By Bart Greenberg****Rachel Ulanet performed her ambitious show, Keep Me Searching, at Feinstein’s 54 Below on June 22, 2018. The show featured an intriguing song list with a mix of pop, jazz and Broadway numbers, all in one way or another describing the desire for love. Ulanet had top-flight talent backing her up, including director Julie Reyburn, musical director/pianist Matt Baker, bassist Michael Blanco and percussionist Ray Marchica.
Ulanet possesses a powerful soprano capable of going wherever she wishes. She also has a delightful way with funny patter, helping to balance the darkness in the musical material. She described herself at one point, for instance, as a “nice Jewish girl with a spear.” Her patter also helped balance against untheatrical clothing, which made no sort of statement.
Unfortunately, it took a while for the singer to hit her stride. The opening numbers were delivered with eccentric phrasing that muddled the meaning of lyrics over far too busy and complicated musical arrangements. This was especially notable in a version of “My Ship” (Weill/Gershwin), that most delicate of childhood melodies, here buried beneath far too much business.
And then, happily, Ulanet hit her stride about a third of the way into the show, beginning with “Moon River” (Mercer/Mancini), delivered with a light touch. Following this number came a tender version of “Nick of Time” (Raitt) that demonstrated her fresh skill with a lyric. By the time Ulanet got back to a room-shattering “Ease on Down the Road” (Smalls), she had earned the right to go big and the audience willingly went with her.
Ulanet’s encores were her strongest moments: a passionate version of “Mother’s Spiritual” (Nyro) that really seemed to connect with the singer on a visceral level and a gospel style “For Once in My Life” (Miller/Murden) that left a positive feeling behind her. Hopefully, with her next show, Ulanet will find a way to smooth out her attack on her early numbers and invite the audience in rather than trying to overwhelm them.
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