August is Romance Awareness Month, a jazz presentation at the Metropolitan Room, features Mychelle Colleary, more confident and in better voice than ever, with a stage full of talented musicians -- David Budway on piano, percussionist Mayra Casalas on the tumbadoras (conga drums), Essiet Essiet on bass, and Sylvia Cuenca on drums.

Colleary is no spotlight hog. Each of her accompanists gets plenty of opportunity to solo and show their stuff, and when they do, they are impressive. But problems tend to arise when they all come together behind Colleary's vocalizing, often becoming a runaway group and swamping the lady who's singing. It's not an intractable problem; there are times that they are more subdued, providing just what Colleary needs, as in the socko rendition of "The Cat Came Back." And by the time they wind up the show with a Latin version of "Summertime," they've found their groove. Still, for this reviewer, Colleary's best spot is a slow and bluesy Detour Ahead, accompanied only by Budway on the piano.

Colleary is very good. Her jazz musicians are very good. With an astute director to tone down the group a couple of notches when accompanying her, or even with fewer instruments on stage, August is Romance Awareness Month could be one of Colleary's best.

Peter Leavy
Cabaret Scenes
August 21, 2007
www.cabaretscenes.org