Steven Zumbo

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Steven Zumbo

Pangea, NYC, September 10, 2022

Reviewed by Bart Greenberg

Steven Zumbo

Mix a dash of cynicism, a large sampling of power tenor belt, several grams of camp, and a healthy dose of humor, and you get Steven Zumbo. The veteran entertainer, along with his long-time music director/pianist Gerry Dieffenbach, gave the audience a full evening of entertainment. It ranged from the slightly sardonic opener “When You’ve Got It, Flaunt It” to the immensely touching closer “With So Little to Be Sure Of.” The material in between was occasionally serious, always personal, and very often in line with his announced credo, “there’s always room for some hijinks!”

Among the highlights (and hijinks) were “Where the Boys Are,” delivered in Italian, with Dieffenbach providing excellent vocal backup; “It’s Not Easy Being Green,” as a self-coming-out song gently rendered; and “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” presented as a sweet ballad with a Bach-lite accompaniment. Perhaps the only uncomfortable fit of material was Laura Nyro’s “Save the Country,” not because of the delivery but simply because it was the only number that didn’t seem to come from a personal place. Beyond that, the entire evening demonstrated good taste in fitting songs together.

Between the numbers, Zumbo shared the personal experiences that inspired some of his selections, such as the nightmare of gym class for an unathletic gay kid (“Last One Picked”), and early romances (“At Long Last Love” as delirious celebration of romance), and “Can That Boy Foxtrot” (as a sardonic celebration of certain “wrong” guys). He also shared some of the wisdom he garnered from the internet. Throughout the evening, Dieffenbach provided not just fine musical support, along with the delightful prodding and poking of a longtime best friend.

A few more highlights were a contemplative and rueful “Send in the Clowns,” a celebratory “Too Old to Die Young,” and the fine mashup (the only one of the evening) of “I Happen to Like New York” and a passionate “Theme from New York, New York.” Spending the evening with Zumbo was a delightful experience that hopefully will be available again soon.

Bart Greenberg

Bart Greenberg first discovered cabaret a few weeks after arriving in New York City by seeing Julie Wilson and William Roy performing Stephen Sondheim and Cole Porter outdoors at Rockefeller Center. It was instant love for both Ms. Wilson and the art form. Some years later, he was given the opportunity to create his own series of cabaret shows while working at Tower Records. "Any Wednesday" was born, a weekly half-hour performance by a singer promoting a new CD release. Ann Hampton Callaway launched the series. When Tower shut down, Bart was lucky to move the program across the street to Barnes & Nobel, where it thrived under the generous support of the company. The series received both The MAC Board of Directors Award and The Bistro Award. Some of the performers who took part in "Any Wednesday" include Barbara Fasano and Eric Comstock, Tony Desare, Andrea Marcovicci, Carole Bufford, the Karens, Akers, Mason and Oberlin, and Julie Wilson. Privately, Greenberg is happily married to writer/photographer Mark Wallis, who as a performance artist in his native England gathered a major following as "I Am Cereal Killer."