Angela Leone
Mathis and More
Don’t Tell Mama, NYC, February 15, 2020
Reviewed by Bart Greenberg
The link for the chosen songs consisted of the male singers whom Leone admired, learned from, and in a few cases, had connections with. (Her tale of her mother feeding The Hoboken Four, including the skinny blue-eyed one, in her Brooklyn kitchen was delightful.) Of course, Johnny Mathis took pride of place in the program, with almost half the numbers coming from his songbook (though several could have been just as appropriately included in the Sinatra section), ranging from “That Old Black Magic” to “In the Wee Small Hours” to “Small World” (though she assured the audience that Mathis never played Madame Rose). The singer’s mix of sly humor and straight-forward comments made for a winning combination.
The Sinatra section included “How Little We Know,” which allowed Leone to really swing, and “The Very Thought of You,” which was an opportunity for deep-felt romanticism. Throughout, the diva combined her powerhouse voice with a delicate touch on the lyrics, displaying a mature understanding of each song she offered up. Tony Bennett’s fine collection of tunes was referenced in yet another opportunity to swing with “They Can’t Take That Away from Me” and to move the audience with the hopefully romantic “I Walk a Little Faster.”
Between these segments, Leone paid tribute to the lesser known Bobby Caldwell, a wonderful jazz performer and songwriter. A terrific song entitled “Tomorrow” (not the one sung by that redheaded tyke), co-written by Caldwell and Henry Marx, gave the diva a chance to show her skill with a torch number, and oh, did she light that flame.
Throughout the evening, great support was provided by music director Bill Zeffiro, who also supplied a dry and often humorously arch commentary, ranging from his own encounter with Bennett to the availability of the star’s CDs after the show. The duo’s fencing was a definite element in the fun of the show. The other participants on stage (John Miller on bass, Mitch Endick on tenor sax and flute, and Chip Fabrizi on drums) certainly contributed flawless support. This was a joyous occasion thanks to all.
