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 | The Buoyant Spirits Of a Modern Vaudevillian
The comic pop-jazz singer Jim Caruso doesn't do any soft-shoe dancing in his engaging cabaret act, which plays Monday evenings at Arci's Place. But this impish, twinkling-eyed performer still exudes the buoyant spirits of a contemporary vaudevillian whom you might expect to start gliding around the stage at any second.
The Texas-born singer is accompanied on piano by Billy Stritch (also from Texas), who occasionally fills in on vocals. Their easygoing banter suggests a cabaret version of the Smothers Brothers or a friendly sparring match between David Letterman and Paul Shaffer.
Mr. Caruso is an alumnus of Wiseguys, a jazz comedy trio that achieved some notice in the early 1990's. The high point of his solo act is an arrangement by the legendary Kay Thompson of "How Deep Is the Ocean" that begins conventionally enough, then accelerates into a straight-faced jazzy deconstruction that turns nonsensical in the giddiest musical-comedy tradition.
Vocally Mr. Caruso doesn't push himself beyond his obvious limitations. What animates his brittle but serviceable pop-jazz singing, along with a steady sense of swing, is his mischievous sense of humor.
Bob Dorough and Dave Frishberg-s jazz standard, "I'm Hip" has been cleverly updated with references to In Style Magazine and Ricky Martin. And Fred Ebb's comic revision of "The Girl From Ipanema" (it's now "The Boy From Fire Island") takes an easy swipe at a gay stereotype.
Although Mr. Caruso prefers to swing lightly, he has a reflective side that reveals itself in a languid, good-natured "If I Only Had A Brain," from "The Wizard of Oz." But even here you sense an extremely tart lemon tucked firmly in his cheek.
Stephen Holden - New York Times
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| Jim Caruso is the brilliant cabaret performer Will & Grace's "Just Jack" McFarland wishes to be. Caruso handles a comic song with immaculate timing, and then he miraculously makes his elastic funny-man features seductive for the "sex appeal" number. Caruso doesn't promise transcendence; what he promises is a cabaret benchmark ? the above-mentioned comic timing plus foursquare pop phrasing. Yet, as much as he sets a standard, there's a style that's quintessentially Caruso, with two major hallmarks: wackiness and generosity. I mean, who else would even think of doing a (brilliant) Dick Van Dyke medley, or juxtapose songs by Kander & Ebb with songs by "Weird" Al Yankovic? And on the other hand, who else would make a habit of using songwriters as accompanists and giving them a spot to sing their own songs in his own show. This time around, the accompanist is the hyper-talented boy-wonder Johnny Rodgers ? if he doesn't have a Tony for Best Score inside of 10 years, color me shocked. If you love cabaret, Jim Caruso ? Laughing Matters is what it's all about, kids. Don't miss it!
HX MAGAZINE
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| Applause, applause for that Texas tornado, Jim Caruso, who is doing his stuff at Arci's Place on lower Park Avenue. This rare combination of wit, wisdom and whimsy is one of the cutest and funniest guys in town. Lily Tomlin , Linda Lavin, Liza Minnelli, Maggie Whiting have all been in to applaud him. This is not your grandmother's cabaret act! Caruso's youthful vivacity will blow you away! Every Monday this month and July"
LIZ SMITH - NEW YORK POST |
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| Jim Caruso is a transplanted Texas whose witty new act at Arci's (every Monday through July) is called Laughing Matters. It could just as easily be tagged Let Me Entertain You. With style and dash, he entertains musically and makes you laugh yourself silly at the same time. He has the razor-sharp humor of a master clown, his polished singing investigates a far-ranging program of material, and there's a surprise around every bend on his Yellow Brick Road. Accompanied by Johnny Rodgers, a finger-popping pianist with range and style who also writes challenging songs, sings terrifically and looks like Huckleberry Finn, Mr. Caruso fearlessly barges into everything from Kay Thompson to Hank Williams to the Kander and Ebb show tune "Coffee in a Cardboard Cup," which he updates to a broadside against the always multiplying Starbucks, where you need a second mortgage for a mocha-chip frappuccino latte. On "Shy" he hits all the notes Carol Burnett shrieked in Once Upon A Mattress, and even adds a few of his own I special lyrics by Amanda Green. The ossified hillbilly hit, "Hey Good Lookin'" is turned into a creamy love song for a crooning cowpoke in a Stetson by Armani. He's hip enough to appeal to the Cabaret Nazis and still know who Dave Frishberg is. And let's face it, he's probably the only person in show business who has ever done a musical tribute to Dick Van Dyke, a bizarre idea that might be positively alarming were it not so deliberately hilarious. There's more, including a wild arrangement of "The Steam Is On The Beam" that cries out for a zoot suit with a reet pleat, and a downright hold-onto-your-funnybone-cause-it?s-headed-toward-Tallahassee version of Bette Midler?s zany "Otto Titsling," about one Mr. Otto Titsling, "inventor and Kraut," an underappreciated hero in the war on anatomical fashion who created the "over-the-shoulder-boulder-holder" for bodacious ta-tas. It?s a rich, rewarding, action-packed evening of calculated madness and music, with enough fertile imagination to grow zinnias in and no room for boredom. Good thing, too. You need courage, self-confidence and a lot of talent to get away with some of the material Mr. Caruso chooses to tease. It also helps if you are just a little bit insane.
