The ongoing show at Tom Rolla’s Gardenia, Mundy on Tuesdays, for the past seven years has been providing a weekly gathering place for Angeleno performers and visiting songsters looking forward to coming to the mike to sing. The night we visited, the petite charmer MaryJo Mundy (who alternates hosting duties on a weekly basis with Keri Kelsey), was in charge. The evening ran a bit longer than its usual nine to midnight, and offered a kaleidoscope of singers as well as a sampling of Mundy’s talents (she was good for several numbers during the night).

It was clear as the room filled up that this was to be no amateur night. Most of the guests entered carrying charts under their arms, eager to try out a couple of new songs, keep themselves polished between gigs, or just sing for the love of it. As they took their turn in the spotlight, each one displayed his or her personal approach to the material, some singing standards, some blues, some pop. One previewed numbers from her forthcoming Marlene Dietrich show, singing in both English and German.

While such a varied collection of styles and performers is open to ups and downs, this night the vocalists ran from okay to excellent (most merited a good or very good), with MaryJo Mundy, who segues effortlessly from sweet to saucy to seductive, topping the list. Kudos are also due Ron Snyder, an engaging pianist who backed the succession of singers as if each had rehearsed with him for hours.

Incidentally, The Gardenia offered a couple of added pluses: a varied menu from a remarkably good kitchen, and the affable Jerry Koren, who covered three bases as the room’s greeter, bartender and maitre d’.

Mundy on Tuesdays can be seen every Tuesday night at Tom Rolla's Gardenia in L.A.

Peter Leavy
Cabaret Scenes
September 18, 2007
www.cabaretscenes.org