Although Barbra Streisand has inspired many female singers, often the influence just does not take. Not so with Stephanie J. Block, a singer with vocal chops powerful enough for any stage. As a trained actor, she hunts out the core of the songs. She instills her selections with smart phrasing, and then sets off the vocal fireworks, and fiery they are, with unfolding patterns and colors of melody.

In her summer performance at Birdland, Block opened with" The Sweetest Sounds" and went on to deliver sweet and sassy sounds, revealing a casual, outgoing personality. Admitting that Funny Girl was her passion, she delivered "Don't Rain on My Parade" and "The Music That Makes Me Dance" with compelling gusto. Block wrung every bit of drama from "My Man," and who can blame her for that? It is a song that demands theatricality. She had fun belting "Hard-Hearted Hannah" with a feather boa, and she medleyed salutes to Petula Clark and Peter Allen.

While there was no set bio of her life, she shared her sense of enthusiasm for music, theatre, and her new romance, Sebastian Arcelus, whom which she met while touring in Wicked. He joined her onstage for a couple of tunes including "As Long As You're Mine." Since they plan to marry, she sang a tender "Married," one of the few songs with softer decibels.

Jim Caruso joined Block for a reprise of "Two Lost Souls," a song they had performed in Caruso's recent Birdland show. Also on stage was Steve Doyle on bass, and Tony Tedesco on drums, and musical director/arranger/accompanist, Billy Stritch, sometimes joining her on vocals.

Even while appearing on Broadway this fall as Elphaba in Wicked, it would not be surprising to see Block spending occasional Monday evenings on the cabaret stage. With vivacity and charm, Stephanie J. carries on the Barbra blockbuster tradition. Can she do as well as Streisand in capturing audience emotions? That's yet to be seen.

Elizabeth Ahlfors
Cabaret Scenes
August 27, 2007
www.cabaretscenes.org