The Bay Area singer known for her alternately laconic, smooth, hip, swinging and deeply felt performances of songs drawn for the age of perfect rhymes and pure melody has pulled from the world of the movies for her new show, We're in the Money. Remaining performances are 7:30 PM June 3-5.
The jazz-kissed evening features songs new to fans of Whitfield's many albums, plus a couple of favorites (the encore is a rueful "My Buddy," reportedly played over the silent picture, "Wings," which she has previously preserved on disc).
The eclectic songlist includes sprightly and playful versions of "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?" (the Disney lark from the "Three Little Pigs" animated short) and "At the Codfish Ball" (a Shirley Temple treat); a ruminative "Laura"; a pressing of Leslie Bricusse's "When I Look in Your Eyes" and Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer's "Whistling in the Dark"; the Billie Holiday standard "The Blues Are Brewin'"; Charlie Chaplin's "Smile"; a sly take on Mack Gordon and Harry Warren's "I Know Why (And So Do You)"; a duet of "They Can't Take That Away From Me" between Greensill and Whitfield; and more.
If you care about American popular song, do not miss Whitfield in person (or on disc). Cabaret and concert stars Steve Ross and Julie Wilson were at the Wednesday night show. Shouldn't you be there this week?