Singin' and swingin' three sets at Smoke, Judy Barnett took command as easily as if in her own living room. Her voice was bright and confident, her delivery compelling, she is a complete natural in any direction she wants to go.

As part of June's JVC Jazz Festival, Barnett selected the tempo, the band picked it up, and she was on her way. Barnett's first set delivered takes on the theme of summer love. She swung out smack on the beat with "It's All Right With Me" by Cole Porter, one of her songwriters of choice. Barnett is a delightful mix of musical fierceness, rendering her songs with articulation, wit and passion. Behind her was a kick-ass band where every musician had a chance for a personal expression of heightening the heat.

Ted Kooshian's immaculate piano touches supported softly as in "Can't We Be Friends" (Kay Swift) and in full-out vigor with Rodgers and Hart's "This Can't Be Love" where Ron Affif added his spirited guitar musicianship, as he did with "Slow Boat to China" (Loesser). Raye/DePaul's "You Don't Know What Love Is" was underscored by a determined Latin beat with Wes Little on drums and Marshall Rosenberg's percussion. Tom Hubbard added just right punchy touches on bass.

Dressed in Hawaiian shirts to salute the start of summer, the group brought in some seasonal moments like a speedy "Bummer Summer" written by Barnett and Kooshian. Summer love was the easy mood of the set, from the smooth climbing notes of "Under a Blanket of Blue" (Symes, Neiberg, Livingston) to the firecrackers of Evans and Mann's "No Moon at All."

The most poignant moment was Porter's "E'vry Time We Say Goodbye," which led into Barnett's passionate swing with "Night and Day."

Judy Barnett presented a program of joyful interpretation with the mood of joy, style and polish.

Elizabeth Ahlfors
Cabaret Scenes
June 22, 2007
www.cabaretscenes.org