Concert & Published Reviews

Bill Stephens - Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2004

Looking back over the first ten days of the 2004 Adelaide Cabaret Festival, it is difficult not to be impressed by the variety and quality of cabaret that has been on offer. Apart from those acts I have already described in my first report, special highlights this week have been the performances of Steve Ross and Janet Seidel .
Alone at the piano in the huge Banquet Room, dressed in tuxedo and red carnation, Steve Ross enthralled his audience with his perfectly honed interpretations of the songs of Noel Coward, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and even Jim Croce. Ross uses his mastery of the genre to imbue each song with a suave freshness, and reveal subtle insights.

Performing in the same venue Janet Seidel, considered by many to be one of Australia's finest cabaret performers, offered a delicate and engaging tribute to Blossom Dearie with 'Dear Blossom'.

Commencing with a her own song Dear Blossom and singing with just a touch of the fey breathiness associated with Blossom Dearie, Seidel accompanied herself on the piano, sensitively backed by Chuck Morgan (Guitar) and her brother David Seidel (Double Bass) presenting a representative selection of the Dearie repertoire and uncovering many treasures along the way.