Mini Concert Review of Ain’t Misbehavin’ at Dimitrious’ Jazz Alley, Seattle WA – January 11, 2011
Mini Concert Review of Ain’t Misbehavin’ at Dimitrious’ Jazz Alley, Seattle WA – January 11, 2011
By Peggy Oliver
When
it gets down to taking an authentic musical tour of Harlem,
composer/musician/entertainer Fats Waller would highly qualify as the
tour guide. His compositions highlighted the ragtime/stride piano era
during the twenties, and his popularity extended overseas to Europe.
Whenever he played the organ and piano, there was an undeniable pure joy
that resonated in his soul. Whether it was a comedic song, melancholy
blues or Broadway, Waller’s music touched many persons through his all
too brief lifetime (he died before age forty). But what a legacy that
the much-decorated New York native left with a testimonial revue
entitled Ain’t Misbehavin’ (named after one of Waller’s smash hits), that first graced the Broadway stage in 1978 and won several Tony Awards.
Since that triumphant launching, the original cash of Ain’t Misbehavin’
was featured on TV, and many traveling companies (including The Pointer
Sisters) have performed Waller’s long line of classic gems such as
“Honeysuckle Rose,” “Black & Blue,” “This Joint is Jumpin’ and the
title song. This latest incarnation of Ain’t Misbehavin’
returns to Dimitrious’ Jazz Alley in Seattle, WA featuring a cast of
five stage veterans: A. Curtis Farrow, Viviane Jett (who was in the 1980
production), Ron Lucas, Dawn Marie Driver and Famecia Ward. The pacing
of the first few minutes was a bit shaky. Yet once Farrow invited the
small but highly enthusiastic audience on a tour of the Harlem
Renaissance, the vocal quintet went right to work balancing a palette of
sassy humor and an intriguing mix from Waller’s grab bag of tunes.
Besides the vocalist/actors, audience participation brought an extra
pizzazz to the stage. All who were volunteered throughout the
performance added some convincing comedic touches. This was especially
the case during the second act on “Your Feet’s Too Big” (where Farrow
nearly stole the show breaking into some funk and gospel interludes) and
“Find Out What They Like.” Other highlights during the thirty-song
revue include “Cash for Your Trash,” “Ladies Who Sing with the Band,”
“Black and Blue” and “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love.” A standing
ovation at the show’s end saluted this riveting tribute to a composing
genius who played a significant role in black music and Broadway music
history.
Peggy Oliver
The Urban Music Scene
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