A few months ago, I met singer Richard Holbrook at another performer’s cabaret show. Holbrook told me about and invited me to his upcoming program of holiday songs, and on Sunday night I saw it at Don’t Tell Mama in Manhattan.
Holbrook has a strong yet warm voice and an openly emotional manner. His show, Christmas in New York, celebrates the special connection NYC has with the holiday season. A native New Yorker himself, Holbrook sings both “Christmas inNew York” and “It’s Always Christmas in New York,” along with staples like “Silver Bells” and “The Little Drummer Boy.” There are also songs not specifically dealing with Christmas, like Irving Berlin’s “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” and Stephen Sondheim’s “Old Friends” and “Children Will Listen.”
My favorite selections were those with a big dose of swing. Holbrook sang an upbeat medley of holiday tunes as arranged by Mel Tormé. Especially welcome was a rendition of “The Glow Worm” with seasonal lyrics by Tormé and Johnny Mercer. (By the way, did you know that “The Glow Worm” is more than a century old? I didn’t, but my friend Barrett Taylor—who attended Holbrook’s show with me—told me that the song was actually played aboard the Titanic!).
In recent years, Holbrook has performed cabaret shows centered around the music of composer Burton Lane. For this program, he sang a little-known Christmas tune by Lane (with lyrics by Dorothy Fields), “Let’s Make It Christmas All Year Round.” While I seriously doubt that it will ever belatedly become a seasonal standard, it was nice to be able to give such a rarity a listen.
Backed by the Tom Nelson Trio, Holbrook was received by a highly enthusiastic audience. I get the sense that he is someone who truly loves Christmas and Christmas music. False enthusiasm for holiday music can be relatively easy to spot, and I certainly felt Holbrook’s sentiments were genuine. The show repeats on Sunday, December 16 at 8:30 p.m. Call 212-757-0788 for tickets.
