Claude Hall
Tom Rolla’s Gardenia, West Hollywood, CA, May 23, 2019
Reviewed by Les Traub for Cabaret Scenes
![](https://cabaretscenes.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/claude-hall-cabaret-scenes-magazine_212.jpg)
Music director and pianist Jamieson Trotter set the tone for this show with a solo rendition of “Tea for Two” (Vincent Youmans/Irving Caesar). From Trotter’s eclectic range of tempos and the use of chords that composer Youmans probably never dreamed of, it was quite apparent that this evening would not be a ride in your father’s Oldsmobile. Claude Hall followed in step, starting with a traditional opener—“I Love Being Here with You” (Peggy Lee/Bill Schluger-nom de plume Dave Cavanaugh)—but also playing around with tempo and having fun with the phrasing. She changed the pace with a slow and soothing “When Lights Are Low” (Benny Carter/Spencer Williams) and in parts of the song her voice evoked the sound of a mellow cello. She finished with dynamic scatting. Trotter took an adventurous solo during the number. The slow pace continued with “I Chose the Moon” (Mark Winkler/Bill Cantos) with her emotional reading and even a chuckle or two at appropriate spots in the song.
Hall came up with an imaginative song list for the show that had a mix of old, new, and very obscure material, including a saloon song called “Waiter, Make Mine Blues” (Ray Biondi/Anita O’Day), which she dedicated to longtime Gardenia bartender Kyle.
She included a couple of her story-song originals—“August Afternoon” and “Say What’s in My Heart.
” The latter sounds like it would be full of clichés, but it and the other one contained thoughtful lyrics that held one’s attention.
Patter was held to a minimum, used mostly to briefly set up the song or describe her relationship to it.
The partnership with Trotter produced a magical musical evening as both spurred each other on with their creativity. Keeping up with Trotter would be a challenge for any singer, but Hall was definitely up to the task.