Alysha Umphress: CD Release Show at Birdland

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Alysha Umphress

Birdland, NYC, January 5, 2015

Reviewed by Annamaria Alfieri for Cabaret Scenes

 Alysha-Umphress-Birdland-Cabaret-Scenes-Magazine_212On her day off from stealing scenes on Broadway in On the Town, Alysha Umphress took her big voice and her nuanced singing style to Birdland to launch her new CD—I’ve Been Played. All her songs in this show were written and/or arranged by Jeff Blumenkrantz who spoke warmly of his artistic collaboration with Umphress. He has chosen his diva extremely well.

 “Two Cents” started things off and gave notice that Umphress has the pipes and the style to sell a song. She showcased Blumenktranz’s original music and lyrics, as in “Mayday!
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M’Aider!” with its complex structure and Latin rhythms. Her big voice and thoughtful delivery gave real sheen to the gifted arranger’s work — sometimes heartfelt, sometimes swinging. A duet between Umphress and Blumenkranz of “I Don’t Need Anything But You” (from Annie) was perfectly charming. Her rendition of his medley “Spring Is Here”/”Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most” created one of those lovely moments when the entire audience holds its breath.
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The brilliantly combined Rodgers & Hammerstein numbers, “You Are Never Away” and “Ten Minutes Ago,” brought out not only Umphress’s sensitivity, but also the subtlety of the back-up band featuring Tedd Firth on piano, Pete Donovan on bass, and Ray Marchica on drums.

 And the happy audience got the chance to take the whole performance home by buying the CD.
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Annamaria Alfieri

Annamaria Alfieri is the author of four acclaimed historical mysteries, including the current Strange Gods, which takes place in British East Africa in 1911 and is described as Out of Africa meets Agatha Christie. Writing as Patricia King, she also is the author of five nonfiction books, including Never Work for a Jerk, that landed her on the Oprah Winfrey Show. She is a past president of Mystery Writers of America, New York Chapter, and Vice President of the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival. She is a life-long fan of the American Popular song.