“Here’s What I’m Here For ,“ (Arlen/Gershwin) the perfect opening song for Lainie Kazan.  Born in Brooklyn, NY to a Mom who loved theater, opera and film, ‘a Jewish Blanche DuBois,’ and a Dad who was a bookie (wherever the track was open is where they lived), this veteran of stage and screen, with a 47 year career, is as vibrant and formidable as ever. Getting her big break in Funny Girl when Barbra Streisand didn’t go on but Lainie, her understudy, did, she's been non-stop. Her career blossomed into movies, television and, of course, nightclubs.

She loves her audience and, boy oh boy, do they love her back!  She’s got that certain magnetism that embodies a humor that never quits, a set of great pipes and the ability to bring her well-honed acting skills to her songs.  The choice of material speaks to everyone. She likes referring to many of the songs as ‘the quintessential’ and wowed us with the quintessential love songs – Arlen/Gershwin’s “The Man That Got Away,” Styne/Merrill’s “The Music That makes me Dance” and (Gerswhins) “Embraceable You.” She’s quick to say “why would one sing if it wasn’t about love!’

When Lainie was only 4 years old, she was singing and tapping to “I’ll Be Down to Get You in a Taxi Honey.” Loving Piaf as a child, Lainie was “trapped into tragedy” singing songs like “LaVie En Rose” at her 4^th Grade Variety Show. She tells a great story of receiving a phone call from Judy Garland, sometime during her 26 appearances on television’s Dean Martin Show, inviting her to a Christmas Party and being completely taken aback when she was asked to sing at the party for the one and only Miss Garland!  What followed was a swing version of “Over The Rainbow” and her own version of “The Trolley Song.” playful and funny as she strut her stuff and tossed her mane in the audience.

Of special significance is “I’ve Never Been To Me,” written for her by Ron Miller, which Kazan dedicated to all the ladies, a kind of women’s lib-type song that speaks to the female gender.  Standing ovations were in order for her renditions of “Come Rain or Come Shine” (Arlen/Mercer) and the interesting arrangement (more a theater piece) of “Copacabana” (Manilow/Sussman/Feldman).

Celebs in the filled-to-capacity room included Lesley Gore, Louis St. Louis, Tony LoBianco, along with friends from childhood. Accompanied by Bob Kaye on piano, Mike Richmond on bass and her Music Director/drummer Eddie Caccavale, along with backup singers Stacy Dulan and Jessie Williams, and coming off a bad flu, Laine Kazan can still measure up to the best of ‘em and should proudly be singing “I’m Still Here!” Lainie will soon be seen as a love interest in Adam Sandler’s new comedy You Don’t Mess With The Zohan.

Sandi Durell
Cabaret Scenes
April 11, 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org