I’m always thrilled when I see people cheer for a Cabaret show. When I walked into Jillian Laurain’s “Hello Gorgeous!” salute to Barbra Streisand at the Laurie Beechman tonight, I was thrilled to see that the place was packed. It was terrific to see so many people who regularly attend Wednesday night at the Iguana in Jillian’s audience. I could see the incredible amount of work that went into this show. She really went for it, with top notch musicians and the whole nine yards. It was joyful to see the standing ovation she got at the end of her performance.
Cheers to you, Jillian,
Bobbie Horowitz
Thanks Bobbie, You hit it right on the mark! Last nights show at the Laurie Beechman was "out of this world". Jillian's performance of "Hello Gorgeous" was flawless. Her voice was in such fine tune and her selection of songs was just perfect. The best musicians in the business, a packed, and I mean a packed house made this evening a wonderful event. Jillian had everyone in the palm of her hands as she took command of the stage. The ballads, soft and sweet, and those big up tempo numbers had you on the edge of your seat. And she is so funny! It was also great to see so many of her friends and "fans" at the show. It was a "magical" evening and I can't wait to see what see has up her sleeve for her next show. See you all at the Iguana. Congratulations Jillian!
Warren Schein
Thanks for a wonderful show last night. I thought you and your band were terrific. Great arrangements, you sounded wonderful and you looked glam. What could be better?
Sarah Rice
It was a total joy to be among your adoring fans Saturday. I was certainly cheering as loudly as anyone for your vocal pyrotechnics, your joyful, witty presentation and chat. You made songs that were very familiar seem fresh. Your musical ensemble was superb! How could you help communicating the great time you were having as you showered us with love (seasoned with rue) in your inimitable way!
Jackie Draper
Just got back from Jillian Laurain's fabulous new show at the Triad. She looked and sounded beautiful and gave the audience a wonderful evening.
Helena Grenot
So what else can I say…You were phenomenally great last night. Looked beautiful…comfortable…engaged the audience…sung from the heart. You’re a terrific talented performer, singer…keep doing it. Looking forward to your next performance.
William P. Conroy
Felt every song you performed was a jewel. You put together interesting contrasts of tempos and genres with equal perfection. You really gave a thrilling show - Everyone there had to know they expeienced someone who reached into their whole life's musical training to create something truly unique.
Phyllis Cortese
Had a great time at your show. The band, the choice of material, the arrangements, the voice! All top notch and completely entertaining.
Julie Reyburn
Nice to meet you last night... I enjoyed your show and you and the band sounded great in the room.
Peter Martin, The Triad NYC
You delivered! I always knew you could and you did. Your transition from opera to "belting" was flawless and you had the "Joint Jumpin" ! Classical to Jazz, no problem. The arrangements, the delivery. You should be the female voice for the very next James Bond feature film because. “Nobody Does It Better”.
Michael McDonald
Michael, I coudn't have said it better! Brava Diva!
Richard Skipper
Hi Jillian, What can I say, WOW! I loved “Johnny Guitar” and the jazzed up selection from Carmen! The back-up trio and your muical director really added to your talents! Your stage presence was confident and sexy!
Terry Gargiulo
Jillian, the consumate performer giving your all to your fans. Your voice is something to admire I am hooked!
Eileen Fisher
ROY SANDER REVIEW
"A rare blend: A beautiful classically trained voice and classic supper-club elegance, meshed with perceptive interpretations, a flare for the dramatic, and the ability to be equally persuasive whether singing with exquisite delicacy or getting down and wailing."
Roy Sander, critic for BistroAwards.com
A Tribute to Barbra Streisand
by Stephen Hanks
Cabaret Scenes
April 9, 2011
www.cabaretscenes.org
"Taking on the Streisand songbook not only requires talent, it takes humor, emotion and, most of all, chutzpah, all of which Laurain displayed in spades during her one-performance-only show. It’s hard not to relate to and pull for an entertainer paying passionate tribute to her musical muse, especially when that hero is one of the greatest singers to ever grace a stage or screen. But talk about a tightrope walk! Too much stylistic interpretation and you run the risk of turning off an audience intimately familiar with the material and the sound. Too much homage and you fall into a morass of mimicry.
But Jillian Laurain brings too many years of experience in opera and cabaret singing to step on those tribute show landmines. Throughout her 19-song set (plus the opening medley, which began perfectly with “Look at That Face” from Roar of the Greasepaint… and ended with “I’m the Greatest Star” from Funny Girl), Laurain was touchingly reverential but always stayed true to her own powerful and technically proficient voice (with the exception of the obligatory Streisand-esque “Hello, Gorgeous” greeting at the end of the medley). Looking lovely in black from neck to toe, including a classily feminine tuxedo jacket, Laurain launched into a musical Babs biography, delivering those dreamy ballads from Streisand’s early albums and television specials.
…If the midpoint of the set had a theme, it wasn’t about the choice of songs or a particular period of Streisand’s career. It was more about Jillian expressing her deeply personal adult life journey through emotionally charged songs such as “He Touched Me” (Milton Schafer/Ira Levin) from the My Name Is Barbra, Two album, a lovely “unplugged” version of “Why Did I Choose You?"
...The final third of the set fittingly focused on Streisand’s greatest movie hits and the order of the songs was almost operatic in structure. The sequence began with Laurain’s evocative “Evergreen” (from A Star Is Born) and transitioned into a wistful “The Way We Were” before reaching a crescendo with the classic Funny Girlsongs: “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” “People,” and “My Man.” There was only one more place for this daughter of Russian Jewish immigrants to go, and when she soared on “A Piece of Sky,” from Yentl, it wasn’t just Jillian Laurain that was flying, but her entire audience."
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