REX REED - NEW YORK OBSERVER
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| Jim Caruso makes his great, great, great Uncle Enrico sound dull. He's brilliant, funny and adorable!
Phyllis Diller |
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| Jim Caruso manages the nearly impossible task of evoking the breezy, sophisticated golden age of nightclub performers, without a breath of nostalgia, while being completely and refreshingly contemporary. He's a terrific singer, too!
Charles Busch, Playwright |
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| In Jim Caruso's new show, "Laughing Matters," he sings a medley of songs associated with Dick Van Dyke. You won't hear that all over town. Iconoclastic and wonderfully cracked, Caruso is the classiest, coolest cat in cabaret. And he makes you laugh with just about every aside he makes, planned or otherwise. This new show, which runs every Monday night in July at 8pm at Arci's Place, is a sleek and sassy comic act that's occasionally punctuated by some very fine music. In particular, Caruso seems to have lived and learned the truths in "All I Need To Know" (Weill/Mann); it's his best serious song in the show. Caruso is also working with a new musical director/pianist, named Johnny Rodgers. Looking like a young Sean Penn and playing with character and style, Rodgers has all the earmarks of a major find. Another major find is the CD "Caruso: Live and in Person" (LML Music), which vividly captures the merrymaking of his Bistro and MAC Award-winningshow last year at Arci's Place. Between the current show and the CD of lastyear's triumph, you will understand why Caruso is such a deservedly popularmusical comedy performer.
Barbara and Scott Siegel - BACK STAGE MAGAZINE, July 20, 2001
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| What a treat Jim Caruso's new show is! He was fun as one-third of the trio "WISEGUYS," 10 years ago. And he's even more fun now, aided and abetted by musical director Billy Stritch, who's done most of the arrangements. Caruso has excellent taste in material, whether he and Stritch are buoyantly singing Johnny Mercer's "Bob White" or easing through Irving Berlin's "How Deep Is The Ocean" in a sophisticated arrangement by Kay Thompson. Caruso's also found witty special material written by Broadway composer Fred Ebb. And he's wisely spotted the worth in John Pizzarelli's "I Wouldn't Trade You." If you can't get into Arci's Place some Monday at 8 p.m. before year's end, order Caruso's new CD, "Live and In Person."
New York Post Cabaret Pick of the Week - Chip Deffaa |
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| Live and in person. As opposed to live but being portrayed by an impersonator? Live but sitting in the other room? Well, that's just the kind of idiosyncrasy that comes with Jim Caruso. And this knockout live (and in person) recording of his superlative cabaret show of last year displays him at all his wonderfully wacky and marvelously musical best. Anyone who had the great pleasure of seeing Caruso perform this humdinger of a show (and woe to those who had the chance and missed it) will greatly enjoy reliving it once again. Those woeful ones who missed it or never had the opportunity will certainly get a first-rate taste of what the live Live and In Person counterpart was like.
