Musical genre-hopper Luba Mason sang sultry, sassy, show tune, or Spanish, with Ed Alstrom's gear-switching trio. For her November Metropolitan Room sets just after Thanksgiving, Luba's eclectic 2004 debut album, aptly named Collage, took focus. She presented eight of the selections from that PS Classics album release. There were a few effective songs co-written by her husband, music star Ruben Blades whom she met when both were in the cast of Paul Simon's The Capeman on Broadway. They were "Shamed into Love"¨ (a collaboration with Elvis Costello), "The Calm Before the Storm" (with Lou Reed) and his Spanish lyric to the Burt Bacharach/Hal
David classic "The Look of Love" which was particularly rewarding to hear filling the air.

A very strong and striking presence, her self-confident, self-satisfied ways could spell smug. However, she undercut that with some schmooze and stories about avoiding or embracing her background by changing and reverting to her name, being type cast as more of a dancer than an actress, and some smiles. Playfulness also helped, as in the fun she had with the pastiche pleasure, :Don't Shoot the Hooey to Me, Louie" from the Andrew Sisters' Broadway musical Over Here. Speaking of Broadway, Luba revisited roles she's done as a replacement: slinky "All That Jazz" (Chicago), pleading powerhouse "Someone Like You" (Jekyll & Hyde). Her cute hoot of a broad comedy role in the revival of How To Succeed succeeded wonderfully. A dynamic voice and unblinking focus made numbers like an a capella "Skylark" and "Moondance" riveting. An unsettling misstep was South Pacific's cautionary "Carefully Taught" reimagined as an aggressive semi-rap attack. For an adventurous performer open to challenge and musical experimentation, it's likely that some things will work better than others. Luba's Slovakian heritage was nicely honored ("Motherland" with guests playing ethnic instruments). Talk about variety! Special praise to excellent bassist, intriguing Zack Lober, a valuable asset to Luba Mason, chameleon.

Her future plans are more concerts of this material and she has been recording her second album which will feature Brazilian music. Meanwhile, on CD, in addition to Collage, Luba Mason guests singing "Danny Boy" on Ruben Blades' CD Mundo (this can also be glimpsed on YouTube) and on "In Whatever Time We Have" heard on The Stephen Schwartz Album (Varese Sarabande) where she duets strong with Brian d'Arcy James. "Strongly" is an adverb that easily comes intoplay when describing Luba Mason's actions on stage or through your
CD player.

Rob Lester
Cabaret Scenes
November 24, 2007
www.cabaretscenes.org