Daniel Quadrino
Feinstein’s/54 Below, NYC, June 12, 2018
Reviewed by Marilyn Lester for Cabaret Scenes
For a space of time, the chicness of Feinstein’s/54 Below was transformed into a boisterous fraternity party room—or so it seemed. A very youthful, twenty-something Daniel Quadrino took the stage in well-worn tee shirt and ripped-up jeans to perform a pop-rock show of very contemporary music.
His manner is bright and “I’m just one of you guys” ultra-casual. For those not plugged into the top-40 scene, the material, such as “Blank Space” (a Taylor Swift hit), the Dua Lipa hit “IDGAF,” and “Tell Me You Love Me” (a Demi Lovato hit), sounded pretty much the same. There are exceptions to every rule, and P!nk’s chart-topper, “What About Us,” proved energizing and substantive. But, Quadrino is a product of Broadway too, and his turns on those stages were reflected in “Letter from the Refuge”/”Santa Fe” from Newsies (in which he appeared), and Dear Evan Hansen’s “Waving Through a Window.”
Quadrino is also a songwriter, and four of his works were represented: “Now You’re in My Mind,” “Perfect,” “Moving On,” and “Where to Begin.” Admittedly, he writes “sad songs” and each was a slow walk through angst, as well as an illustration of the endless loop sameness of much modern music in tempo, melody and lyrics. He does have an exquisite musicality, however, with command over vocal dynamics and mastery of a very unique sound, which includes a natural vibrato. Assisting him with some singing duties were special guests Jennifer Damiano, Ragan Pharris, Nicholas J.
Oliveri, and Tara Minogue. The band was led by music director and pianist Ben Rauhala, with David Cinquegrana on guitar, Joseph Wallace on electric bass, and Jeff Roberts on drums.
