Daryl Sherman

Cool Fall Nights Jazz Series

Pangea, NYC, December 15, 2021

Reviewed by Bart Greenberg

Daryl Sherman was an unexpected fill-in for another performer for the penultimate event of this terrific jazz series (Cool Fall Nights Jazz Series) at Pangea. This was reflected in her slightly catch-as-catch-can programming where occasionally the evening paused for this gifted pianist and her impressive colleague Harry Allen (on tenor sax) to decide what came next. Rather than being a distraction, these moments added to the over-all sense of comradery of the evening as the jazz duo met as equals, throwing the music back and forth for delightful effect.

Of course, anyone who has had the great pleasure of seeing Sherman knows her wonderfully rambling patter that typically offers illuminating stories about songs, composers, and other musicians. For instance, a delightful tale of a club located below a Nathan’s Hot Dog Stand and one of an encounter with a very young Bill Charlap charmed the audience. All such reminiscences were offered in her bubbly and warm personality. Spending time with this diva is like attending a delightful intimate party. She kicked off the show with the dazzling word play of “Rhode Island Is Famous for You” and then revealed that both she and Allen called that eponymous state home as children. The playful interaction with the audience continued with her flirtatious delivery of “You Took Advantage of Me.”

There were also touching ballads such as a gorgeous “Then I’ll Be Tired of You” (“It’s a grown-up song,” said the wise warbler) and the highlight of the evening, a glistening “Skylark.” A perkier “Love Is Just Around the Corner” gave Allen an extended solo with which he worked magic. Together, they toasted Dave Frishberg with two of his composition—both music and lyrics —“Dear Bix” (which led to a tribute to Bix Beiderbecke) and “Eloise,” and Johnny Mercer and Blossom Dearie’s (“I’m Shadowing You” or, as she identified it ,“my stalker song”).

Cole Porter wasn’t ignored, of course.