Tom Culver: Cole Porter Uncorked
Tom Rolla’s Gardenia, West Hollywood, CA, May 30, 2014
Reviewed by Les Traub for Cabaret Scenes
Tom Culver took a fresh look at the Cole Porter songbook with a high-energy show. Brilliant arrangements from Rich Eames and Musical Director Rick Hills, along with some special vocal arrangements by director Marilyn Maye, framed Culver’s upbeat take on the material.
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The joy he felt from Porter’s genius and from the musical support behind him found its way into the jubilant tone of his vocals. From the simple melody of “In the Still of the Night” to perhaps Porter’s most sophisticated lyric in “It’s All Right with Me,” Culver got to the heart of the songs.His patter served as brief background to the songs. He did read an interesting letter from Irving Berlin to Cole Porter praising the greatness of “Night and Day,” which Culver gracefully segued into from “Love of My Life.” Culver did some other clever pairings. It was nice to hear the infrequently performed, delightful “Dream Dancing” paired with “So In Love”.
Besides contributing most of the arrangements, Rick Hills led a terrific trio. His piano solos were breathtaking and his salsa arrangement of “At Long Last Love” had Gardenia owner and former Broadway dancer Tom Rolla barely able to contain himself from jumping up and dancing to that salsa beat.
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