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On my way from The Metropolitan Room to Don’t Tell Mama in Midtown on Restaurant Row (that’s West 46 Street betwixt Eighth and Ninth Avenues, to those of you who never noticed the street sign or the row of restaurants), I couldn’t help but notice that the Christmas decorations are up around town. And there on the billboards, are ads for the Disney holiday movie, the latest in a long line of screen versions of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Is it time for a pre-Christmas carol? Maybe.
Carole has a sly smile and big voice, both of which she uses with panache, mischievously raising her eyebrows and sometimes the roof. The blues is a favorite shade for this green-eyed belting mezzo. She sings ‘em seriously or playfully, as the mood strikes her. In the MetroStar competition, she captured the audience’s and judges’ attention, fancy and votes with her renditions of such songs as “Folsom City Blues” and “Gimme a Pigfoot and a Bottle of Beer” (appropriate for the two-drink minimum, but no pig feet are served at The Metropolitan Room, at 34 West 22 Street). For information and video/audio of Miss B, see www.carolebufford.com and the club’s website is www.metropolitanroom.com for reservations and full schedule.
So, what do Carole’s shows at The M Room and Don’t Tell Mama’s piano bar have in common? Yes, they both have pianos, but more specifically, they both have the nifty, nimble-fingered NATE BUCCIERI behind the piano. As he was at the MetroStar with a bevy of hopefuls, Nate has been wisely hired as Carole’s pianist/musical director. On December 16 and 21, he’ll also accompany MetroStar’s second place chanteuse, Danielle Grabianowski, as she reprises her impressive and captivating act, moving in December to Mama’s from Metropolitan. Both ladies’ acts are being guided by award-winning director Lennie Watts, who was the MetroStar host-director, and has his own variety show, called Watts Happening? happening monthly at Don’t Tell Mama’s.
Nate is full of positive energy and can smile in any key, tickling the ivories and the audiences’ fancy. Fancy this: he’s become a regular at Don’t Tell You-know-who, playing a couple of nights a week at the piano bar, and a couple of nights a week for the combo open mic and staff shows, playing long sets. I watched him for over two hours Sunday night, singing audience requests like The Eagles’ “Hotel California,” and whatever pop song popped into his head or whatever sheet music floated his way. He even dipped into Carole’s repertoire, with the old lament of being friendless when penniless, “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out.” It’s hard to imagine him being down for long and his tip bowl looked pretty darn full, thanks to the appreciative crowd. Whether accompanying the other singing waiters and bar staff (or audience members brave enough or drunk enough to take the mic) or singing himself, he lights up the room with his smile and bright singing and playing.
So, let’s talk about some of those talented staff members. I got to hear longtime staff member ERIC PICKERING, who has won MAC Awards for Male Piano Bar Entertainer and in the musical comedy category. He put a lot of life in The Life’s “Use What You Got” (he used what he’s got: vocal brio and a bit of bombast). He turned more serious with “I Was Here,” and I’m glad he was and that I was here. MAC winner for female Piano Bar work, and the 2008 MetroStar winner, ANNE STEELE was on hand to rev up the crowd for a ride on the “Midnight Train to Georgia.” And she hushed them with two other numbers (not always an easy task in a crowded piano bar where the conversation and cocktails can be plentiful). The sensational Steele is genuinely exciting, triumphing as she built “Don’t Cry Out Loud” dramatically and vocally, with the audience in the palm of her hand and then they used their own hands to applaud loud and long. Newer staff member ANGIE MCKNIGHT, who claimed to be a trainee (did she say she was in training or that she was on the Midnight Train to Georgia, or was it that she was singing a cabaret gem, written by the husband of musician Georgia Stitt --- who was once a piano bar player at Don’t Tell Mama himself: Jason Robert Brown-- “Stars and the Moon.”). Or was it just an old sweet song that keeps Georgia on my mind? Hmm, I know she got around to “Don’t Get Around Much Any More” …nicely done. Great to have A Little McKnight Music to add to the mix.
Anyway, Nate was great accompanying all these, and another highlight was his work with DAVID FOLEY, JR., particularly their strong duet of The Secret Garden’s powerful “Lily’s Eyes.” David has a Christmas album on sale at the club, but I guess he thought it was a bit too early to glide through a “Sleigh Ride,” or slay the crowd with his big, dramatic voice delivering one of the hymns. It certainly wasn’t a “Silent Night” with all the applause and a lively crowd. I’ll be getting into the Christmas mood shortly and will review David’s CD, Home for Christmas. The piano bar at Don’t Tell Mama is a popular destination, full of good spirits---the liquid kind and the smiley kind. Either way, you’ll feel good.
I also had fun at the open mic/piano bar at The Metropolitan Room, staying for a little while after a show last week. They do the late night thing most Fridays and Saturdays around 11 pm or so. It’s a more relaxed, quieter atmosphere than the other such endeavors in town. If you’re a singer, it’s a place with no pressure and little noise to worry about, and if you’re a non-singing music lover, you’ve also got the Met staff to favor you with song. Another open mic at the Metropolitan is the monthly MetroJam, and its former jazzy and genial singing host, JOE BACHANA returns with his own show the night after Thanksgiving, in-between the award-winning BABY JANE DEXTER (with a new show) and the piano bar. Besides the aforementioned Carole J. Bufford, one of the memorable MetroStar competitors returns for a solo night, the evening before Thanksgiving, November 25. He was the youngest participant and got down to one of the last “cuts” as the race got closer. He turned 16 during the contest! His name is BOBBY CONTE THORNTON, and he made kind of a 
splash… and we’re always thankful (Thanksgiving time or otherwise) to JAMIE deROY AND FRIENDS --- whose generosity and support of cabaret on this website makes this column possible. And there’s more joy in the deRoy "togetherness,” with a show of duets on November 17 (Tuesday) at the Metropolitan. (See the names on the bill below):
http://metropolitanroom.com/calendar/view/744/148
ALSO COMING UP AT DON’T TELL MAMA: I can recommend the comedy (no music) of Stories We Tell Ourselves, a barrel of laughs and wacky tales and underlying friendship among nutty small town characters and road trip memories. The dynamic duo: STEVE HAYES AND TOM CAYLOR (on Tuesday this week)….. Next week there, on November 22 is ANGELA SHULTZ’s show, Kiss Me Like You Mean It, full of smart song choices and dynamism. I give it my kiss of approval, and I mean it. November 23 brings another visit from that young upstart, RAY JESSEL, who is always good for a laugh, or more precisely a few dozen laughs with his original songs; a new addition is about his feelings about turning 80. He puts the “Ray” in “cabaret,” and a Jessel jest is just the best. Another timely tune tells how “Madoff made off with my money”…….. Burned by Bernie in real life, is cabaret delight CYNTHIA CRANE, who is right on the money whether she has it or not, and starts her run on November 30, with reflections on John Denver, Bernie Madoff and Me. Smart, thoughtful, wry and spry, a new Crane show is something I am looking forward to. See the club’s full schedule at www.donttellmamanyc.com
Happy cabaret-ing.
*Rob Lester’s Catch-Up on Cabaret is sponsored by Jamie deRoy and Friends
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