It sometimes seems like a never-ending discussion among cabaret insiders who is a true jazz vocalist, and who is a pop vocalist singing a few jazz numbers? But when the subject of the discussion is Laurie Krauz, there's no dispute. This chick passes muster, hands down.

We caught Laurie Krauz at New York's Sweet Rhythm, accompanied by the Daryl Kojak Quartet, an equally heady collection of jazzmeisters, with Kojak on the keyboard, Sean Conly on bass, Gene Lewin on drums, and a strikingly authoritative saxophonist, "Sweet Sue" Terry. Krauz and Kojak, respectful of who else was on board, offered ample breaks for their musical colleagues to shine on their own.

Krauz and Kojak are long-time collaborators, and the familiarity pays off. His arrangements provided a perfect platform for Krauz's expressive, energetic vocalizing, sometimes seeming to stimulate an increasingly passionate delivery, sometimes -- as in their stunning rendition of "Some Enchanted Evening" -- providing a subtle melodic backing to a refreshingly atypical interpretation by Krauz.

The song list was a mix of old and new, from Cole Porter to Kojak's own "Birthday Blues," in which Krauz's scat opening paved the way for a series of savory solos by the instrumentalists. It's been a couple of years since we last reviewed this pair. Krauz's body language, always animated, has become even more extravagant (if occasionally over the top), and Kojak's arrangements even more magnetic. Having followed Krauz and Kojak for years, we can attest that they've never been better.

Peter Leavy
Cabaret Scenes
October 16, 2007
www.cabaretscenes.org