There is much to adore here. Barbara thrillingly is up to the challenge on these 14 songs. "Too close for comfort" (Bockmeiss/Holofcener) is shattering, taking your breath away. Her high notes were higher than high. "Speak Low' (Nash/Weill) has an under your skin vocal. Barbara has created a fine musical setting for this evergreen. "The Gentleman ls A Dope" (Rodgers/Hammerstein) dramatically sets the stage with a fine novel anangement. We get to better understand all the many meanings of this neglected song.
In Tune International - READ MORE
If somehow Julie Andrews and Joni Mitchell’s dna got mixed together and the resulting lady went into the studio in say, the late 60’s or early 70’s, to record a "cabaret" album in the style of the day, it might well have come out something like this. Barbara Porteus’ debut album is a throwback, in a very nice way, to the kind of albums people used to make. Interesting and diverse song choices, fresh arrangements and a lovely voice that is right at home with each of the varied styles of music included here. There are a number of standards (“too close for comfort,” “I’ve got the world on a string,” “just one of those things” and a clever and poignant pairing of “I get along without you very well" and “spring can really hang you up the most”) in addition to some familiar songs from the Broadway stage (“if i were a bell,” “speak low”) and a very striking song that I was not familiar with, “A Whole Lotta sunlight” from the musical raisin. Speaking of Joni Mitchell, Ms. Porteus covers two of her compositions, the lesser-known and simply gorgeous “I Had A King” and the more familiar “all i want,” to nice effect. Barry Levitt’s terrific arrangements add immensely to these two selections, and indeed the album as a whole. The musicians are all excellent but in particular, Mayra Casales lends her always unique percussion to the proceedings and has several stand-out moments along the way. Ms. Porteus does have the crystal soprano of a Julie Andrews, the folk leanings of the Joni Mitchell material and a warm and inviting sound that is really all her own to hold it all together. Best of all, it’s a really pleasant listen to relax to, that neither demands your complete attention (if you want to use it as a backdrop) nor disappoints in the slightest, when it’s the center of attention, playing right in your head, via your earphones. Looking forward to the next go-round with the charming Ms. Porteus!
--Daryl Glenn - Nite life exchange
Barbara is a show style singer with a strong voice and a wealth of expression. She performs thirteen popular songs from the American songbooks. Porteus is an accomplished theater performer and her stage presence is very evident as she moves gracefully through each selection. She is very articulate and dramatic giving her all too each tune. Her support comes from a fine quintet including Barry Levitt (p), Mayra Casales (per) and Eric udel (b). Among the best are "the gentleman is a dope" and "too late now".
-- D. Oscar Groomes - O's Place Jazz Magazine
Barbara Porteus & Barry Levitt
I Wish It So
Laurie Beechman Theatre
New York, NY
If you spotted a glow in the evening sky over way-West 42nd Street, it may have been emanating from the audience at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. Their reason: the room’s evening of musical pleasure titled I Wish It So, featuring two top-flight professionals: Barbara Porteus, a lovely, theater-trained soprano, and Barry Levitt, pianist, musical director and all-around man of music.
Barbara Porteus is a warm, bright-spirited performer, whose clear-as-a-bell singing is a comparatively recent addition to the cabaret scene. Having played leads in professional theater productions, she illuminates her songs with the character and meaning that those shows’ original roles required, at the same time delivering her numbers with the intimacy and direct-to-the-audience spirit of cabaret. And, when a song called for it, she was not above bouncing a note effortlessly off the room’s far wall.
The show’s selections, smoothly assembled around the theme of “wishing,” were a mixture of the familiar and the new. Included were numbers by Rodgers & Hart, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Kander & Ebb, Frank Loesser, and Harline & Washington. If the latter pair is unfamiliar, they’re the duo who wrote “When You Wish Upon a Star,” which Barry sang warmly as a solo. Cabaret songwriters represented were the team of Barry and the evening’s excellent director, Peter Napolitano, with their songs “Looking” and “Be Careful What You Wish For,” plus the versatile Ray Jessel, composer/lyricist of the evening’s sweet finale, “If a Wish.”
