The anticipation of Diahann Carroll’s return to cabaret after a long, long hiatus was palpable in the beautiful new Rrazz Room, so when she hit the stage looking radiant and much younger than her 70 years and plowed through a big belting rendition of "Come Rain or Come Shine," we knew we were witnessing something special.

Backed by a three piece horn section, Carroll’s big numbers ("New York, New York" and "Some of These Days") had the sass and sizzle of the big band era. "On a Clear Day" started slow and measured but developed into a swing jazz that suited her matured vocal range. Miss Carroll relaxed into the show when she began reminiscing over her long and illustrious career. Truman Capote and Harold Arlen’s  beautiful "A Sleepin’ Bee" from House of Flowers and Richard Rodgers "The Sweetest Sounds" from No Strings (for which she won the Tony Award) were dazzling. Less so was her dramatic version of "As If We Never Said Goodbye" from Sunset Boulevard, a role which she never thought she would get a chance to play.

A lovely Sinatra medley suited her vocal range and showed off her band and included a swinging "I’ve Got You Under My Skin,"  the melancholy "Guess I’ll Hang My Tears Out To Dry" and the tender "One For My Baby." Miss Carroll worked the hopeful ballad "Where Do You Start" with ease and style before closing with a bang on "The Best Is Yet To Come." Maybe for Diahann Carroll, the lyric rings true.

Steve Murray
Cabaret Scenes
June 10, 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org