REVIEW: The Life and Loves of a Broadway Baby: An Evening with Melissa Errico at Crazy Coqs

'An outstanding evening of music with Tony Award-nominated Broadway star Melissa Errico with special guest Isabelle Georges and the James Pearson Band' ★★★★★

Broadway star, Melissa Errico brings the Broadway vibe to Crazy Coqs with class and superb professionalism.   With her hourglass figure and glitzy costume, her lovely voice, sonorous and sometimes sultry, she is fascinating to watch.  She has a trick with the microphone, adjusting it to get the best sound possible, there’s no doubt she’s a performer who gives her all to engage her audience, who in turn, appear absolutely spell bound.

Her charming patter throughout the evening comes across as genuine and pleasingly funny, easily winning laughter from the crowd.  It's the kind of smart talk and wit which has made her a successful writer for The New York Times.  She gives insights into her personal background (Italian American). She talks about Italian stew, with everything delicious, just like her Broadway background. She presents stories of some of the composers, with their songs as delightful as Come Rain or Come Shine (sultry), The Man I Love (purring) and one of the most stunning highlights, The Windmills of Your Mind (dazzlingly original … with that special kind of silence from the onlookers).   The multi-talented Errico, who is also a recording artist and author, is sharing some of her best jazz, swing, theatre and film music from her acclaimed albums, and stage roles.

Other highlights of the show, come in the form of Errico’s guest artist, French superstar and fellow Broadway performer, Isabelle Georges.  The pair perfectly compliment each other thanks to Georges having a superb range and at times operatic voice, which seamlessly harmonises with Errico’s voice.   They inject a Parisian flavour with a programme including Jumelles, and You Must Believe in Spring (both by lyricist Michel Legrand and composer Jacques Demy). 

Finally, it’s a pleasure to mention the excellence of the James Pearson Band. The whole is so well rehearsed that the instrumentals begin at exactly the right moment in Errico’s stories, to give a caressing warm up to the start of her songs. The piano (Sam Burgess) is gorgeous and the Sax solos (Graeme Blevins) adds a jazzy vibe.   All round, a delightful evening of music.   

Photos by Danny Kaan

The Life and Loves of a Broadway Baby: An Evening with Melissa Errico

Crazy Coqs, London 10 July 2023

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Melissa Errico with special guest Isabelle Georges and the James Pearson Band: James Pearson - Piano/MD Sam Burgess - Bass Chris Higgenbottom - Drums Graeme Blevins - Sax/Flute

Reviewer:  Heather Jeffery