Barbara & Barry bring this show to Feinstein's at Loews Regency July 10 & 24.
Peter Haas
Cabaret Scenes
May 25, 2011
www.cabaretscenes.org
BARBARA PORTEUS & BARRY LEVITT in I WISH IT SO
THE WEST BANK CAFE/LAURIE BEECHMAN THEATRE (407 West 42nd Street, NYC - 212-695-6909) - Directed by Peter Napolitano with several original tunes by Napolitano & Levitt.
When Barbara sings in her more relaxed, upper register she sounds like Julie Andrews in her prime so her opening number, a BEAUTIFUL tune (written by Marc Blitzstein) called "I Wish It So" (the name of the show) was a combination of a gorgeous sound with a gorgeous song. The song spoke of the unrest inside of her.
This was followed by a great tune (one of several in the show) written by Director Peter Napolitano and Musical Director Barry Levitt called "All in Good Time". Barbara was basically setting the tone of the show of a gal wishing and hoping and wanting but also then telling herself that it will come "All in Good Time" OK ... I'm interested.
By-the-by, this tune was originally written for the lovely Deb Berman for a wonderful show called All in Good Time so it was cool to hear it being used in a different way. Funny how the message of the song didn't change but the use of it in both shows by two different singers made me note what a good song it is (again) in that it's a "keeper" that feels like a standard. I hope more folks will pick it up to perform.
I was then surprised to hear Barry do a solo on "When You Wish Upon a Star" and thought, hmmm, it's too early to have the MD do a tune but DUH ... the show was Barbara Porteus AND Barry Levitt. Don't let anyone tell you that I don't get! LOL! OK ... I got this one a tad late but I got it! I took a class with Barry a while back and knew he could sing but Barry also sings like the rest of us strive to sing ... with purpose and a deep connection to his lyric. It was a lovely moment. He did a few numbers in the show so there was also the man's perspective on what guy's wish for as well.
I am writing like I say I usually don't write, by mentioning all the tunes in the show, but the whole show was composed of great songs of longing and hope in an order that made so much sense so my hat is off to Peter and Barbara on the flow of this show.
Some other songs that stuck out in a good way with beautiful vocals and performance by Barbara were the two other tunes written by Napolitano and Levitt, the really funny "Be Careful What You Wish For" (a tune I want to steal) and a lovely ballad sung with a deep understanding by Barbara called, "Looking". This is a writing team to watch and hire to compose for you. GREAT tunes that held up against other classics like: "Little Girl Blue", "Remember", "I Wish I Were in Love Again". As a matter of fact, when Barbara performed "Be Careful What you Wish For", I actually looked at the song list to see what Broadway musical it was from ... that's how good these tunes are! They feel famous! ...
I see so many wonderful new colors in you, Barbara. with this team. This was the best show that I have seen you do. Brava!
Sue Matsuki - Cabaret Hotline Online
"No room for doubt that see had every right to be confident in her beautiful voice and her vibrant presence"
"Sings in such a way as to convey the feeling that she is singing to you, looking at you, performing for you"
"Throughout the show, her interpretation of each song and manner of expressing it were impeccable"
"Her optimism was very moving"
-- Gloria Taplin, cabaret scenes
"Barbara Porteus commands the stage like a pro"
"She sings her way with assurance through an appealingly eclectic program in a voice equally attractive across her entire range"
"A solid dramatic core, warm and wonderful"
-- Roy Sander, Bistro Awards
"Unlike many classical trained singer who try to cross over into The Great American Songbook, Barbara Porteus give great depth to the meaning of the lyrics with her superior interpretive skills while mesmerizing you with her clear bell like sounds making the experience of seeing and hearing her a series of pleasurable thrills"
-- Joe Regan Jr., Cabaret Scenes
Corines Corner - Interview With Barbara Porteus, Barry Levitt and Peter Napolitano.
