PHOTOS BY PAT JOHNSON
FOR THE RRAZZ ROOM
LEE HARTGRAVE REVIEWS
THE TIERNEY SUTTON BAND – TAKING THE CLASSICS TO NEW VISTAS
THIS PERFORMANCE WAS JAZZ PARADISE. I’M TALKING ABOUT TIERNEY SUTTON.
She takes the old and true songs like “Cry Me A River”, “Where or When”, “Glad To Be Unhappy” and a surprising arrangement of “Whatever Lola Wants”. That kinda - steamed up the room. Å wonderful and deep meaning “Then I’ll Get Tired of You” (Swartz & Harburg) – makes you revisit your romantic breakups.
Sutton even tackles a little Opera – (Porgy and Bess) and to show how versatile she is – Sutton brings out a lively “Ding Dong, The Witch is Dead” from the Musical Wicked – that is still enjoying a long run at the Orpheum Theatre.
Opening night was very festive. Next to me was singer Madeline Eastman – who brought some flowers for her pal Tierney. And yes, and the end of the show, there was a standing ovation.
Many of the songs that Sutton sings, brings out the pain of love lost – and yet, she manages to somehow turn that around to show you that it’s O.K. Love comes and goes. Even if it’s not returned – you’ll find another.
Suttons arrangements transcend the usual. She has been with the same band (The Tierney Sutton Band) for 17 years. Obviously, they click together. There is good and comforting rapport between them.
Sutton’s great genius is in her talents to transcend genre. She is a symphony onto herself. You kind of wonder what has been going on in her life? With this much emotion – you feel that there must be some dark times in her lifetime.
If you hurry – you can catch the Tierney Sutter Band this evening – before she goes off on tour.
RATING: THREE GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE!!! –trademarked-
http://www.therrazzroom.com/
MAUDE MAGGART AT THE RRAZZ ROOM - MOVING AND ROMANTIC
Intrigue...Jealous...Love...and Escape. What could be more exciting and tantalizing? Maggart treats us to a wonderful evening of songs during the most wonderful musical era of all times. Who could not fall in love with her rendition of "Where or When"? Then she sings the fabulous "Isn't it romantic" (Rogers &; Hart). The wonderful treatment of the world-class songs doesn’t end there. You become the dreamer as she glides in "The Dreamers ((Hart and Hugh Martin)
Maggart is backed up with the wonderful talents of John Boswell Pianist). The two are meant for each other as they meld the wonderful songs of Frank Loesser, Jules Styne, Sondheim, Paul Williams and Billy Rose -- just to mention a few of the greats.
I have seen and heard Maggart several times over the years. And like a rare old wine, she completely has hit the top of her game. She has never sounded better. On each song, she goes for broke emotionally. I didn't want it to stop. Her voice is just perfect for the great music. Not all of the songs are all drama - no indeed, she has a few very funny lyrics from some obscure songs that are just hysterical.
To say that Maggart delivers a radiant performance is really not enough. It is a visually fascinating as well. One of the things that really intrigued me is that Maggart is a little quirky. That I liked a lot. She just doesn't sing - she becomes that singer of the era. There is nothing egotistical about her or the show. Maggart is a fantastic singer. The more I think about her – the more I miss her. Can’t wait to see her again.
RATING: FOUR GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE!!!! (highest Rating) - trademarked-
therazzroom.com.
(((Lee Hartgrave has contributed many articles to the San Francisco Chronicle Sunday Datebook and produced a long-running Arts Segment of PBS KQED)))
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