Gary Williams: At the Movies

  • Post author:
  • Reading time:3 mins read

Gary Williams

At the Movies

(BOS Entertainment Ltd.)

October 5, 2017

Reviewed by Bart Greenberg for Cabaret Scenes

Gary Williams is a major cabaret star in London. His very relaxed musical style harks back to an earlier time or, in fact, several earlier times: the crooners of the ‘50s; the gentle pop stars of the ‘60s; and the slightly jazz-infused swingers. His ninth CD is a tribute to movie songs, with an emphasis on Disney films and those of Elvis Presley.

The Disney songs definitely bring out Williams’ jazz soul with a truly swinging “Ev’rybody Wants to Be a Cat” and a Latin rhythm-inflected “He’s a Tramp” that is sheer fun.
https://www.myjewishlistings.com/wp-content/languages/new/math-homework-help.html

“The Bare Necessities” gets a laid-back delivery (the singer’s enjoyment of clever lyrics is well displayed here). “Baby Mine” is a lightly delivered ballad, emphasizing a wistfulness without giving in to sentimentality, while “When She Loved Me” (Toy Story 2) is simplicity itself, and very moving for that.

The Presley songs are given a fresh approaches, with no attempt to mimic the style of the iconic star. “Almost in Love” receives a gentle, sexy delivery and an orchestration that emphasizes its original source as a Brazilian melody, while “Puppet on a String” comes close to a lullaby (curiously, without checking the credits, it might be mistaken for a Disney theme).

online pharmacy buy diflucan no prescription

Likewise, “I Need Somebody to Lean On” has a three o’clock-in-the-morning bluesy quality that one might easily mistake for a Frank Sinatra song, while “Pocketful of Rainbows” is pure ‘60s pop swing.
https://www.myjewishlistings.com/wp-content/languages/new/homework-help-math.html

There are other songs at least tangentially related to the movies included on the disc, like “Both Sides Now.” “Isn’t This a Lovely Day (to Be Caught in the Rain?

online pharmacy buy lasix no prescription

https://www.myjewishlistings.com/wp-content/languages/new/check-my-essay.html

)” has a clever arrangement which includes phrases from various “rain songs” that challenge the listener to pay attention. Throughout, this recording is marked by Williams’ careful attention to lyrics, which he clearly savors for their quality.

This is one of those perfect, easy-listening albums, excellent for relaxing to after a day at work, or serving as background music at a dinner party.

Bart Greenberg

Bart Greenberg first discovered cabaret a few weeks after arriving in New York City by seeing Julie Wilson and William Roy performing Stephen Sondheim and Cole Porter outdoors at Rockefeller Center. It was instant love for both Ms. Wilson and the art form. Some years later, he was given the opportunity to create his own series of cabaret shows while working at Tower Records. "Any Wednesday" was born, a weekly half-hour performance by a singer promoting a new CD release. Ann Hampton Callaway launched the series. When Tower shut down, Bart was lucky to move the program across the street to Barnes & Nobel, where it thrived under the generous support of the company. The series received both The MAC Board of Directors Award and The Bistro Award. Some of the performers who took part in "Any Wednesday" include Barbara Fasano and Eric Comstock, Tony Desare, Andrea Marcovicci, Carole Bufford, the Karens, Akers, Mason and Oberlin, and Julie Wilson. Privately, Greenberg is happily married to writer/photographer Mark Wallis, who as a performance artist in his native England gathered a major following as "I Am Cereal Killer."