What makes Tecora Rogers an engaging, effective entertainer is that she manages to combine the best elements of several musical genres. She finds the sophisticated bounce of a good jazz singer, the soul of a gospel singer and the interpretive clarity of a cabaret singer. She has a great smile, too. Rogers’ voice is sweet and supple, especially so in a from-the-gut “Everything Must Change.” “At Last” is joyful and true. Rogers loves those ballads, but on three-hour (ish) performance nights, she might consider a few more breezy moments. An excellent one was her jazzed-up “Bye Bye Blackbird” which was sexy and fun. She was accompanied solely (or souly) by the most excellent Curtis Robinson who, without charts, provided the right support and charmed listeners with his own sly, sassy take on “Bring It on Home to Me” (often associated with the late Sam Cooke).

Kudos to Little Bucharest’s Friday Cabaret Series producer Claudia Hommel for bringing American singers to the restaurant. There is an especially warm quality about the place; Host Branko personally visits each table and dances with the ladies. The nicely priced and executed European pre-fixe menu makes Bucharest a (recession) manageable night out. With the sad closing of downtown supper clubs like The Pump Room and Chestnut Street Grill, this neighborhood diamond in the rough is worth exploring.

Carla Gordon
Cabaret Scenes
February 19, 2010
www.cabaretscenes.org