The Supremes' co-founder, Mary Wilson, does not have to sing backup behind any diva. She is a diva all on her own, and in her new show, Up Close at Feinstein's at the Regency, she proves she defines "diva" in the best sense of the word, a confident performer with stage presence, a lot to talk and sing about, and the vocal chops to deliver it. In addition, she is backed by a rocking quintet of strong musicians.

She opens her solo show thoughtfully with "Here's to Life" (Molinary/Butler), a musical toast to survival usually presented at the end of the show. In the same optimistically mellow mood, she follows with the Chaplin standard, "Smile." She has a robust voice, husky, with perceptive phrasing that tells the story.

Mentioning with a grin that her ex-husband was in the audience, Wilson quipped, "And he has to sit right in front of me." As it happens, her next song was a simmering "Body and Soul," a tune saxophonist Coleman Hawkins made into a hit in the late '30s. Wilson's own saxophonist, Richie Cannnata, brings in his own interpretation.

Her songs are a selection of well-crafted tunes, from standards to contemporary. Cannnata lends his sax sound to her affectionate rendition of "New York State of Mind" by Billy Joel. She includes Sting's "Fields of Gold" and "I Can't Make You Love Me" (Reid/Shamblin), a love lost hit for Bonnie Raitt. Wilson is confident with the swooping melody of Wolfert and Linzer's "I Believe In You and Me", originally recorded by The Four Tops which later became a monster hit for Whitney Houston.

Wilson handles it all. She does not make a false musical move, inhabiting the emotion of the songs. For rhythm, she includes some Brazilian sounds with "The Girl from Ipanema" and "Mas Que Nada."

Oh, and as for those Dreamgirls? There is no Supremes medley, no elaborate salute, just an offhand, "My World is Empty Without You." Wilson has written an autobiography, she informs, to go into all that stuff.

Wilson's patter does not unveil much about her life, but it does reveal warmth toward her audience and good-natured sense of humor. Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now" may best reflect her attitude these days, as well as her upbeat encore, What a "Wonderful World" (Thiele/Weiss).

Mary Wilson will presents her show Up Close at Feinstein's at the Regency from June 19 to 30.

Elizabeth Ahlfors
Cabaret Scenes
June 20, 2007
www.cabaretscenes.org