I was under the impression that one could always rely upon the intimacy of the beautiful Café Carlyle for great nightclub and cabaret talent. Some of the greatest stars performed here. Well, things they are a changin’ with the room’s facelift and introduction of more contemporary performers!  Although Christopher Cross is a major star in the pop contemporary arena, one has to be a great fan to walk away saying they really enjoyed the evening’s entertainment.

 Hailing from San Antonio, Texas he earned the "Big Four" Grammy Awards, a feat still unbroken, and received an Oscar and a Golden Globe for his music in hit films. He still has a smooth tenor sound, always on pitch and clear as a bell. But, once you get past his signature songs “Arthur’s Theme,” written with Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager and Peter Allen for the movie of the same name with Dudley Moore and Liza Minnelli and that phrase all New Yorkers love so well, ‘When you get caught between the moon and New York City…’ and songs “Ride Like The Wind” and “Sailing,” you’re left with eight or nine other songs that all sound the same but with different lyrics!  Yes, the nostalgia of hearing those two or three songs raised some audience emotion as they applauded prior and during these songs. Otherwise, it didn’t seem as though anyone was overwhelmed.

I’m sure he’s great in the recording studio having recorded eight or nine albums, and probably good in concert settings playing to large crowds.  But cabaret rooms are a whole other venue, requiring the performer to speak to the audience in more ways that just singing the songs, to engage and be engaging. But mostly Chris Cross sat on his stool, stayed close to the mic strumming his guitar and looking straight ahead, going from song to song with a few words in between (that were difficult to understand), completely detached and showing little to no emotional involvement.

Some of the other songs presented were “Never Be The Same,” “Open Up My Window,” “Driftin’ Away,” “Swept Away,” “Walking in Avalon,” “Deputy Dan,” “Hunger” and an encore “All The Words of Wisdom Sound The Same.” Perhaps this last song may give us insight into his writing!

Accompanied by Andy Ezrin on piano and David Mann on keyboard/sax/flute, Christopher Cross has a four week engagement at the Café Carlyle through May 10.

Sandi Durell
Cabaret Scenes
April 15, 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org