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Birdland ~ New York, NY
 Karen Mason celebrated her latest CD on Zevely Records, Right Here, Right Now,
for one night only at Birdland, and the audience was delighted
celebrating with her. In her sly witty opener, "Taking A Chance on
Love" (Duke/Latouche/Fetter), she promised, "I'm gonna give my all
again," and she did, backed by Bob Renino on bass, Rex Benincasa on
drums and the talented musical director/pianist Christopher Denny.
Mason's
songbook is vast. A brilliant story-singer, she wraps herself in
character and then watch out! This singer/actress is at her peak. She
mixes old with new for each show, drawing them together in an arc
centered on songs that speak to her. With a versatile and rangy voice,
Mason has blossomed in her interpretations, on the mark with
sophisticated phrasing that delivers compelling drama in each song,
delving into nuances and illuminating them. She is a riveting mixture
of intensity and intimacy, believing in her songs, like Styne and
Merrill's "People," for example, communicated with a unique unaffected
candor.
Singing the
title song, "Right Here, Right Now," by husband, Paul Rolnick and Jim
Papoulis, Mason went for its essence and let the passion galvanize from
there. Rolnick is recognized for writing songs of unmannered sincerity
and love, a hand-in-glove fit for Mason. One highpoint in this show
included “We Never Ran Out of Love, We Just Ran Out of Time,” a song
she has performed for years. If the intimate candor of these songs
evoked a few tears, and they did, Mason played with the humor in other
selections. Her phrasing of the Betty Hutton hit, "Murder, He Said,"
(Loesser/McHugh) built up its storyline as well as its playfulness. She
had fun with Leo Robin and Jule Styne's "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best
Friend." Letting go of the usual coyness, Mason instead delivered it
with a soft twist beat and good-natured, take-it-or-leave-it advice
from one chum to another.
Perhaps
most thrilling was to hear and watch Mason work the song up to the
vibrant denouement, but she also engaged her audience with the tender
Jerome Kern ballad, "Look For the Silver Lining," (lyrics by Buddy
daSilva), no vocal dynamics, just musical magic. Whether igniting the
stage or whispering an introspective ballad, she never fails to deliver
her own brand of honesty and charisma. She was aided in the imaginative
arrangements of Barry Kleinbort, Paul Rolnick, and Christopher Denny.
Elizabeth Ahlfors
Cabaret Scenes
August 4, 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org
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