WENDY KURTZMAN & WENDY SHERIDAN: TOGETHER AGAIN AT THE KNITTING FACTORY
By Tom Teicholz at 1 February, 2008, 11:28 am
I went to Hollywood last night, not for the presidential debates, but for a more impressive showing: Wendy Kurtzman singing at the Knitting factory. It was like I was transported to New York’s Cafe Carlyle for an evening of song and cabaret.
As Wendy said from the stage last night, there are many Wendys. I know her as a friend, as mother to three great kids, wife to Rick, as part of a fun couple to hang out with, as my camp director in Jackson, Wyoming (not literally, but Wendy is an inveterate planner of hikes in Jackson so when there I just call her). She also has had careers as an actress, casting director, and now as a chanteuse.
Here’s the thing about Wendy — she doesn’t do anything half-way. About a year ago she started taking singing lessons — not from anyone, but from the noted voice coach Calvin Remsberg, and several months after that decided she needed to get an act together. Now most of us would be content to sing in the shower, if that. Not Wendy.
A few months ago I attended a private showcase Wendy performed for family and friends in her living room, accompanied by John Boswell, a noted composer and performer in his own right. She performed a handful of songs, some by Sondheim, some that had been performed by Streisand. Randy Jackson would have been proud — her voice was strong clear, never pitchy — all in all an amazing recital. But was that enough? Not for Wendy.
Which is how I found myself in a sold-out room last night at the Knitting Factory.
Wendy, now accompanied by a band, with John Boswell on keyboards, Adrian Rosen on bass and Brian Boyce on drums, performed an incredible cabaret set of more than a dozen numbers including classics by Burt Bachrach (including songs from “Lost Horizon”), Sondheim, and songs made famous by Barbra Streisand and Linda Rondstadt.
Wendy talked about her life, and wove in the songs in between. She told a story about how early in her career she considered the stage name Wendy Sheridan, and how ever since her brother-in-law, Howard, would tease her saying: “What would Wendy Sheridan do?” Apparently, Wendy Sheridan is a fearless performer, who tells funny stories, and sings beautifully.
For me, the highlights were a performance of “I can’t make you love me,” a song made famous by Bonnie Raitt. She made it deeply, credibly, her own. The other amazing moment came in the encore when Wendy sang Billy Joel’s “Lullabye: Goodnight my angel,” to her daughter, Lauren.
All in all, it was a triumph! [By the way, in case you missed it, that’s the pull quote for the ads, “A TRIUMPH!” says Tom Teicholz, Tommwyood.com”
For one night, I felt transported back to cafe society, to a world of songs and singers, to a night at the Cafe Carlyle.
I have no doubt that Wendy will be singing there soon.
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