Andrea Marcovicci
Andrea Sings Astaire
This disc celebrates the famed singer Fred Astaire. Recreating a nostalgic world of 1930’s black and white glamour, style and sophistication, Andrea captures the unique allure of Hollywood’s debonair dancing star.
“Bejeweled and splendidly gowned, bestowing smiles so radiant they generate actual heat, she wraps us in her fantasy. It is an irresistible conjuring act.” New York Times
“Daring and classy…the kind of torchy grandeur that makes one yearn for the return of the Technicolor musical.” She “has the capacity to caress a song with a warming embrace.” Variety
“An evening of unalloyed pleasures and hidden treasures.” The Philadelphia Inquirer
“Delivered with wit, affection, musicality and a generous helping of swing time.”
San Francisco Bay Times
Marcovicci's effervescence with this material – some 20 songs on 15 tracks – associated with Fred Astaire is simply infectious. From the onset when she gives a gentle insistence to Porter's "Night and Day" to finish (a gently exuberant rendition of Warren and Mercer's "I Wanna Be A Dancin' Man"), Marcovicci delivers these tunes with in easygoing manner that brings to mind Astaire's delivery while simultaneously infusing the songs with her own signature flair – a slight impishness. Her lovely voice – delicate and smoky –caresses each of the tunes almost sensuously. Listeners will find all of the songs that they most associate with Astaire on the disc. Things like Con Conrad and Herb Magidson's "The Continental" from the film The Gay Divorce; the Gershwins' "They Can't Take That Away from Me", and Berlin's "Cheek to Cheek." There are also a few on here that are slightly less familiar like Berlin's "I Used to be Color Blind" from the film Carefree and "The Half of It, Dearie, Blues" from the Gershwins' Lady, Be Good.
Shelly Markham's arrangements for piano, bass, percussion and reeds support Marcovicci's voice and the music marvelously, lending and are the final ingredient in making this an all-around delightful addition to any compact disc collection.
from AMERCIAN THEATRE WEB By Andy Propst
ABOUT ANDREA MARCOVICCI: Andrea Marcovicci, the Queen of Cabaret, "torch singer, spellbinder, heart-breaker" (People) was hailed as the "most Sinatra-like" of the new generation of cabaret performers by Life Magazine. "The most throbbingly irresistible voice in cabaret" stated New York Magazine, while Stephen Holden wrote in The New York Times, "Andrea Marcovicci has an incandescent enthusiasm and a masterly balance between poignancy and wit."
Cabaret legend Andrea Marcovicci has entertained sold-out audiences from coast to coast whenever touring her numerous critically acclaimed shows. She holds the record for the most seasons ever played at New York's legendary Oak Room of the Algonquin Hotel and you can still see her there this year. She's also played to sold-out houses at the esteemed LICEU Opera House in Barcelona, at Town Hall in New York, and at her Carnegie Hall solo concert. Andrea recently celebrated her Twentieth Anniversary at the Gardenia in Hollywood, the Plush Room in San Francisco, and the Oak Room in New York.
In 2005 Andrea released her very own Calendar replete with luscious photos and anecdotes of her life and career in television, film and theatre. An actress and singer, Andrea began on the daytime television series "Love Is A Many Splendored Thing". She debuted on Broadway in "Ambassador", the musical adaptation of the novel by Henry James, staring Howard Keel and last appeared on the Great White Way in Frank D. Gilroy's play "Any Given Day" with Sada Thompson. Her numerous appearances off-Broadway include "The Wedding of Iphigenia", "Variety Obit", and "The Seagull". She performed Ophelia to Sam Waterston's Hamlet for Joseph Papp's Shakespeare in the Park. Regionally, she received rave reviews for leading roles in "St. Joan", "Burn This", and "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" at the American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco and her most recent of many appearances at 42nd Street Moon, SF, (where Andrea had previously starred as Daisy in "On A Clear Day"), in the title role of "Coco", played to sold-out houses. In Los Angeles, she starred opposite Anthony Newley in "Chaplin", portraying all the legendary actor's wives and starred in the Philadelphia revival of "Lady in the Dark" at the Prince Music Theatre. Her film credits include: "The Front" (nominated for a Golden Globe Award) with Woody Allen, "The Hand" with Sir Michael Caine, "The Stuff" with Michael Moriarty, "Spacehunter" with Peter Strauss, "The Canterville Ghost" with Sir John Gielgud, Henry Jaglom's "Someone To Love" (featuring Orson Welles in his last film appearance), and "Jack the Bear", as Danny DeVito's wife. Her many television appearances include "Arliss" for HBO, "Cybil", "Taxi", "Magnum P.I.", "Hill Street Blues", and "Trapper John, M.D.", among others and numerous made-for-television movies. Her last television guest appearance was in Strong Medicine on the Lifetime network. She recently provided commentary for the DVD release of the movie "Someone to Love" and her latest foray into film is the Independent feature, Irene in Time, directed by long-time friend, Henry Jaglom.
Andrea was most honored to usher in the Millennium with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Her concert work includes appearances with the San Francisco Pops, Florida Philharmonic, and Oregon and Ft. Worth Symphonies among others. Her 1993 Carnegie Hall solo debut, with the American Symphony Orchestra, was to a sold-out audience. Prior to that, Carnegie Hall commissioned "December Songs" specifically created for Andrea by Maury Yeston. The concert was then reconceived as a ballet by Lynn Taylor Corbett and premiered with Andrea at The Carolina Ballet in 2002. Lincoln Center commissioned both her Noel Coward show and her "Kurt Weill in America". The latter was recreated for cast and appeared as part of the prestigious Lyrics & Lyricists series at the 92Y where Andrea has four times served as Guest Artistic Director and Director, and twice directed the "Cabaret Concert for Young Audiences" at the New York Cabaret Convention.
Enjoying the intimate art of cabaret performance, Andrea has appeared at numerous prestigious nightclubs throughout the country including the famed Oak Room of the Algonquin Hotel in New York City, The Rrazz Room in San Francisco, Le Chat Noir of New Orleans, The Gardenia in Hollywood, and many others. Her London cabaret debut in 1994 sold out a one-month engagement at the Music Room at Pizza on the Park. Sheridan Morley, theater critic of The Spectator and The International Herald-Tribune, called her "the greatest cabaret star of her generation." Peter Hepple in The Stage and Television Today wrote, "Marcovicci cast her spell, with a voice of supreme tenderness, much rangier than at first appeared, with a thrillingly controlled vibrato, marvelous diction and phrasing that can only come from a skilled actress."
Andrea Marcovicci has performed at the White House and her numerous fundraising efforts have produced everything from building additions to aiding the disenfranchised. In recognition of her accomplishments in the arts, she is the recipient of several awards and honors including three Lifetime Achievement Awards and two honorary degrees.
Easy Listening: Cabaret