Susan Winter
Susan’s Back in Town
Don’t Tell Mama, NYC, August 24, 2026
Reviewed by Alix Cohen
It’s been ten years since Susan Winter graced a New York club. She hasn’t dropped a stitch. Aided and abetted by blue-chip musicians Tedd Firth (MD/piano/arrangements) and Tom Hubbard (bass)—who needs a band?—this outstanding show deserves to run weeks at the kind of chic hotel venue of cabaret’s glory days.
“You wouldn’t believe where I’ve been/The cities and towns I’ve been in,” she sang (“It’s a Miracle”; Barry Manilow/Marty Panzer).
“Now that I’m home again” she continued as the audience responded with encouraging applause. The performer’s vocal shot up and splashed down like a dancing fountain.
“Hello, all my friends, lovers, and other people. It’s been a minute,” Winter began, emanating warmth. The artist leaned out and drew us in unabashedly connecting throughout.
“Let Yourself Go” (Irving Berlin) provoked bent knees, swiveling hips, and an infectious Cheshire-cat grin. She immersed herself, moving joyfully. She was loose, but she was always a lady.
Eight bars of “The 59th Street Bridge Song” skibbled in, then segued into an unsparing rendition of “The Sounds of Silence” (both Paul Simon), reminding us of the song’s political overtones. Piano was emphatic. Her brow furrowed, “the people bowed and prayed,” emerged biting.
A virtuoso of American Songbook, Winter also likes to showcase newer writers. “Se Reposer et Observer” (to rest and observe) (Barry Kleinbort, who also directed the show) was about a Paris flâneur, described as “someone walking the city, finding beauty and poetry in everyday life.” Perched on a stool, she conjured Kleinbort’s painterly images. Piano music was deeply textured. The song was just lovely.
“Not That There’s Anything Wrong with That” (Steve Sieck) was a “road-dog” number about touring musicians. Her resolute attitude and wry phrasing were just right. “The only pay was when we passed the hat/Not that there’s anything wrong with that.”
“Happily Married Man” (Alex Rybeck/Ira Gasman) brought out the comedienne. “I enthrall you when you want to be thralled.” Tongue in cheek, Winter mapped the jaunty melody and lyric zinger.
Dedicated to her husband, “Happiness Is Just a Thing Called Joe” (Harold Arlen/Yip Harburg) was palpably affectionate. Wrapped in silken accompaniment, her vocal control was gorgeous.
A Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller medley led through Motown and rock with fierce power chords and irresistible groove. The mercurial performer serves every genre as if she’s been doing it exclusively.
An extremely original arrangement of “It’s Not Unusual” (Les Reed/Gordon Mills; arrangement by Christopher Denny) transformed generic pop into a thoughtful ballad. “Here’s That Rainy Day” (Jimmy Van Heusen/Johnny Burke) was as muscular as it was melancholy.
The artist was unflagging throughout. Not a gesture was extraneous. Susan Winter is a thoroughbred. Encore!
