Bill Charlap with Sandy Stewart
Old Devil Moon: Swingin’ Through the Songs of Burton Lane
92nd Street Y, NYC, July 25, 2019
Reviewed by Ron Forman for Cabaret Scenes
Pianist Bill Charlap hosted the tribute to composer Burton Lane as part of the annual Jazz in July series at the 92nd Street Y. While Lane is not a household name, the dozen songs of his chosen for this show are all an important part of the Great American Songbook. Charlap was joined by his mom, jazz vocalist Sandy Stewart, and musicians Peter Washington (bass), Carl Allen (drums), Steve Wilson (alto sax), Roxy Coss (tenor sax), and Michael Dease (trombone). Washington and Allen were on stage for the entire performance; the other three musicians took center stage whenever they performed. Stewart is a legendary vocalist with a career spanning more than 60 years (with time out to raise four children); she has a voice and style as controlled as any in the business. Charlap introduced each number in an enthusiastic and charming manner.
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The pianist opened with a light jazz version of Lane’s delightful love song to a flower, from On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, “Hurry! It’s Lovely Up Here” (lyric: Alan Jay Lerner). Dease, Wilson, and Coss joined him for a very jazzy “I Hear Music” (Frank Loesser) with each of the musicians getting long solo turns. The first of Stewart’s vocals was a very slow, beautifully performed “How Are Things in “Glocca Morra” (E.Y. Harburg). Charlap first recited the lyric to “On A Clear Day You Can See Forever” then the band played the melody. He closed the first act with a delightful vocal of Lerner’s wonderful list lyric for “Come Back to Me.
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The second act opened with all musicians on stage for “How About You?” “Melinda” was performed almost entirely by Dease with a dazzling trombone solo. The entire band had a jam session with the song Fred Astaire danced on the walls and ceiling to in Royal Wedding, “You’re All the World to Me.” Stewart’s very, very slow, incredibly controlled vocal on “Too Late Now” (Lerner) stopped the show. The entire cast was on stage for the final number, “Old Devil Moon.
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