Kathleen Landis

Have I Got a Story for You

Pangea, NYC, November 30, 2022

Reviewed by Bart Greenberg

Kicking off Pangea’s yearly Winter Warm Jazz Series, singer-pianist Kathleen Landis announced from the audience, “Have I got a story for you,” capturing our attention with her stylish presence even before taking the stage. Actually, she had quite a few stories, some her own and some about the lyricists and composers she celebrated in an evening of story songs that were complete in and of themselves. Some told a literal story, such as Cole Porter’s “Miss Otis Regrets,” here given a Nashville-flavored rendition. The performer reminded those in attendance that the real lethal lady who inspired the song was from the South. Others allowed listeners to draw their own tales from instrumental works by Landis’s beloved George Gershwin – “Prelude 1” and “Prelude 2” (Blues). Another Gershwin work, “Promenade,” which underscored the perfectly swell romance of Fred and Ginger in Shall We Dance? as they walk their dogs in the film.(Landis charmingly dedicated that one to the pets of her and her musical partner, bassist Boots Maleson.)

In these instrumental numbers and several more throughout the evening, Landis conveyed both deep emotion and sly humor through her handling of the keyboard. Her talent was evident in her shifting moods, each appropriate for the particular selection. Her vocals were equally engaging. There were terrifically wry deliveries of “Between Men” (Francesca Blumenthal) and “Peel Me a Grape” (Dave Frishberg) and a vulnerable hesitancy in “The People You Never Get to Love” (Rupert Holmes) that brought out the bittersweet aspects of the song. Humor was far from neglected in the very naughty “Uncle Harry” (Noël Coward) and in some of the wildlife verses of Porter’s “Let’s Do It,” here given an additional contemporary verse by one of her guests, Nancy Winston.

Landis surrounded herself with some impressive “guests” in addition to the delightful Winston. Throughout the evening, Maleson provided a great deal of spice on bass and had several chances to shine. Saxophonist Julia Banhilzer was hypnotic in her performances of Astor Piazzolla’s “Libertango” (as seductive as a tango ought to be) and John Coltraine’s “Naima.” Vocal guest Frank Dain offered fine deliveries of the standards “I Didn’t Know What Time It Was” and “Some Other Time” with a beautifully controlled vibrato and just a bit of Tony Bennett in his delivery.

With all these wonderful talents, it was still Landis’ evening. It was slightly overstuffed, but it held the audience’s attention both with the impressive talent on display and with the wide variety of material. Yes, there were lots of stories to be told, and each one was told with eloquence and wit.  It was a splendid winter evening of jazz.