By Marilyn Lester***A redux evening, an album release concert of the actual birthday bash at Birdland last March, Karen Mason’s Birthday Bash at Birdland marked her 10th solo album and was just as much fun and as lovely the second time around. No Groundhog Day rehash this, though; the energy was perhaps even more 
vital and the (yet again) sold-out crowd brought fresh adoration to the proceedings. From opener, “Seasons of Love” (Jonathan Larson, with add’l lyrics by Barry Kleinbort) to the rip-roarin’ closer, “I’m Gonna Live Til I Die (Mann Curtis, Al Hoffman, Walter Kent), which came with a can-you-top-this story, Mason brought her vitality, outgoing personality, enthusiasm and A-list talent unsparingly to the fore. This show was a feast for everybody.
Once again, stalwarts Christopher Denny (music director, piano-arrangements) and Tom Hubbard (bass) gave marvelous musical support. Director Barry Kleinbort could be doubly gratified by the success of the evening, which ended on a tender and heartfelt note. In homage to Mason’s original music director, Brian Lasser, she offered his “Better Days” as an encore, which took on even more meaning as the world around us has grown even more chaotic since the original show. “Take care of each other,” Mason gently said, as we rose to give her a well-deserved standing ovation.
Photos by Maryann Lopinto (Click on an image to view full)
