Vocalist Phillip Officer returns to Birdland with his new show You Fascinate Me So–an homage to cabaret legend Mabel Mercer–on Tuesday, September 24 at 8:30 PM.Music director Mark Hartman is on piano, Jonathan Michel on bass, Kevin Kuhn on guitar, and Molly Rose on violin.
You Fascinate Me So explores the evolution of American popular music, and a creative coterie of songwriters crafting a contemporary style of song in the early 20th Century.
No understanding of the American popular song is complete without the knowledge of Mabel Mercer and her influence on lyric interpretation. Her perfect diction and honest interpretation of lyrics attracted many of America’s rising singers to learn her style: Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Peggy Lee, and Bobby Short. What they learned from Mercer transformed American culture. Tin Pan Alley was expanding its trunk of tunesmiths to include Broadway’s brightest composing stars: Cole Porter, George & Ira Gershwin, Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein, Cy Coleman & Carolyn Leigh. The chic supper clubs and smokey saloons were a perfect playground for the intimate art of cabaret, while the current musical jazz age was in full swing.
Officer has sung in myriad venues ranging from the Broadway stage, Carnegie Hall and the Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel. He originated the role of the “Geek” in the Broadway Tony-nominated musical Side Show, in addition to creating a leading role in the musical Starcrossed at the Goodspeed Opera House-At-Chester. He’s also made guest appearances with Michael Feinstein in Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall. As a featured soloist, other New York credits include: Symphony Space, Kaufman Theatre at 92 St Y, Russian Tea Room, and Rainbow & Stars.
There is a $30 music charge and a $20 food and beverage minimum. For reservations, please call (212) 581-3080 or visit www.BirdlandJazz.com.
Birdland is located at 315 West 44th Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues) in Manhattan.
