Amanda McBroom at Birdland

Amanda McBroom. Photo: Amcbroom.com
Amanda McBroom. Photo: Amcbroom.com
Rating
4.5/5

A full house arrived eager to hear and see Golden Globe winner and Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Amanda McBroom at Birdland in her one-night show entitled “Crimes of the Heart.” She would enthrall the crowd with more than 15 songs.

Collaboration with Michele Brourman

Alongside her musical director Michele Brourman, McBroom sang a litany of hits from her collaboration with Brourman, as well as music written by Irving Berlin, Leonard Cohen, Smokey Robinson, and Stephen Sondheim. Of course, attendees were treated to the piece de resistance, her worldwide hit song, “The Rose,” made famous by Bette Midler, to whom McBroom paid homage. McBroom is also famous as an actress, and the audience was privy to her fantastic wit and sense of humor.

A Great Way to Open

McBroom started  the show with the song “Eggs,” co-written with Brourman, a hysterically funny ditty that asks the question, “How do you want your eggs?” instead of “Do you want to spend the night with me?” What a twist.

It only got better from there. McBroom mentioned she grew up in Texas, a place not like the bright lights of New York City. She was thrilled to be able to perform, she said, after being secluded during the COVID pandemic and singing her song “End of Isolation,” co-written with Brourman.

Irving Berlin

The stirring combination of “Face the Music/Dance Me,” written by Irving Berlin/Leonard Cohen, showcased McBroom’s sultry and deeply stirring alto voice, a pleasure to experience.

When McBroom sang Smokey Robinson’s “You’ve Really Got a Hold On Me,” all spectators became participants in the music, snapping their fingers and singing along to the tune. Her song “Crimes of the Heart” was a stirring ballad that expressed pain like a wounded animal.

Sondheim

In homage to the late Stephen Sondheim, McBroom sang her rendition of what many consider his most famous song, “Send in the Clowns.” Audiences never tire of hearing this sad, bittersweet song, a metaphor for love’s irony that most of us have experienced. She then turned the room from sad to happy with Alan Chapman’s clever piece, “Everyone Wants to be Sondheim.” McBroom is a talented master.

The Rose

Perhaps the biggest treat of the night, other than spending 90 minutes with the accomplished McBroom, was hearing her sing her song, “The Rose,” which Bette Midler sang in the film by the same name. Many other performers have recorded this song, but McBroom’s passion for the story told by the piece was evident, and the audience erupted in several seconds of applause.

I suggest not to miss the chance to see McBroom and Brourman the next time they are in town. In the often frenetic pace of life, it’s a pleasure to slow down and enjoy the music of two highly talented songwriters.

Award Winner and National Sensation

Amanda McBroom became an international sensation in 1979 when Bette Midler’s version of her song “The Rose” hit number one worldwide. Her songs have been recorded by artists including Amy Poehler and Jack Black, Barry Manilow, Judy Collins, Barbara Cook, LeAnn Rimes, Anne Murray, Harry Belafonte, Stephanie Mills, The Manhattan Transfer, Donny Osmond, Kurt Cobain, Nana Mouskouri, Conway Twitty, and The Chipmunks. McBroom has been applauded in concert halls from Carnegie Hall to Angel Place Recital Hall in Sydney, Australia.

She has received a Golden Globe Award, a Grammy nomination, the Johnny Mercer Songwriter of the Year Award, and the Mabel Mercer Lifetime Achievement Award. With her writing partner, Michele Brourman, she has written lyrics for 19 Universal Animation features, including the Land Before Time series and Curious George. She was also a featured lyricist for the classic TV series “Cop Rock.” Amanda has written two musicals, Heartbeats and A Woman of Will, and is a lyricist for Dangerous Beauty, which had its world premiere at the Pasadena Playhouse. Her ninth album of original songs, Voices – featuring a duet with country star Vince Gill – was released on her label Gecko Records and went to #1 on Amazon. Her 2021 single, “Send in the Clowns,” is a tribute to Stephen Sondheim. Amanda’s music is available on Apple Music, Amazon, and www.amcbroom.com.

Birdland Jazz Club

BIRDLAND JAZZ CLUB and Fortune Creative will present Amanda McBroom on Monday, May 2, at 7:00 PM. There is a $40 music charge and a $20 food and beverage minimum. Birdland is located in Manhattan at 315 West 44th Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues). Please call (212) 581-3080 or visit www.BirdlandJazz.com for reservations.

Readers may also enjoy our reviews of Amanda Green and FriendsBirthday CandlesMake Them Hear You, and Eliane Elias at Birdland,

Amanda McBroom at Birdland

PLEASE COMMENT & SIGN UP

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

More to explore...

The home of Electric Lemon at 33 Hudson Yards, New York NY. Photo by Sora Vernikoff

Electric Lemon at Hudson Yards

The Electric Lemon restaurant is located at the top of the five-star Equinox Hotel in Hudson Yards. The rooftop bar boasts an 8,000-square-foot rooftop garden with a monumental Jaume Plensa sculpture. It overlooks the Hudson River and the city skyline. They possess a wide range of food and drinks, from light bites to seasonal offerings at dinner and rooftop brunch on the weekends. It’s open all year round because of the sleek and expansive dining room and fire-pits on the al fresco terrace.

Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Photo from the official trailer. Public Domain

Breakfast at Tiffany’s

I suppose that the title of my blog post, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, is a little misleading because it turned out to be Dinner at Tiffany’s, or more accurately, Dinner at the Blue Box Café. This Cafe honors the romance of the 1961 film starring Audrey Hepburn. Tiffany’s of course was the romantic setting where the lovely Audrey Hepburn went each morning with a pastry and cup of coffee to have breakfast as she window shopped. You might add Breakfast at Tiffany’s to your movie viewing list if you’ve missed it. The song Moon River will have new meaning for you!

Josie de Guzman at The Green Room 42. Photo by Edward Kliszus

Josie de Guzman at The Green Room 42

Two-time Tony Award nominee Josie de Guzman performed her show “Back Where I Started” and enthralled listeners at The Green Room 42.The enchanting and vivacious de Guzman performed a musical biopic of her remarkable stage career. She spoke of the many fellow luminaries with whom she performed and collaborated. The amazing list includes Leonard Bernstein, Nathan Lane, Arthur Laurents, Jerome Robbins, Alan Jay Lerner, and Burton Lane, to name a few.

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x