By Bart Greenberg***Husband and wife performers and song writers Anya Turner and Robert Grusecki create works of skillful satire and deep emotion. Their new show, Joy & Love, presented at the intimate Sid Gold’s Request Room, was a great showcase for their selections, with a concentration on their newest album, Secret Lovers, 
a fascinating study of the inner life of various celebrities. Bassist Tod Hedrick provided fine musical support and legendary guitarist John Putnam joined in for one of the more rockish tunes, ”Dude Gotta Go.”
Kicking off the show with an announcement that “secrets will be told and mud will be flung,” the pair immediately invited the audience into their world. There wasn’t really much mud thrown around, but there was tender exploration of emotions and personalities. Turner carried the major amount of vocals with her sweet soprano, with Grusecki chiming in at times, including a few solos utilizing his rough baritone. The latter provided fine piano work throughout. “Do Not Ask Too Much of People” was rather cynical advice coming from a mother (set to a lilting waltz) in contrast to the beautiful title tune of far more positive attitude rendere
d by Grusecki.
The contrast between subject matter and musical style is one of the noted approaches of the talented team. Another instance, “Tell Leonard,” was a theatrical “I Want” song in a jazzy swing delivery that slowly revealed itself as the last words of writer Virginia Woolf. Highly unexpected. On the other hand, the Scott Joplin-like rag seemed totally appropriate for the fascinating tale of the notorious Gladys Bentley with “Clam House Blues” and “Human Jukebox,” a tribute to the fascinating trans pianist Billy Tipton, was a complex duet of straight biography. Sheer joy was delivered in Grusecki’s own experience as accompanist for the legendary Helen Gallagher’s performance classes with “Wednesday Night at Helen’s.”
Some of the numbers chosen were simply lovely and gentle, such as “Goodbye to All That,” a tale of growth and freedom, and the highly seductive and intoxicating “Secret Lovers.” Such moments are part of the magic that is the performances of Anya Turner and Robert Grusecki.
Photos by Bart Greenberg
