The month of October really starts the Cabaret year. After the summer doldrums, and we’re all back from the Hamptons or wherever (actually I had a Manhattan staycation), October is time for the music. So far, I’ve seen some spectacular shows which I will briefly review here, beginning with the delightful Richard Sings Burton at Don’t Tell Mama.

This was the dynamic Richard Holbrook singing an all Burton Lane program of those wonderful songs from Finian’s Rainbow, written with “Yip” Harburg, and songs from other musicals that Lane wrote with lyricists Harold Adamson, Ira Gershwin, Alan Jay Lerner, Frank Loesser, etc. Richard, ably backed by the Tom Nelson Trio and directed by the perceptive Richard Barclay, had an appreciative audience of what I call “music people,” who got what they came for and volubly showed their enjoyment. But, now that I think of it, the songs were so good and Holbrook sang them so well, that an audience of folks who were strangers to both the performer and the composer with his various celebrated lyricists, would have reacted in the same way.

I spent three song-filled nights in a row at the Metropolitan Room. In the first, a jam-packed room was treated to an evening of songs by two tried and true superb performers who chose an eclectic set of great songs for no other reason than that they like to sing them. The husband and wife duo of Eric Comstock and Barbara Fasano gave us a most entertaining time. He sang and played piano brilliantly for himself, and sensitively accompanied her in a program that encompasses great ballads, songs that are fun and funny, meaningful and true by some fine songwriters. You have to be there. Truly a “must see act,” so go see them the next time they are announced, and join their tasteful fans who show up every time.

The next night I heard Italian-American Maria Tecce, who comes from Boston, lives in Ireland and was making her New York debut. She sings quite histrionically, mostly in Spanish. She’s interesting looking and more than a bit bawdy, and perhaps it will turn you on. The small house of mainly friends and family seemed to enjoy her. My reaction? Not my cup of sangria.

The following evening, I saw the most prepossessing West Coast singer/pianist Barry Lloyd. Again, a small house, this time including several of cabaret’s leading stars and a knowledgeable group of music lovers who were WOWED by “Slumming on Park Avenue” (the show’s title and the opening Irving Berlin song) in Lloyd’s all new show, a tribute to Bobby Short. He brought back grand memories of the venerable Cabaret idol, who was, for decades, the quintessential interpreter of Berlin, Coward, Porter, Vernon Duke, Harburg, Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, et al. Bobby Short reigned supreme. Channeling him was, I am sure, a daunting task, but let me tell you, Mr. Lloyd is up to it! With Saadi Zain on bass and David Silliman on drums, and his own considerable pianistic talents, it was all there; a very fulfilling night.

Soon I’ll be back at Don’t Tell Mama to hear the ebullient Chris Barrett, who is rarely in New York these nights, in a new show called When October Goes. I’m looking forward to it, and sorry the review won’t make this deadline.

October is the month to visit New York’s Cabarets, see your favorites, discover some of the new crop of entertainers. I hope you didn’t miss Miss Marilyn Maye, who finished her fall gig at the Metropolitan Room on October 16^th. She’ll be back again, but not this month. Here are a few updates on the rest of the month:

Charlie Dobson with the Matthew Ward Trio at Don’t Tell Mama, Tuesday, 10/20, 10/27 7pm, $20 cover

Jon Peterson in Song Man, Dance Man at the Triad, Tuesday, 10/20, 7pm, $15 cover

Tony Middleton and the Jesse Elder Trio, Kitano Jazz Club, Wednesday, 10/21, 8pm, no cover

Paul Chamlin and Rochelle Breyer with Hollywood to Haymarket”, Don’t Tell Mama, Thursday, 10/22, 8:30pm, $10 cover

George Aline in Taking Chances with Jerry Scott on piano and Chuck Hancock on sax, Don’t Tell Mama, Sunday, 10/25, 8pm, $15 cover

Carol Shedlin in Feeling Groovy, Don’t Tell Mama, Monday, 10/26 and Thursday, 10/29, both at 7pm, $12 cover

Therese Genecco and her Little Big Band with special guest comedian Judy Gold, Iridium Jazz Club, Tuesday, 10/27, 8 and 10pm, $25 cover

Anthony Santelmo, Jr. in Wintersongs, Laurie Beechman Theatre, Friday, 10/30, 8pm, $20 cover