Marsha Bartenetti
Love Will Save The Day
Catalina Jazz Club, Los Angeles, CA, May 22, 2025
Reviewed by Mary Bogue
Photo by Saban
It was an evening of grace and resonance. When the night calls for elegance, jazz, and heartfelt cabaret, Los Angeles audiences know to turn to Marsha Bartenetti. Her show Love Will Save the Day was a shining example of why she remains one of LA’s most beloved vocalists. Accompanied by a world-class band and guided by the golden thread of grace, Bartenetti delivered a performance that was both musically masterful and emotionally stirring.
The show opened with the electrifying “Orange Colored Sky” (Milton Delugg/Willie Stein), in which Bartenetti’s nimble timing and control met the song’s vibrant energy head-on. It was an opening that instantly commanded the room, setting the tone for a night rich in variety and vocal finesse. She seamlessly shifted gears with “Them There Eyes” (Maceo Pinkard/Doris Tauber/William Tracey), a sultry nod to the 1930s made famous by Billie Holiday. Here, she let her inner vixen shine—a playful, knowing presence that felt completely natural.
She then moved forward in time to deliver a powerful rendition of Sting’s 1987 classic “Fragile,” accompanied by guitarist Dori Amarillio’s delicate playing and the band’s lush background vocals that enriched the moment. With Steve Rawlins as music director on piano, Rocky Davis on digital keyboard, Robert Kyle on saxophone, Jennifer Latham on bass, and Gordon Peeke on drums, her band provided the kind of musical sensitivity that elevated every note. The lyric “That nothing comes from violence and nothing ever could” seemed achingly timely, a reminder of both the power and the fragility of the human spirit. This poignant performance, also featured on her CD I Believe in Love, anchored the show’s emotional core.
Bartenetti then showed her vocal versatility with the spirited “I’m a Woman” (Jerry Lieber/Mike Stoller), that segued easily into the smoldering “Why Don’t You Do Right” (Joe McCoy/Peggy Lee). Her phrasing—always confident, sassy, and playful—brought new life to these well-loved standards. She followed with a soaring take on Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s “Anyone Who Has a Heart,” which showcased her ability to navigate complex emotional terrain while keeping her audience utterly engaged.
A special highlight came when guest vocalist Gino Gaudio came on stage to deliver a heartfelt, Italian-language rendition of “Come Back to Sorrento” (Ernesto deCurtis/Giambattista DeCurtis), that offered a moment of cultural depth and nostalgic beauty.
Bartenetti’s jazz chops were further evident in “I Could Get Used to This,” the clever and catchy lyrics by Mark Winkler set to Wes Montgomery’s classic “Bumpin’.” It was one of the night’s swinging standouts.
In the show’s final act, Bartenetti connected past and present by singing along with a video to the Kansas classic “Dust in the Wind” (Kerry Livgren), followed by a moving performance of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” She closed the show with Abbey Lincoln’s “Throw It Away,” which earned a standing ovation. It was a fitting end to a night that reminded everyone in attendance that love—through music—really can see you through.
Marsha Bartenetti is more than a vocalist. She is a storyteller, a time-traveler, and a gracious hostess of the vulnerable heart. Her voice lingers long after the final note and invites you to revisit her recordings and relive the warmth she so effortlessly brings to the stage.
