By Marilyn Lester***The multi-talented David Sabella is a performer who walks his talk. He’s the author (with Sue Matsuki) of “So You Want To Sing Cabaret,” a comprehensive study of the genre, and clearly Sabella knows whereof he speaks—and sings. His post-pandemic show at Pangea, Pandemic Relief, was the marriage of technical perfection with artistic excellence, authenticity and a lot of heart, not to mention Sabella’s clear-as-a-bell voicings. He’s a tenor with a velvety tone and remarkable range that sits well upon the ears. 
Most of the arrangements were by pianist/Music Director Mark Hartman, creatively conceived to be “slightly askew,” reflecting the year of lockdown and uncertainty we’ve spent thus. Pandemic Relief interwove just enough narrative—literate and extraordinarily heartfelt—to a baker’s dozen-plus of well-known, tuneful songs, wittily termed “covid creations.” Several Stephen Sondheim numbers seemed expressly written for the singer, who shone particularly in them via his storytelling ability. “Children Will Listen” with “Sorry Grateful” was a highlight, as was a Gregory Toroian arrangement of “Losing My Mind” with the Rodgers and Hart classic, “It Never Entered My Mind.”
Sabella is also a renowned vocal coach and educator. To attend one of his shows is to experience a master class in the art of cabaret. Along with a polished “product,” the point of performance, of the song, is to tell the story. This Sabella does this with polish and personality, along with a delivery that’s a paragon of animation, vocal control and dynamics. There’s intention, purpose, a narrative arc and a well thought out choice of material that supports and ties the entire package together. And as serious as the topic—pandemic 
reflections—is, never does Sabella become maudlin. Hope is ever present, as with “Accentuate the Positive” (Johnny Mercer/Harold Arlen) with “The Glory of Love” (Billy Hill) and “Time Heals Everything” (Jerry Herman) with “Time After Time” (Jule Styne/Sammy Cahn).
A particularly poignant segment came with the Queen hit, “The Show Must Go On” (Freddy Mercury/Brian May/John Deacon/Roger Taylor), arranged by Rick Jensen, a much-loved pianist-composer-Music Director, whose untimely death in March 2021 shocked the cabaret/music world. While many of the numbers were in ballad tempo, a few benefited by having swing added. “No Moon at All” (David Mann/Redd Evans) had a lively Latin touch and Irving Berlin’s “Change Partners” with Rodgers and Hart’s “Falling in Love with Love,” in uptempo mode, punctuated well the preponderance of croon-tempo stylings. The encore number, “I’ll Be Seeing You” (Sammy Fain/Irving Kahal) put a button on an evening of shared intimacy and splendid emotional and artistic uplift.
Offering solid musical support throughout were Sean Murphy on bass and Mike Lunoe on drums.
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