Tracy Stark
Inspirations
Act2PV, Puerta Vallarta, Mexico, November 10, 2024
Reviewed by Lynn Timmons Edwards
My first impression of Tracy Stark was that she was positive, talented, on-the-spot creative and a damn fine pianist. I learned that she was also a singer/songwriter and that she plays all over New York City. In class, she made us laugh with her quip about her doing a lot of emergency subbing for music directors/pianists and that her nickname was “Third Call Tracy.” NYC is a big city so that is high praise.
Her cabaret show was the third in the lineup of Fiesta de Cabaret at Act2PV, and she surprised me. How entertaining can a one-woman show be after the likes of Natalie Douglas and David Sabella? She blew me away and included songs that I had never heard before. Her perfect opener was her original “Woman on the Stage”; it felt personal, even though the inspiration for the song came after she had seen our Fiesta master teacher Lina Koutrakos perform at a club in the Village some years ago. It was a great opening number, and it brought us right to the here and now and the magic that had been going on this week.
She honored songwriters/singers Joan Armatrading, Janis Ian, Rickie Lee Jones, Dar Williams, Joni Mitchell, Bruce Springsteen (she is a gender equal-opportunity fan), Jill Sobule, and Jimmy Webb. Stark toured as Lesley Gore’s music director for 15 years and I had no idea that Gore was a songwriter as well as a singer. Stark shared inside stories, including one about Gore’s encounter with Quincy Jones that led to her meeting Phil Spector. Jones stayed up all night to be sure that Gore’s recording of “It’s My Party” got out to DJs before Spector’s version recorded by the Crystals did; and the rest is history.
Stark’s voice was strong and perfect for her singing style. She was masterful in communicating a story to her audience. I never missed one lyric all night, and did I mention that I did not know these songs? She gave us Janis Ian’s “At Seventeen,” which was heartfelt and real, as well as the obligatory “Both Sides Now” (Mitchell. That one reminded me that Stark was one of the best piano-bar hosts in New York City. The most poignant moment came when she performed “When I Was a Boy” (Dar Williams). That song fools you with its implied simplicity but grabs you when the gender tables are turned, and we realize how alike we all are.
Her show was organic. She added two songs inspired by the outcome of the 2024 election: Sobule’s “America Back” and Gore’s “Just Can’t Walk Through Life” (co-written with Gloria Nissenson). She understood her audience and made each musical moment authentic. She closed with another original dedicated to the people who come out to hear live music, “You Gave That to Me.” It brought us full circle. There has been at least one cabaret show of Tracy Stark originals reviewed by Cabaret Scenes; singers take note and check out her catalogue. Patrons and performers I suggest you do not miss a chance to see Inspirations. You may not know what you are in for, but you will not be disappointed.
