Musical director: Dan Stetzel
At: Davenport's
Phone: (773) 278-1830;
$22 (plus two drink min.)
Runs through: Oct. 31 (Fridays only)
Laura Nyro was one of the most prolific songwriters and performers of the 1960s and 1970s. Her music was a powerful—and timeless—blend of jazz, folk, gospel, classical, and soul. Before her death at age 49 from ovarian cancer in 1997 (leaving behind her partner Maria Desidero), her music and her voice made a profound influence on pop culture. Her compositions were so versatile that such diverse artists as Barbra Streisand, the Fifth Dimension, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Chet Atkins and many others recorded it.
And now, Davenport's, one of Chicago's most pleasing and intimate cabaret venues (why aren't there more places like this?), has resurrected the best of Nyro's songbook and created a show that is one of the more powerful musical experiences around. Nyro, I think, would have been pleased with the dynamic quartet of voices that bring her music to rousing, and often-poignant life. Taking turns going solo and joining together for some incredible harmonies, the four women assembled here are incomparable in their richly textured voices, spot-on phrasing, and heartfelt interpretations.
The show opens with one of Nyro's most recognizable tunes, the charged 'Stoned Soul Picnic,' blending pitch-perfect four-point harmonies that almost make you want to gasp with the perfection of it, and close your eyes to savor its richness. The high standard that Alison Bazarko (who also did many of the arrangements), Jennifer Chada, Jeanne Croft, and Keely Nicole set with this auspicious beginning never flags. Croft mists eyes with her touching, 'I Never Meant to Hurt You.' Chada takes a gospel-flavored turn with 'And When I Die' (which became one of Blood, Sweat and Tears greatest hits). Nicole breathes new life into the lesser-known 'Japanese Restaurant Song.' And Bazarko touches a nerve with her exquisitely rendered and soulfully felt 'Billy's Blues.' Together, the quartet brings back Nyro's fascination with girl groups and does a toe-tapping medley of songs from her cover album with LaBelle, including such gems as 'I Met Him on a Sunday,' 'Gonna Take a Miracle,' and 'Jimmy Mack.'
And those are just the highlights. This is fine accomplished work from four soulful, beautiful women who share an obvious love for one of pop music's most influential artists. It's hard to believe that these four are together for the first time here, so accomplished are the performances and the melding of their strong voices.
The women are backed by a great five-piece ensemble, which includes Doug Bush on drums, John Walsh, guitar, Mark Hogan, bass, Mike Torti, EWI and reeds, and Dan Stetzel (the musical director responsible for such past Davenport's hits as last year's revues of the music of Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits), piano.
When this show ends with a pull-out-all-the-stops rendering of 'Wedding Bell Blues,' you want to cheer. And you also want more, which is, as every good performer knows, as it should be. It also begs the question, posed in 'Jimmy Mack' … 'When are you comin' back?' Stoned Soul Picnic: The Music of Laura Nyro is slated to close at the end of October; if there's any justice, it will be extended again and again.
Note: Davenport's will be bringing legendary songstress Ann Hampton Callaway to their stage in November as part of the festivities surrounding the fifth anniversary of this gay-owned venue.