By Jonathan Shade~
The effervescent Andrea Axelrod took the stage on July 7, to a sold out house oozing with anticipation. Armed with a big and luscious voice, Ms. Axelrod charmed the audience with a delightful program entitled “Almost Like Being in Love (songs on the cusp of love)” which means, to put in her own words, “These are songs where Cupid doesn’t quite hit the bullseye!”
The notion of being “almost in love” as opposed to “completely in Love” or “Fresh out of Love” has given both Ms. Axelrod and her music director and accompanist, Barry Levitt an exciting opportunity to offer some different titles from what one hears sometimes too often at cabarets where love is the “topic dujour”. Most songs are about either the beginning or the end of a relationship, but the specificity of this particular moment of a relationship’s evolution is an intriguing idea.
Highlights include a tender rendition of the Bucchino ballad “This Moment”, A spirited “I Double Dare You”, and a beautifully felt performance of Edward Kleban’s “The Next Best Thing To Love”
Joined by Barry Levitt and Jon Burr playing bass, We end the night on a high note and the audience is given what they’ve been waiting for as we hear a delightfully bright and jazzy arrangement of the classic Lerner and Loewe song from Brigadoon, “Almost Like Being In Love” I saw many smiles as I exited the room.
Andrea Axelrod is scheduled to make two more appearances in the near future at the Metropolitan room, September. 8 and October 30.
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