Tom Culver
The Gardenia, West Hollywood, CA, March 15, 2025
Review and photo by Mary Bogue
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.
