Cabaret vocalist Wesla Whitfield ends her Lucky To Be Me engagement at Arci's Place in Manhattan Nov. 4, but she and musical director-accompanist Mike Greensill — who is also her husband — shine again in their hometown, San Francisco, beginning Dec. 13.
The gig at Arci's, at 450 Park Avenue, began Oct. 17. The couple will take the show to the Plush Room of the York Hotel in San Francisco Nov. 14-Dec. 10, then offer an Irving Berlin evening called Blues Skies there Dec. 13-31.
In the current show, "Wesla sings her favorites," according to the billing. The onetime opera singer is known for smoothly spinning American pop standards and show tunes, including a wistful version of Leonard Bernstein's "Lucky to Be Me," from On the Town. Her vocal style is alternately world weary and hopeful. It's not uncommon to hear her sing Steve Allen's peppy "This Could Be the Start of Something" and then mellow out with Cole Porter's rueful "Goodbye, Little Dream, Goodbye."
After Blue Skies, Whitfield and Greensill play a Jan. 3-20 booking at the Plush Room, Still Lucky To Be Me.
For Arci's information, call (212) 532-4370. For Plush Room information, call (415) 885-2800. *
Whitfield's CD recordings are available in record stores.
— By Kenneth Jones