I’m Feeling Good
I’m Feeling Good
Starring Marie Olivia Bryant
Musical Direction by Jeanine Nesbit
Spotlight Cabaret Series
March 16, 2016
Winter Park Playhouse, Winter Park FL</strong>
The spotlight cabaret series here at Winter Park Playhouse has been a raging success for a number of years; musically it’s hewed to a “Show tunes and Pop standards” line that took few risks but sold many tickets. Tonight there’s a new tack and the music squarely lands in Jazzland. Nina Simone and Etta James inspired the set list and her tunes arrive in a scat style that impresses but doesn’t allow for much humming along. Singer Bryant is a Rollins alum and she’s traveled far. Here version or vision of Jazz gets its influence from the post war era; and she opens with “I Loves You Porgy” from Gershwin’s famous opera. The song is sad and touching and delivered with a style that leaves a tear in your eye. From here Bryant heads down a modern pop route with numbers from “The Bodyguard,” Amy Winehouse and even CeeLo Green. Backing her is “Lady J” (Nesbit) and her Jazz piano styling pairs perfectly with Bryant’s voice. It’s also kind of odd-feeling, I honestly can’t remember the last show I saw here that wasn’t ivoried by the absent Mr. Leavy. I thought he homesteaded the place.
As we draw to the midpoint Bryant introduces the concept of a “Shero Song”; this neologism or portmanteau is here terms for powerful female “I Am” songs. The specific example tonight is Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” re-arranged for Bryant’s skills and style. As the evening wraps up; it’s soon encore time and we finally hear the titular song originally performed by Nina Simone. It also audience sing along time and that’s (never one of my favorite activities; no one would pay to hear me sing, least of all me. The lyric we were assigned was simple but rather repetitive, but there you have it: This show offered Scat and Jazz and a unique experience on Orange Avenue.
For more information on Winter Park Playhouse, please visit http://www.winterparkplayhouse.org
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