Marilyn Maye Is A-Maye-Zing
Marilyn Maye is an old-time standards singer who's sort of Helen Lawson meets Anita O'Day, but with a unique sound and an individual spin.
The 80-something singer -- enjoying a career renaissance as the queen of cabaret -- has a voice as sharp as a tool and a personality that's currently lighting up Feinstein's at Loews Regency, making old showtunes (like songs from My Fair Lady) sound completely new, and even daring to do the undoable ("Over the Rainbow," "I'm Still Here") and make them fresh and personal.
What's more, she takes on a newie ("Butter Into Cream" from Catch Me If You Can) and makes it clear it's an instant classic, a story song of the first order.
Best of all, Maye's patter isn't canned. She goes with the moment.
After doing "It Might as Well Be Spring," she joked, "I'm as jumpy as a gentile in the Catskills."
She informed us, "I've had three husbands and a meaningful relationship," then cutely muttered, "He was a bastard."
And her best utterance of all, during one of her wacky moments:
"Music is fun."
Especially when it's Maye at the mic.
If you've got that kind of cash, this is where you should spend it!
Even if you don't.
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