Fate Just Won't Wait with an ebullient performer like Scot Albertson on stage, backed by a top-grade band led by talented Daryl Kojak. A tasty list of popular songs reflects Albertson's strong belief in "faith, love, trust, respect and an open heart," and the musical delivery exhibits Albertson's unique effervescent optimism and Kojak and Company's jazz imagination.

At the Laurie Beechman Theater, the mix travels from up-tempo, like a lesser-known Fain/Bergman tune," You Gotta Taste All the Fruit," to the meditative "Day Dreams Come True at Night" (Freed and Jurgen). The latter tune evinces an old-fashioned mood with old-fashioned sentiment, although Kojak's jazz piano zips it up with a stimulating edge. Albertson croons the verse of WWII classic, "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" (Maschwitz and Sherwin) and then snaps into a bouncy swing with the Gershwins', "Love Walked In", with jazz riffs all around.

Albertson's patter is judicious but his enthusiasm is palpable. He has a rangy tenor that can stretch with pleasing depth, soar into the heights, and hold the notes easily. Occasionally, his voice did sound forced. His real strength is his understanding of what the songwriters wanted to say and convey that to the listener. He is joyful with his swing numbers and heartfelt sentiment infuses the ballads, where Albertson is most effective, inhabiting them with intensity. Dick Haymes' hit song from yesteryear, "Count Every Star" (Gallop/Coquatrix), paired poignantly with Irving Berlin's "How Deep Is the Ocean."

At one point, Albertson switched accompanists, bringing New York piano bar favorite, Jerry Scott, on stage, to back him with lush chords on "Racing With the Moon". Here again, Albertson takes a tune made famous by an earlier performer, Vaughan Monroe, and presents it his way.

Ray Jessel's lovably ridiculous ditty, "The Things You Do," was lovably comic. Albertson might include other silly songs in future shows, to deliver with similar laid-back wit.

Kojak is responsible for the superb arrangements and his band must be mentioned: Cameron Brown on bass, Tony Jefferson on drums, Scott Wendholt on trumpet and "Sweet" Sue Terry sweet with sax and flute.

Scot Albertson and Daryl Kojak will return to the Laurie Beechman Theater on September 26.

Elizabeth Ahlfors
Cabaret Scenes
August 2, 2007
www.cabaretscenes.org