Like many of her cabaret singer confederates,
Susannah Mars is active in musical theatre and vocal appearances with symphony orchestras in pop programs. Her debut album certifies that the performing philosophy of cabaret is that the medium is the lyrics. With just pianist Bill Wells in tow,
Mars takes on a musical agenda of mostly unfamiliar works, yet she made sure that each of them had a special story told in the lyrics irrespective of their source, just so long as they are suited to her approach to cabaret, which has a bit of the sardonic in it. Several come from contemporary musical comedy. "Spirograph" comes from Texas Chainsaw Manicurist, a rather giddy musical revue that rather harshly spoofs pop culture and commercialism. Then there's the tune about an ambitious young lady with an unrequited and unfulfilled love for Humphrey Bogart.
Mars borrows from fellow cabaret singer
Amanda McBroom with her "Wheels." Even major contributors to the Great American Songbook, Jimmy Van Heusen and
Johnny Burke, are represented by one of their less enduring tunes, "His Rocking Horse Ran Away," a big hit for
Betty Hutton back in 1944. Accompanist Wells has the perfectly proper touch as a cabaret singer's foil. As one member of the duet, he doesn't take a back seat, but enhances
Mars statements with those of his own -- a characteristic critical to a successful and effective cabaret piano player.
Lee Lessack's LML has a knack for discovering and recording good bistro and musical show singers -- after all, he's not a bad one himself -- and his record stays intact with
Susannah Mars. Recommended. ~ Dave Nathan