmate Adela had a successful career as a fashion designer and, later, as a professional artist and sculptor.

Eric Michael Gillett
Eric Michael Gillett

Not only avid fans, the couple puts their energies and wallets where their hearts lie.

In 1995, they introduced Cabaret at Caramoor, a concert-style presentation in the glorious Music Room of an estate that previously showcased only classical artists. Talents such as Andrea Marcovicci, Jennifer Sheehan, Steve Ross and Eric Michael Gillett have graced a stage where the audience is given an opportunity to listen without distractions.

As producers and underwriters, the couple can often be seen out and about attending shows and concerts, familiarizing themselves with performers as much as enjoying themselves. Larry reviews each Caramoor show before the fact, offering feedback and help with continuity. Adela designs and produces the invitations and promotional materials.

Klea Blackhurst
Klea Blackhurst
Nicolas King
Nicolas King

Since 2013, the Elows have also endowed the Donald F. Smith Award. This generous $5,000 prize is given to an artist at each year’s Mabel Mercer Foundation Cabaret Convention. Winners thus far have included Klea Blackhurst, Jennifer Sheehan, Karen Oberlin and Jeff Harnar. Active members of the Foundation board, Larry and Adela follow their bliss and ours with taste, openhanded commitment, and infectious joy. We thank them.

 

Karen Akers
Karen Akers

On Wednesday, August 10, 2016, The Laurie Beechman Theatre hosted Isn’t It Romantic?, celebrating the immutable romance of Adela and Larry Elow and what they’ve given to the community. Produced by The Mabel Mercer Foundation and helmed by its Artistic Director, KT Sullivan, and Eric Michael Gillett, the show spotlighted some young, aspiring vocalists the Elows support, as well as established stars of the cabaret firmament who wanted to express affection and gratitude. The cup ranith over.

Jeff Harnar
Jeff Harnar

A tandem “Just One of Those Things” and “Green Dolphin Street” swung in channeling The  Rat Pack. You have only to listen to phrasing by the preternaturally-polished Nicolas King to know he “gets it.” Natalie Douglas’ “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man” floated on Jon Weber’s (M.D. for the night) piano reverie, dug deep, and let out a modulated wail.

Klea Blackhurst, who commented that the Elows make every singer feel like the most important singer they’ve ever encountered, had us all in stitches before erupting into an exuberant, high-beam “Blow, Gabriel, Blow.” ‘Thank goodness for Ethel Merman or I wouldn’t know a single one of you,” she quipped.

 

Natalie Douglas
Natalie Douglas
Jon Weber
Jon Weber

Karen Akers recited the lyric of “La Vie en rose” in immensely moving English before singing the song in French. Exuding warmth, she then gifted the Elows with a joyful “Always.” Larry and Adela held hands. The room held its breath. Jeff Harnar, last year’s Donald F. Smith Award winner, wryly declared himself the most important singer the Elows have, of course, ever encountered, then performed a breezy “Too Marvelous for Words,” replete with pristine, tongue-twisting, central verse. The man has style.

When Douglas told us she’d postponed a trip to Barcelona to be present, she goosed an amusing domino effect which elicited admission of like sacrifices by Blackhurst, Akers and Harnar who might, he said, have been in Ronkonkoma.

Eric, KT, Jeff
Eric, KT, Jeff
Lauren Stanford
Lauren Stanford

Eric Michael Gillett’s enduringly swoony “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me” was performed with palpable nostalgia, his tender voice making something “legitimate” of what might have seemed like powder-blue-dinner-jacket kitsch. His rendition of “Penny,” written by honoree Larry Elow, emerged utterly charming, too lovely to have been, as it was, a soap opera theme song. (This should be heard more often.) A second of Larry’s songs “Near to Me, Close to Me,” was delicately rendered by KT Sullivan in emotional, rippling soprano—a chanteuse moment.

Melissa Zimmerman, Eva Kantor, Alison Grace Bradbury
Melissa Zimmerman, Eva Kantor,
Alison Grace Bradbury

Gillett and Sullivan gave us a camp taste of their time at La Strada Restaurant in Los Angeles 40 years ago, Sullivan in full comedic mien while she and Harnar dueted a shimmering “Some Enchanted Evening,” and the three vocalists led the company in “Love Is Here to Stay.”

Alison Grace Bradbury, Eva Kantor, and Melissa Zimmerman offered the chipper harmony on two arrangements by Dan Furman, also at the piano. The second was a nifty, tongue-in-cheek, Bach-like rendition of “To Keep My Love Alive.”  Gowns (for a prior Caramoor appearance) that made them “feel like Disney Princesses” came courtesy of The Elows.

Lean Jennings
Leah Jennings Brown
KT McDonald
Kelly McDonald

Singers Forum Actors’ Equity Scholarship artists included Lauren Stanford and Leah Jennings Brown. Stanford sang a thrilled “Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart,” Brown a rich, womanly take on “Make the Man Love Me” that was simply beautiful. Kelly McDonald rendered a waltzy, if stressed, “Be Careful, It’s My Heart.” The young people need to learn to look at and communicate with their audience.

Isn’t It Romantic? was gala, high-spirited, well-produced evening that evoked laughter and a few tears. Everyone looked swellegant.

Company-Cabaret-Scenes-Magazine

Alix Cohen

Alix Cohen’s writing began with poetry, segued into lyrics then took a commercial detour. She now authors pieces about culture/the arts, including reviews and features. A diehard proponent of cabaret, she’s also a theater aficionado, a voting member of Drama Desk, The Drama League and of The NY Press Club in addition to MAC. Currently, Alix writes for Cabaret Scenes, Theater Pizzazz and Woman Around Town. Additional pieces have been published by The New York Post, The National Observer’s Playground Magazine, Pasadena Magazine and Times Square Chronicles. Alix is the recipient of six New York Press Club Awards.