2003 Chicago Cabaret Convention - Final Night

THIRD NIGHT AT THE CHICAGO CABARET CONVENTION
Monday, February 17, 2003 - 8:00 pm
PARK WEST, Chicago, Illinois
by Todd Shuman

Please note: No "song lists" distributed at the convention, so some of the song titles in these reports may not be accurate and/or misspelled.

The final night of the 2nd Chicago Cabaret Convention was another winning night of great music. It got off to a great start with Eric Comstock. He performed "Hazel's Hips" and a stunning rendition of "Old Devil Moon." Paula West proceeded to wow the crowd with great versions of "Take Me In" and "Come What May." She was one of the great highlights of the night.

Sidney Myer is well known in New York, and Chicago warmly received him tonight when he provided some much needed comedy with "I Love You Elizabeth Taylor" and "Good Advice." Local favorite Pamela Sue Fox was up next. Ms. Fox showed off her ability to re-interpret songs from the American Popular Songbook with a stunning rendition of Jerome Kern's "In Love in Vain" and Cole Porter's "The Physician." Kat' Taylor, another Chicago favorite, was up next and stopped the show with her "Moulin Rouge Medley" and a song by Chicago songwriter Chuck Larkin, "Glad He isn't Mine." Closing the first act was yet another Chicagoan, Bobbi Wilsyn. Her performance of "Answer Me" and "Miss Celle's Blues" was simply not up to par, and I would have preferred to see a stronger performer close the act.

Phillip Officer never ceases to amaze me, and I was pleased to see him open act two with "Blue Skies" and a beautifully sung pairing of "Be Careful It's My Heart" and "But Beautiful." Mary Foster Conklin has never thrilled me, and I was not excited by her performance of "I'm Shadowing You," but I did find her pairing of "Only a Fool" and "One Less Bell to Answer" very interesting.

Lumiri Tubo thrilled the audience last year, and she did the same this year. The crowd loved her when she sang "Pearly Sue" and "Take Me Home." Local cabaret artist Justin Hayford has found his niche in rescuing obscure songs from the American Popular Songbook, and he showed off two gems tonight with "Us on a Bus" and the very moving "Baby of Mine." Mr. Hayford was followed by another Chicago great, Lucia Spina. She showed off her range and style by performing the very quiet "If I Fell" and the old Betty Hutton belter "It's oh So Quiet." She got cheers from the audience and was one of the highlights of the convention. Closing out this thrilling weekend was the great Avery Sommers who brought the house down with her thrilling renditions of "Thou Swell/This Can't be Love" and "If You Believe."

While exhausting (and a bit daunting), this certainly was one fantastic weekend of talented performers and great music that we'll all be buzzing about weeks from now. I'm once again reminded what talent we have here in Chicago, and I couldn't be more thrilled that all of the hometown performers gave such great performances. Thanks to Donald Smith, the Mabel Mercer Foundation, and all of the participants and supporters for making this such a special weekend!

Todd Shuman

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