Singing in the Sun

Traditionally speaking, a preview of the summer cabaret season could be one of the shortest articles imaginable. Each July and August, the high rollers head out to the Hamptons and the big three rooms of the cabaret circuit — the Oak Room at the Algonquin, Feinstein’s at the Regency, and the Café Carlyle — hibernate until the Fall re-awakening.However, the first two of those rooms are climaxing their Spring seasons with big bangs in June, and in the warm months the slack is taken up by such up-and-coming venues as the Metropolitan Room. At the same time, several of the reigning jazz rooms will present more major vocalists than usual.The single biggest event this June is Michael Feinstein’s two-week salute to the late Bobby Short (starting June 5), the all-time king of cabaret, not only featuring the master singer-pianist himself but a dazzling array of nightly guest stars (unconfirmed at press time but rumored to include a certain New Orleans-born trumpet superstar who also runs Jazz at Lincoln Center). The season closes at Feinstein’s with Mary Wilson (Diana Ross’s Supremes co-star) in an engagement that continues the club’s tradition of presenting pop stars in a cabaret context.The Oak Room, meanwhile, will go out with a pair of British debuts, the first of which is a wildcard, the second an absolute must-catch event. I’m not sure what to expect from the Puppini Sisters, who play through June 9, since a few tracks on their breakthrough album are brilliant but most are warmedover Andrews Sisters recreations. On the other hand, Claire Martin (June 29) is one of the finest jazz singers operating today, a European answer to such gold-standard Yanks as Cassandra Wilson and Dianne Reeves.Concert-wise, two of the biggest cabaret-oriented shows of the season will occur at the beginning and end of June: On June 2, Steve Ross will finish the season of Lyrics & Lyricists at the 92nd Street Y with what promises to be an outstanding tribute to the most sophisticated singer-songwriter of all time, Sir Noel Coward. The show co-stars the acclaimed British actress Patricia Hodge and two of my favorite cabaret gals, Nancy Anders and Maude Maggart. The other show, which will be mounted by the JVC Jazz Festival, is an 80th birthday party for Eartha Kitt. Guest stars have been promised though not announced — not that Ms. Kitt requires a supporting cast.One of my most eagerly anticipated events this summer falls in between cabaret and musical theater. This year marked the best season of City Center Encores! in recent memory — all three productions were winners. Fittingly, Encores! is offering an encore presentation in the form of Patti LuPone in the Julie Styne-Steven Sondheim masterpiece “Gypsy,” throughout July (starting July 9). The rest of the cast hasn’t been announced, but if it’s anywhere near as good as the Encores! production of “Follies,” it should be triumphant.Meanwhile, two of the greatest living male singers of jazz and blues (not to mention excellent pianists) will be presented at the Iridium: the marvelous Freddie Cole (June 7) with the great tenor accompanist Houston Person, and the iconoclastic Mose Allison July 5).There are three rooms in New York that present cabaret on or near a full-time basis: Helen’s in Chelsea, Don’t Tell Mama on Restaurant Row, and the Metropolitan Room on West 22nd Street. The latter, which just celebrated its first anniversary on West 22nd, has the most impressive roster of major talents and stars, including one of the greatest jazz singers, the world’s sexiest 76-year-old, Annie Ross.A few of the acts worth catching at the Metropolitan in June are Ms. Ross’s fellow living legend Mark Murphy (June 27), and two recent award-winners, Barbara Fasano (June 30) and cantorturned-cabareteuse Sheera Ben David (June 23). The Met also boasts the distinction of featuring, in the same week, both the youngest and the most experienced performers in the cabaret field: 16-year-old prodigy Judy Butterfield (July 13) and 82-year-old Diva Mother Supreme Julie Wilson (July 18), who could easily be Ms. Butterfield’s grandmother, but can still teach her, or any of these young whippersnappers, a thing or two.

Singing in the Sun

More from the New York Sun

Iran Flew Commanders, Weapons to Houthis in Yemen Ahead of Blockade: Report

James Comey Readies Arguments for Claim of ‘Vindictive’ Prosecution on Charges of Threatening Trump

Beijing Tests American Resolve With Latest Aggression in South China Sea

More from the New York Sun

Iran Flew Commanders, Weapons to Houthis in Yemen Ahead of Blockade: Report

James Comey Readies Arguments for Claim of ‘Vindictive’ Prosecution on Charges of Threatening Trump

Beijing Tests American Resolve With Latest Aggression in South China Sea

‘Motor City’ Has a Novel Premise, But Follows a Familiar Route

A Biography Tells the Truth About the Boy Who Fooled the Navy

Democratic Congresswoman Demands Investigation Into Trump Ties With Tate Brothers Accused of Rape, Human Trafficking

Ex-South Carolina Governor and Congressman Mark Sanford Announces Run for Lindsey Graham’s Senate Seat

The ‘Highly Educated, Downwardly Mobile’ Voters Fueling the Far Left’s Rise