Caruso effortlessly mixes his outrageous comic side (the tale of his early days singing Piaf while dressed in black and his mother accompanying him at Stefano's Seafood; a musical tribute to his performing friends; his self-effacing take on I'm Hip; the hilarious closer, Tone Deaf) with a strong musical sense and solid delivery. The dynamic pairing of Crazy Rhythm / Fascinating Rhythm; a tenderly introspective If I Only Had a Brain and a southern, bluesy MissYou Mr. Mercer create an hour that's pure entertainment. Backed by the sometimes jaw-dropping keyboard work from Billy Stritch (who joins Caruso for vocals on several songs, such as the duo's thunderous When I Get My Name in Lights and their ferocious take on the Kay Thompson arranged How Deep Is the Ocean and during the last third of Caruso's expansive 10-minute Massive Mercer Medley), Caruso is quite obviously having a ball. So is his audience during what ends up being one of the most successful captures of a live cabaret performance -- and performer -- in memory, and one that seems equally fresh with each repeated listening. (****)
CABARET SCENES MAGAZINE
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| I love this unique and original CD! When Jim regales you with his songs and stories, you feel like you've made a new best friend! There's only one thing better than listening to the CD...and that's being there in person! Caruso is always the event of the season!
Linda Lavin |
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| CARUSO, LIVE AND IN PERSON stars the popular cabaret performer Jim Caruso, recorded during his August 13, 2000 show at Arci's Place in New York City. There are plenty of humorous stories, jokes and patter on this CD, and they overshadow Caruso's singing talents. But he turns in several fine performances of tunes such as Crazy Rhythm/Fascinating Rhythm, How Deep Is the Ocean, If I Only Had A Brain and a Massive Mercer Medley of over a dozen of Johnny Mercer's songs. Caruso's comedic flair and timing is flawless. He shines with the funny songs I'm Hip, My New Celebrity Is You and Girl From Ipanema re-titled Boy From Fire Island, with special lyrics by Fred Ebb. Accompanying on piano is Caruso's "?best friend and homey, the endlessly hip Billy Stritch." Stritch is a talented musician, and his skill is especially evident during the piano solo interlude of If I Only Had A Brain. For those who've seen Caruso perform in person, this CD is a great momento. For those who haven't seen him perform, this release is sure to create new Caruso fans.
G.C.K. www.ShowTunesReview.com
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| SILK STOCKING STUFFER
When you come right down to it, who wouldn't want to take Jim Caruso home? He's handsome as all get out, charming, witty, talented, and, oh yes, he can really put on a show.
Well, the good news is that he's also available on a wonderful new CD, that is. Caruso Live and In Person was recorded at Arci's Place on Park Avenue South and the CD is one of the finds of this holiday season, a delightful cabaret album that stands up to repeated listening and reveals more subtle pleasures on each listening.
The unmistakable energy and good humor of Mr. Caruso's live shows, with fellow cabaret star Billy Stritch on the piano, has been beautifully captured on this disc. Where other cabaret albums can seem over-produced and excessively veneered, the live format works well for Mr. Caruso, who has an easy rapport with his audience and seems to draw energy from the enthusiastic response to each number.
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| Caruso Live And In Person" is the next best thing to Jim Caruso, live and in person. Nestled in my CD collection between Kathleen Battle and Cher, the uber-talented yet self-depreciating Caruso makes me laugh. A delightful mix of song stylings and humor, this CD turns my home in LA into a New York cabaret. "If I Only Had A Brain" and the "Massive Mercer Medley" are gorgeous and every time I reach the comic "A Song For My Friends" and "Tone Deaf," it's like I'm hearing the jokes for the first time. Also worth mentioning is the value. First Class round-trip to New York from LA: $4,200.00; Jim's CD: $20.00.
Bradley Bessey - Entertainment Tonight |
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| ? How Do I Love Caruso? Let me count the ways?
1. He is funny.
2. He is original.
3. The affection he feels for performing is evident.
4. The affection the audience feels seeing and hearing him perform is also evident.
5. He is better looking than Don Rickles.
6. Also Alfalfa.
7. He brings back fondly remembered days of cabaret.
8. I try hard not to recommend things. It is dangerous. I recommend Jim Caruso.
9. I?ve seen him twice. Also dangerous. Still I was bewitched. What other performer offers "Rhythm in My Nursery Rhyme?" (See #2)
10. I?m tired of counting the ways. Listen to the CD! He?s terrific!
Fred Ebb |
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