Ok, this
is my 3rd time reviewing the Chicago Singer Spotlight and, as with the other two times, I
had a blast! I'm always impressed with the talent that organizers Becca Kaufman and
Amy Mowery schedule each and every month. But for those of you who are new to this, let me
get you up to speed. The Chicago Singer Spotlight is an event held every month at
Fitzgerald's and it gives local singers a chance to shine. How do they do this? Well,
Singer Spotlight provides local singers with both a phenomenal backing band and a great
venue in which to perform. The individual singers provide the backing band with their
charts and each artist has about a half hour to rehearse with the band before the show.
Now a half hour doesn't seem like a long time, but the band is so great that they pull it
off (boy do they ever!). Also, Fitzgerald's is just such a great place. Every thing from
the stage to the sound system is fantastic, and the fact that this is the 2nd year for the
Singer Spotlight to be held there, it also shows the club’s commitment to bringing
new talent to the forefront.
Now on to the show! The four performers were Charlotte Horton, Jen Porter, Stripped, and
Kate Milan. All were in fine voice, but as with anything there were standouts, and
the first was Becca Kaufman. Becca hates when I do this, but oh well, she can sing with
the best of them and no body has her wit and charm when it comes to being a
hostess. The other strong performer was co-host (actually, I think they may both just
host) Amy Mowery, who has a great bluesy voice along with a natural feel for the stage.
Amy performed a knock out version of the Delbert McClinton song "Cease &
Desist.” Each of the four performers also had their moments, for Charlotte
Horton it was "Where is the Love" and "Do You Love Me". Although a
very fine singer, I never found myself completely engrossed in her performance, but rather
more taken in by her voice. So I guess great voice and two out of 4 songs is not bad.
Jen Porter, who plays a very nice piano and has a beautiful voice to match, took me in and
held me throughout her four song set. Two of the songs were original, "Another
Day" and Tonight." My first thought was that she has kind of a Vanessa Carlton
vibe going on, but as she played her set she seemed a little too far ahead for that.
Porter has the pop sensibilities of Carlton, but she's all grown up, and without a doubt
an artist to keep your eye on. Jen Porter has that something that will take her to that
somewhere.
My fav of the evening had to be Stripped, an a cappella quartet. They opened with a
Ben Folds Five number, "Kate,” and went on to do three originals. Every song had
me at the edge of my seat! Four people, no band, and they brought the house down - and me
with it. I was a bit disappointed though, that they don't have a CD out and there was no
mailing list sign-up available. But, this is why the Singer Spotlight is so important, it
opens a door to both the listener and the performer so they can come together for what has
always been a wonderful evening’s entertainment - music and voice.
Last but not least, Kate Milan. This one’s easy and I will tell you
why. There's a singer by the name of Josie Aiello, she's from Chicago originally, and I have seen her perform a few
times. Let me tell ya, Josie is something else, I have her CD and I know her producer.
Anyhow, I'm sitting there and I hear the first few chords of Josie’s song
"Free,” and I just about died. I thought, there's no way Kate will pull this
off, wrong! She did. Kate Milan not only did a great job on that song, but all
of her songs! As with the other performers, she had fun with the crowd, after all
that's what the evening is all about. I have never been to a Chicago Singer Spotlight
where anyone has been disappointed. This says a lot, it shows that the quality of the
singers is first rate and that time is spent in choosing the performers who will be on
stage.
So in closing this little review, I want to recap. Let’s start with the four
wonderful performers, Charlotte Horton, Jen Porter, Stripped, and Kate Milan, who all did
a great job. Although I loved Charlotte Horton's voice, I was never on board with her
songs. The other three performer’s songs went too fast. I would also like to make the
point once again of how great it is that singers have something like the Chicago Singer
Spotlight, because just like the name, it does give singers their chance in the spotlight.
I only hope that Amy Mowery and Becca Kaufman keep doing it and I know one way that this
can happen, and that's if you the reader go out and support it. I know I will, and I hope
you will too. Like I said, it's a blast!
www.singerspotlight.com
Photos provided by Dan Locke from DLL Productions -
dllproductions@hotmail.com
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