Dom Thomas: KING, Inspired by Nat King Cole

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Dom Thomas

KING, Inspired by Nat King Cole

Tom Rolla’s Gardenia, West Hollywood, CA, April 28, 2016

Reviewed by Mary Bogue for Cabaret Scenes

Dom-Thomas-Cabaret-Scenes-Magazine_212Dom Thomas opened his premiere cabaret show talking about his love for the family he left in St. Louis, coming west to make his mark in Hollywood.

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With a rough start on “Sweet Lorraine” (Cliff Burwell/Mitchell Parish), he and his pianist Clifton Williams began again, tentatively. Referencing his admiration for Nat King Cole’s role in the civil rights movement, the very loose storytelling missed the opportunity to educate his millennial audience.

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“(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons” (Ivory “Deek” Watson/William “Pat” Best) gave a glimpse into Thomas’s potential as a crooner, with nice and easy phrasing. Without missing a beat, and grasping a drink, he segued into “The Way You Look Tonight” (Dorothy Fields/Jerome Kern). The medley became more up tempo, and Thomas seemed more at ease. In “You Send Me” (Sam Cooke), it became apparent that as lovable as he is, Thomas will benefit from mentors who teach mic technique, tighten patter, and strengthen audience connection. Thankfully, this charming 26-year-old has plenty of time to hone his skills and, when that happens, he has the potential to be a formidable singer.

Singing a cappella to “It’s Not for Me to Say” (Robert Allen/Al Stillman), he disclosed, “I like to mess with the people in the audience,” and then surprisingly fetched an audience member into the spotlight, while his pianist ignored them, bowing his head to scroll through his cell phone.

Thomas regained his audience when committed to the lyrics in two of his original songs, and a found a sweet spot in “When I Fall in Love” (Victor Young/Edward Heyman).

Given a director, mentor and voice coach, Dom Thomas could one day realize his dreams: “I want to be the black Michael Bublé.” His grandfather’s advice rings true: “Go back and visit what you missed…and follow your dreams.”

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Mary Bogue

Mary Bogue’s journey into the world of jazz began in 1981 when she was accepted by the Monterey Jazz Festival to cover the event as a writer. It was there that jazz tenor saxophonist Buddy Tate introduced her to the legendary vocalist Helen Humes. Their interview, later published in Jazz Dispatch and distributed at the Playboy Jazz Festival, marked the beginning of Bogue’s deep connection to jazz and storytelling. One unforgettable moment came when Humes introduced her to Count Basie, saying, “Bill, this is my friend Mary. Mary, this is Bill.” That simple introduction sparked a lifelong love for jazz and a passion for writing. Among her early interviews was a conversation with the legendary Les McCann, a connection that would come full circle years later when McCann joined Bogue on her debut album, Don’t Go to Strangers, released in 2012. The album, celebrated with a launch party hosted by KJZZ, gained national airplay and recognition. Her follow-up albums, Blue Smoke and One Night of Sin, further solidified her place in the jazz world. In 2015, Bogue was honored as a Living Legend of Jazz and recognized by the Duke Ellington Society, the United States Congress, the State of California, and the City of Los Angeles. Her cabaret career took off at the iconic Gardenia in Hollywood and continued in New York at the Metropolitan Room. That same year, she joined Cabaret Scenes Magazine as a reviewer of both cabaret shows and CDs, continuing to champion jazz and cabaret through both performance and the written word. In addition to her accomplishments in music and journalism, Mary is also an accomplished visual artist. She has designed album covers and created a wide range of artwork, including oil paintings of blues singers and expressive watercolors. Her visual work, much like her music, reflects her deep passion for the soul and spirit of jazz and blues.