Tyne Daly - "Songs"
Rrazz Room, Hotel Nikko
January 12

Tyne Daly is thinking about time these days. Her sparkling debut at the Rrazz Room mixed personal ruminations about the passing of time, lingering nostalgia and future anticipation through both whimsy and dramatic selections. George M. Cohan's bemusing 'Life's a Funny Proposition' reflects on the seemingly strangeness of life. A lovely medley of 'Sonny Boy / Ain't No Sunshine' echoes her wistful thoughts about her all too quickly grownup grandson. Two differing takes on the passage of romance are captured in Marilyn Bergman's restrained longing in 'That's Him Over There' and the defiantly avenging jilted lover of Bessie Smith's 'Send Me to the Lectric Chair'.  She dug back into her childhood memories for an acapella version of
the 13th century's 'O Wailey, Wailey.

Daly is a gifted actress and can commandingly sell a song with a mere gesture or look, perfectly realized in a medley from Jerry Herman's Dear World. Conjuring up the fragile insanity of the madwoman of Chaillot, the songs breathe poignancy by the sheer force of Daly's command and craftsmanship.   Her decision to slow down Buddy Holly's rockabilly 'Oh, Boy' to a slow ballad was insightful and inspired. Daly is not one to sit on her laurels and bask, rather she's built a solid, confident cabaret act that one might expect from a true star.

Steve Murray/Cabaret Scenes Magazine