How Jeff Harnar manages to be a preservationist and make things sound fresh at the same time is a mystery. Some of this can undoubtedly be attributed to partnering for 39 years with the impeccable Alex Rybeck, but the vocalist’s disarming sincerity/personal take is noteworthy. This adroitly constructed, entertaining show – deep admiration for its subject without fawning – arrives a wellspring of positivity at a time when optimism is in short supply.
The evening’s mash-up opening includes “Hey Big Spender” (with Dorothy Fields, Sweet Charity), “Hey Look Me Over” (with Carolyn Leigh, Wildcat), and “Hey There Good Times” (with Michael Stewart, I Love My Wife). There’s modest swagger in Harnar’s step as he travels the stage taking in a packed room, connecting with his audience. Listen for personal inflections embedded in familiar material.
“Cy Coleman said everything you need to know about him is in his music, so let’s get to know him.” Harnar begins by sharing his own introduction to the composer (at age seven), later adding brief stories of two face to face meetings as well as droll anecdotes. Patter is well placed and just enough. Rybeck unobtrusively accompanies these with melodies of aptly related shows.
Harnar calls the unexpected “Everybody Today is Turning On” (with Michael Stewart, I Love My Wife) Coleman’s “Varsity Draaaag.” He mimes drawing on a joint. “Now it’s pills, now it’s pot/Now it’s poppers and God knows what…” he sings, eyebrow metaphorically raised. The jaunty song ends with “fun, laughs, good times,” a fitting lyric comment from Sweet Charity. Awareness of “A Doodlin’ Song” (with Carolyn Leigh) came with Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) and Rob Petrie’s (Dick Van Dyke) PTA performance from The Dick Van Dyke Show. Rybeck and bassist Jay Leonhart add vocal back-up. It’s utterly charming.
“Witchcraft” (with Carolyn Leigh) emerges as if through a lighting gel or backroom smoke. The vocalist turns in rather than looking at us. Every intake of breath adds to effect. Selective use of pristine tenor adds frisson. A superb arrangement. “So Little Time” (with Michael Stewart, cut from Barnum) arrives much the same way with meditative gravitas. Harnar makes this emotionally halting without breaking longline, flannel notes.
A highpoint this evening is the exuberant performance of “The Rhythm of Life” (with Dorothy Fields, Sweet Charity). Harnar declares that one rarely hears Rhythm outside of the score because it requires “props.” His group duly dons sunglasses. Leonhart and Rybeck again join vocally with the latter often in counterpoint. Everyone on stage appears to be having a grand time. It’s FUN! Also from Charity, “My Personal Property” feels palpably as if the vocalist is sharing a surfeit of sentiment. Special lyrics by the ever clever Barry Kleinbort bring it up to date.
“As much as I loved these songs in my forties, I love them so much more now that I’m in my sixties,” the artist declares. “The Best is Yet to Come” (with Carolyn Leigh) rides Leonhart’s cool ballast as Marc Phaneuf’s birdlike flute darts around the lyric. Harnar’s knees bend, his hands fist, he bounces. Buoyancy will out.
Harnar and Rybeck’s companionable “We’re Nothing Without You” (with David Zippel, City of Angels) leads to one of the best encores ever. A highly restrained snippet from “If They Could See Me Now” (with Dorothy Fields, Sweet Charity) arrives veritably burnished with gratitude. A few chords and an arpeggio make us focus on Harnar’s expression.
Director Sara Louise Lazarus showcases high wattage talent with the less is more physicality that comes naturally to Harnar. Gestures are few. The show is well paced. Internal reflection works side by side with expansive interpretation offering variety. One more low key arrangement sitting on the stool would serve.
Musicianship is urbane and top notch.
Most fans know composer/songwriter/pianist Cy Coleman (Seymour Kaufman 1929-2004) as an author of musical theater. In fact, the classically trained child prodigy was drawn to popular music, particularly jazz, penning dozens upon dozens of songs recorded by iconic vocalists.
Photos by Kevin Alvey
A Collective Cy-Jeff Harnar sings Cy Coleman
Directed by Sara Louise Lazarus
MD/Piano-Alex Rybeck
Bass-Jay Leonhart, Drums-Ray Marchica, Sax/Flute- Marc Phaneuf
Birdland
315 West 44th Street
