By Donald True Van Deusen
Two savvy, stylish songsters will opened up The American Songbook at
Chris' Jazz Cafe (215.568.3131) 1421 Sansom St., Philadelphia February 16th.
Lou Lanza and Mary Ellen Desmond
sang songs by Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, Jerome Kern, the Gershwins and
Rodgers and Hart from from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. for an $8 admission. They were
backed superbly by the top flight Bootsie Barnes Quartet with Bootsie on
tenor sax; Sid Simmons, piano; Madison Rash, bass and Dan Monighan on drums.
The songbook concept favored at many sophisticated New York clubs at
considerably higher prices, was conceived by Chris' show manager, Al
McMahon. He astutely picked Lanza and Desmond to open up that book and do
the vocalizing. A finer local pair would be hard to find.
Lanza knows his music book cold. He sings, plays piano, leads a band,
composes and has been working the Philadelphia club scene for several years.
Last summer he led a band with major players such as Larry McKenna, Wendell
Hobbs, and Brian Pastor at Penn's Landing. He has been entertaining at the
Sofitel Philadelphia at 17th and Sansom St., plus gigs at the shore, private
parties and other local clubs including the Four Seasons. He has two CDs in
the works, one just finished called "An Intimate Portrait in Blue."
Desmond is a classically trained singer who can go from pop fun such as
"Cow, Cow Boogie" to Mozart in three octaves. She did a tour in Japan, last
October and has been working at the L-2 at 2201 South St. alternating
Thursday nights with Miss Justine. She has been a regular at Chris' for
years and is a favorite there.
Among the songs they did with sparkling style were such golden gems as:
A Fine Romance, This Can't Be Love, Let's Call The Whole Thing Off, Do
Nothing Till You Hear From Me and My Heart Belongs To Daddy.
If you care about literate lyrics and memorable music, this couple from
Chris' could be your cup of tea.
