Tom Culver

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Tom Culver

The Gardenia, West Hollywood, CA, March 15, 2025

Review and photo by Mary Bogue

Tom Culver

Singer/songwriter Tom Culver dazzled the audience with grace, charm, and a bohemian flair donned in his kimono jacket as he took to The Gardenia’s stage for an unforgettable night of plush music and exceptional storytelling. With the powerhouse trio of music director Karen Hernandez on piano, Michael Saucier on double bass, and Scott Breadman on drums, the show opened with a passionate and swinging rendition of “Take the ‘A’ Train” (Billy Strayhorn/Duke Ellington) that set the tone for a vibrant, globe-trotting evening.

A contemporary of the great Marilyn Maye, Culver—who has studied with her—effortlessly weaved personal anecdotes and musical history into his set. He tugged at our heartstrings with a poignant delivery of “Rain Sometimes” (Arthur Hamilton) and  reminded us that “love is not just for some time… love is for all time.”

The mood shifted to the playful and sultry with “You Don’t Have to Know the Language” (Jimmy Van Heusen/Johnny Burke), which Culver delivered with roguish innuendo and delightful clarity. Cindy White joined Culver for their co-written tune “Spring Is Really Cookin’,” a joyful, swinging number that declared it’s “never too late for love to bloom.”

Culver then transported us to Brazil when “Sand in My Shoes” (Frank Loesser/Victor Schertzinger) eased from a bluesy swing before it ignited into a samba that captured the thrill of romance under starlit skies. The trio then went full throttle on “On Green Dolphin Street” (Ned Washington/Bronislaw Kaper) and brought the house to a fever pitch with a Latin flair.

Culver closed the show with an open-hearted rendition of “I Love Being Here with You” (Peggy Lee/Bill Schluger) that was an affirmation of the affection shared between artist and audience. At the end of the show, it became clear: a night of cabaret with Tom Culver is like boarding a love train bound straight for heaven. If you missed this show, you can find Culver on all the major music streams.

Mary Bogue

Mary Bogue’s journey into the world of jazz began in 1981 when she was accepted by the Monterey Jazz Festival to cover the event as a writer. It was there that jazz tenor saxophonist Buddy Tate introduced her to the legendary vocalist Helen Humes. Their interview, later published in Jazz Dispatch and distributed at the Playboy Jazz Festival, marked the beginning of Bogue’s deep connection to jazz and storytelling. One unforgettable moment came when Humes introduced her to Count Basie, saying, “Bill, this is my friend Mary. Mary, this is Bill.” That simple introduction sparked a lifelong love for jazz and a passion for writing. Among her early interviews was a conversation with the legendary Les McCann, a connection that would come full circle years later when McCann joined Bogue on her debut album, Don’t Go to Strangers, released in 2012. The album, celebrated with a launch party hosted by KJZZ, gained national airplay and recognition. Her follow-up albums, Blue Smoke and One Night of Sin, further solidified her place in the jazz world. In 2015, Bogue was honored as a Living Legend of Jazz and recognized by the Duke Ellington Society, the United States Congress, the State of California, and the City of Los Angeles. Her cabaret career took off at the iconic Gardenia in Hollywood and continued in New York at the Metropolitan Room. That same year, she joined Cabaret Scenes Magazine as a reviewer of both cabaret shows and CDs, continuing to champion jazz and cabaret through both performance and the written word. In addition to her accomplishments in music and journalism, Mary is also an accomplished visual artist. She has designed album covers and created a wide range of artwork, including oil paintings of blues singers and expressive watercolors. Her visual work, much like her music, reflects her deep passion for the soul and spirit of jazz and blues.