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Just as you say “Mmmmm”  when anticipating or relishing a delicious meal, the same reaction can happen with tempting, well-prepared, delicious cabaret.  Thus, this new occasional “alert” about music that makes me say, “Mmmmmm.”  This premiere appearance and title is partly inspired by someone whose initials are also M.M.  No, it’s not Marilyn Maye, whom I wrote about recently, but is now back in her home territory of the Mmmmm Midwest.  And it’s not Mary Mary Quite Contrary or Mickey Mouse.

It’s Mmmmmmarissa Mmmmmulder who is doing a mmmmighty marvelous show saluting composer Jimmmmy Van Heusen at the Mmmmmetropolitan Roommmm.  She has one final performmmance this week, on Thursday at 7 PM.  I first encountered her as a prommmmmising contestant in last summmmmer’s MmmmmetroStar Talent Challenge, that singing contest which begins anew next month at the same venue and is currently accepting applications from performers fresh off the bus and with some experience.  I had caught her cabaret debut at Don’t Tell Mmmmmammmma last summer, too, and found her to be delightful.  She’s been working with musical director/pianist/arranger/singer/songwriter Williammmmm (Bill) Zefffiro and this summmmmer can be found at the East Side restaurant La Mmmmmediterrennee on Tuesday nights.   He’s the house pianist that night and she’s the house singer and, depending on how many singers drop in, much of the night is an open mic. 

The show is called Look to Your Heart and has plenty of heart.  At first, you might think Marissa would, could or even should be getting by just coasting on her bubbly personality and naturally ebullient girlish glee with a big smile and cute factor.  She has more bubbliness factor than the night Gigi singing about the night they invented champagne, Bazooka Bubble Gum, Don Ho, and Lawrence Welk’s TV show  -- how’s that for a bunch of dated references?  But there’s more to her charisma.  She spreads joy and can really sing.  Bill Zeffiro’s arrangement’s and guidance make sure she shows her vocal chops and sense of drama, too. There’s a sweetness that has that mmmmmmmm component, but does not cloy.  Among the smart and rewarding choices is the title song of the show which comes from the TV musical version of Thornton Wilder’s classic play, Our Town.  The title song of THAT show is also included.  With wide-eyed romantic looks, a little sashay here and there, and wistful looks, the singer evokes cozy and rosy images from songs Van Heusen wrote with lyricists Johnny Burke (“Polka Dots and Moonbeams,” “Imagination”) and Sammy Cahn (the Our Town numbers written to order for Frank Sinatra, like other numbers presented here).  When she sings about Madison Avenue models, she takes a step or two like a model, when the song is “Personality,” she shows plenty of it, along with the sexier, flirtier behavior for which “personality” is a euphemism in the lyric.  Constantly entertaining and electric, embracing the music and words, sprinkling in biographical tidbits about the writer without lecturing, she hits the right notes in both senses of the word.  Her joie de vivre is infectious, and when she delves into a sad, reflective song like “I’ll Only Miss Him When I Think of Him,” there’s plenty of thinking going on. 

Mr. “Z.” gets an “A” for his strong work here and when they join together in song or the occasional teasing interplay, there’s more pleasure spread.  Karen Oberlin, who recently won the MAC Award for her live Frank Loesser CD on the Miranda Music label and a Nightlife Award, too, is the sure guide as director.  With mmmmmentors like this, it’s no wonder that this young performer just gets mmmmore and mmmmore  wonderful each time I get to see her.  Ending her show with “Come Fly with Me,” including its rarely-heard verse, she closes when she seems to be flying high.  So was I.   

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