Sue Matsuki
The Gals That Make Me Sing
Act2PV, Puerta Vallarta, Mexico, November 12, 2024
Reviewed by Lynn Timmons Edwards
Photo: Eric Stephen Jacobs
Fiesta de Cabaret, which ran from November 8 through November 16, 2024, featured a lineup of the best cabaret talent America has to offer. Sue Matsuki, co-author of So You Want to Sing Cabaret (with David Sabella) is a master of the craft. She was the fourth in the lineup, which allowed the Fiesta’s students to see how it’s done. She is an experienced, confident artist who has nearly 20 for venues to choose from. Mark Hartman, producer of Fiesta, asked for her mixed-bag version of The Gals That Make Me Sing, which featured four acts divided by musical genres: pop, blues, country, and jazz.
One of the secrets of being a good performer is the ability to ease your audience into you and your show. Don’t go all the way on the first date! Matsuki started easy with three American Songbook arrangements, made famous by gal pals Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, and Eydie Gormé. Next, we were treated to a quartet of classic pop songs that Matsuki made her own. In particular, she took the Julie London hit “Cry Me a River” and turned it into a “Fuck you, get out of my life” anthem. She introduced “My Secret Love” with a vivid story about one of the first gay wedding receptions ever held; we all went there with her and rejoiced. Tracy Stark, who is also a singer/songwriter, was perfect on the piano, and added her original, “Mr. Moon,” to close out the pop section. It was a generous, classy, and smart choice by Matsuki.
As we moved into the blues, Matsuki let out the knock-your-socks-off comic entertainer, especially with two little-known songs: “The Snake” (Oscar Brown, Jr.) and “Breakfast Blues” (Trout Fishing in America, Keith Grimwood & Ezra Idlet). She has a fascinating past that includes being the daughter of a Harley-riding Swede and has seven Harley-riding brothers. She thought she was the oldest living virgin because no one hits on a girl with seven biker brothers.
Matsuki was in great country-music company with Patsy Cline, Miranda Lambert, and Reba McEntire. She has a strong voice that has several distinct registers. She has the range to keep us interested in her songs and stories, but she never got caught up in vocal prowess for its own sake. This cabaret show built perfectly into its final act, which featured jazz songs; for that, credit goes to both Matsuki and her director Lina Koutrakos. Matsuki’s jazz gals were Sarah Vaughn, Billie Holiday, Lila Samulina, and my favorite, Ella Fitzgerald. She built from “Misty” to her final song, “How High the Moon,” that included the mangled lyrics on Fitzgerald’s Ella in Berlin recording. It felt spontaneous and just like a musical dessert.
With Sue Matsuki and The Gals That Make Me Sing, one could have absorbed all the advice that is in So You Want to Sing Cabaret.
