"Feeling Good" with Tony Middleton Review

From the moment he stepped onto the stage of the Metropolitan Room smiling and looking splendid in a smart vested light brown tuxedo and an open collared white shirt the audience knew the title of the show was true. Tony Middleton was feeling good and he was there to make everyone else feel that way too.

By the end of the hour set they felt so good they wouldn’t let him off the stage. He had to do three encores. How long has it been since that last happened in NYC cabaret? Tony enjoyed it as much as we did. When a performer is that good and sings with such happiness, the love reaches out to everyone in the room and they can’t help going along. Forget your troubles. Forget the weather. Forget the economy. Tony Middleton is here to show you a good time.

If you’ve read this far you know about Mr. Middleton and #1. As far as #2, the songs…he had a varied program chosen to please. He opened with Hoagy Carmichael’s always heart-grabbing “Stardust.” That and several other oldies (“When It’s Sleepy Time Down South,” “Georgia On My Mind,” and this season’s rediscovered “At Last” by Matt Gordon and Harry Warren) all sounded brand new. There were songs from his Broadways career; the rousing hit “I Got Love” from “Purlie” by Gary Geld and Peter Udell and the title song by Vernon Duke from “Cabin in the Sky.” There was a fun newie, at least new to me, “You Turned Your Back on Me” by Sid Wych and Jimmy Steward, a grand version of Kander and Ebb’s “New York, New York” complete with scat and more goodies on to the deeply felt closer “Wonderful World,” Bob Thiele, George David, George Douglas. #3 The musicians…a perfect fit.

The amazing young pianist Jesse Elder headed up the trio of Bob Adkins, bass and Billy Kaye, drums, who provided expert and tuneful accompaniment. As for #4, the comfortable Metropolitan Room always supplies a welcoming environment.

Added to that is the superb work of the technical staff. JP Perreaux supplied flawless sound and enhanced the visual aspect with panoramas of light.

This wonderful evening was a one-nighter. If you missed it you should let the new booker of the Metropolitan Room, Miss Tanya Holt, know that you are sorry and that if she books Tony back you will come.