The Music of Johnny Mercer
The Music of Johnny Mercer
John Lariviere and Mark Galsky
The Persian Room Presents
At Ali Baba’s House of Kabob
June 2, 2015
Ali Baba, Longwood FL</strong>
A slow rain fell on this Tuesday night as I drove up to Longwood to seek out a Mediterranean restaurant in a out of fashion strip center. Inside the place was nearly empty, a bing-bong sounded as we entered and a waiter soon appeared. We had our choice of seats. Show time was a ways off, so we ordered food and watched as a thin woman ran back and forth. Her black no-nonsense clothing and roll of gaffing tape shouted “Stage tech!” and she engaged in those mysterious preshow rituals that can become a show in themselves. The Persian room is a typical suburban restaurant but comes equipped with a small stage. Local Impresario Frank Siano has a deal with the place: he runs a cabaret or similar entertainment, they sell food and drinks.
Tonight the talent came all the way from south Florida; John Lariviere wears a smart tux and cummerbund, and delivered a practiced two dozen hits by Johnny Mercer. It’s all classic American Song Book stuff, and he certainly has the voice for it. But his humor was a hard sell with this small crowd; south Florida audiences may like to sing along but we northerners are made or sterner stuff. While Mr. Lariviere is good, Mr. Galsky is exciting: he plays piano with a Liberace flair on the keys and displays a solid black “invisible on stage” look. Trills and crescendo fly, his fingers look like rubber, and by the time they blew out the show with “Moon River,” I was in love with his style. Some of the acts passing though here are local favorites, and support them as they deserve, but this was a surprisingly entertaining hour with talent you may not see without a long ride on the turnpike. Longwood’s not really that far, and the kebabs here are excellent as well.
For more information on events at The Persian Room please visit: www.alibabahouseofkabob.com/events
