Singer Spotlight
Live at Fitzgerald's
Jan. 9th, 2002

By Joseph Filipak

Becca Kaufman & Amy Mowery are doing something that everyone should know about, it’s called the Chicago Singer Spotlight! Why? Well, I’ll tell ya. The Chicago Singer Spotlight gives local singer/songwriters the chance to showcase their talent, and on the evening of the 9^th I witnessed, for the second time, what great talent we have here in Chicago. With all that said, let get to the show, shall we!

First up were the Plunging Necklines. This duet’s mix of folk/rock meets Weird Al Yankovic was first-rate fun! From their take on "These Foolish Things" to their closing medley, "Michael/Sedated/Most Anything", they were never less then entertaining. And to top it off they threw in an opera number, "The Flower Duet from LAMKE". They did in four songs what some bands I’ve seen can’t do in 10 - entertain! And they entertain in such away that it seems second nature and they definitely lived up to the description in the singers bio, "The Plunging Necklines wish to offer up music never before encountered", and then some!

Following The Plunging Necklines was Jenniphre Zias. Her opening song "I Love Being Here With You" had me thinking that I was going to be listening to a lounge singer. OK, there are two things that I want to say about that comment, 1) I like lounge music and 2) even if I didn’t, I would love the way she did it. But as it turned out, her set was mixed. The 4-song set was a mix of jazz, lounge, Latin, and light rock with her cover of the Pete Townsend song "Let My love Open The Door". And here’s the kicker, she did it all great! She has one hell of a voice and she knows how to make a song her own. Jenniphre has an ease and grace that only comes with time and artists like her are one reason that I walk away from shows saying I’m glad I went, and I am!

After the intermission, Amy Mowery did a BB King song, "Woke Up This Morning" and she nailed it! So much so, that I wished she had sung more, but there is always next time.

Following Amy was Old Town Cool. I have to tell you that I love what this group does, and what they do is a cross between early Manhattan Transfer and Lambert Hendricks & Ross. This four-part harmony in a Jazz vein is always a treat for me and they were just flawless. The quartet opened with "Day by Day", went into "Everybody’s Boppin" and killed me with "Georgia On My Mind". They also surprised me with "Corner Pocket (Until I Met You), a song that I fell in love with the first time I heard it on the Manhattan Transfer album Mecca for Moderns. If you like this style of music, you have to check out Old Town Cool, I know that I will see them again, they were just that good!

Closing was Paula Ramsey, who has a way of performing a cabaret style that is both heart felt and entertaining. Can she sing? YES, she can sing, but she also knows that she is putting on a show and not just singing for a CD. Paula makes you feel that you are a part of her time on stage, does this sound strange? To some it may, but artists like Paula Ramsey feed off the crowd, they love to play live, they love the feedback that only an audience can give. This is what makes the Chicago Singer Spotlight so special, it gives artists like Paula Ramsey, and the others, a venue in which they can play live and it gives the audience a chance to see artists like Paula Ramsey perform. I say this because her beautiful voice is mostly heard in commercials, and it is a treat to hear and see her live.

Closing the evening was Becca Kaufman doing a cover of the Bill Withers song "Lean On Me". She may hate me for this, but oh well, Becca Kaufman has one of the best voices around! And if for no other reason, I will go to the Chicago Singer Spotlight just to hear her sing. It’s either that, or I get married, and I don’t see that happening any time soon. But all kidding aside, what Becca and Amy are doing is a great thing and it’s something that everyone who likes music should check out. Every week they bring in the best talent that they can find, and believe me they find it! And backing this fine talent is one hell of a house band! Tom Vitacco-Guitar, Greg Baroni-Bass, Peter Saxe Keys, and Rick Vitek-Drums. Without question, a band that any artist would be lucky to have!

OK, I gave you the heads up, if your smart you will find your way to the next Chicago Singer Spotlight. Trust me you will have a good time, I know I did, twice!

www.singerspotlight.com

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