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We few lucky people are once again starting another year of song and stories through the art of Cabaret at Morgans.

I have been writing about Morgans for many years, always in the hope I can get one or two to try something a little different from their usual musical diet.

I grew up on the songs I hear at Morgans. Like George Clooney, who had the benefit of his aunt Rosemary, I had the gift of my uncle John Hall. Certainly not as famous as Rosemary Clooney, my uncle was a music man who always brought the party.

His big claim to fame to you, would be, he was an early teacher of jazz guitarist Pat Martino.

I remember coming home from school to my rich aunt Veronica’s storefront home, and as I walked in the door, a finger to her lips telling me to be quiet because my unc was with Pat, ‘the protege’.

“He’s with Pat” was all the whisper any of us needed to be quiet.

Much later on in our life a joke was made of a sign, “QUIET! Genuis at Work”. Were the sign or idea around in the 1950’s it would have been in my rich aunt Veronica’s home when Pat was taking his lesson.

Pat was twelve or thirteen, maybe as young as eleven. I would be quiet and listen as the two of them went through some jazz tunes like Bye Bye Blues or Satin Doll.

Satin Doll Bye Bye Blues
Pat was special. We always had to be quiet. Hally would always give Pat extra time. Always telling his father Pat had to practice more. “At least half an hour a day”.

When Pat and his dad would leave, Hally was always in a good mood. He expected so much from Pat. But Pat wanted to skip this and skip that, not practice enough, still he had so much inner talent, like most proteges, he just picked up what he needed and never looked back.

Some of my earliest memories are about music.

But when we start about music I have too many memories to share all at once. It would take a book.

Point of all this is Barbara and I were lucky enough to hear and see Andrea Marcovicci singing a loving tribute to Richard Rodgers and Lorenzo Hart.

We love, I love, the Cabaret, because it takes me back to some irreplaceable days I spent with some loves of my life. The people, the music, not much around us anymore, but always in my head and heart, and sometimes, during these Cabarets I can go back for just a moment.

Ms. Marcovicci interprets and makes each familiar song her own. Some compare her to Sinatra but it is not in her voice but in her translation of the heart and soul of a song that this is true.
She gives you a familiar song in a way you’ve never heard it before.

I do not think I will ever listen to, “My Funny Valentine”, in the same way ever again. Thank you for making this song new.

I love her intelligence and humor.

She has done a bit of research and, (Barb and I both love this part of Cabaret,) teaches us, shows us and tells us about the maker of the words and the maker of the music she is presenting.

It is obvious she has fallen in love with her subject.

Andrea Marcovicci gives you an opportunity to fall in love.

You can fall in love with her, you can fall in love with the music, you can fall in love with the one you are with.

Or fall in love with all three. No wonder the French love us.

If there is somethig better than this I have not found it.

That is the beauty I have been so desperatly trying to get you to try and enjoy at Morgans.

Andrea ends her engagement Sunday the 28th of September. Call for seats 215-569-9700.

Of course like most folks sharing their talent and love at Morgans if you miss them in Philadelphia you can catch them at the Algonquin’s Oak Room or other New York venues where they pay real money for the show!

Thank you Andrea, you were lovely.

More wonderful musical experiences to come and it is not too late to suscribe to Morgans Cabaret Series at the Prince Theatre.