Bonnie Lee Sanders is fanciful and moody at Pescatore cabaret

By Lucy Komisar

Bonnie
Bonnie Lee Sanders at Pescatore in New York, photo Lucy Komisar.

Cabaret singer/song-writer Bonnie Lee Sanders is fanciful and moody.   She begins rather optimistically at the second-floor cabaret at Pescatore on Second Avenue singing “Spring is Here,” but then moves into musical angst, of loves that are gone.

She creates an ambiance with songs you haven‘t heard before. They are dark, sometimes French. Of course, you note a Piaff inspiration.

Sanders is inventive, not slick or predictable.  I especially liked her “My Tommy, My Bobby And Me” and “Broadway Moon”  – both her own smart lyrics

She is good at adding accents to create an attitude. She does a nice bit of Billy Holiday with a slightly southern inflection and brings a western nuance to her nostalgic “Old Montauk,” about the east end of Long Island.

Comin’ home from work at night
Feelin’ tired and uptight
‘Cause the city pace just knocks me off my feet

And the sky is out of sight
Can’t tell if it’s day or night
All hemmed in by towers of steel and cold concrete

Bonnie
Bonnie Lee Sanders with Tom Spahn at keyboard and Bob Desjardins on bass, photo Lucy Komisar.

That’s when I dream of old Montauk
100 miles from New York

Where the sea-swept cliffs at dawn
Make me feel I’m bein’ born
As the sun begins to drench the rock-bound beach
And the air is damp with spray

As the sea gulls greet the day
Montauk, it’s the place I want to be

In another mood, her “Fever” is jazzy and sultry, with a touch of sweet elegance.

Smooth accompaniment is provided by Tom Spahn at keyboard and Bob Desjardins  on bass.

The cabaret occurs above the main room of Pescatore, an Italian restaurant on Second Avenue at 51st Street.

Chilean
Chilean Sea Bass at Pescatore Restaurant, photos Lucy Komisar.

I liked the Chilean sea bass delicately set on a bed of Farro, which is similar to lentils. And the Orvieto was perfect, fruity. It‘s so nice to get wine by the glass beyond the by-now boring selections every restaurant offers.

Nothing was boring about this evening.

About Bonnie Lee Sanders

Sanders sings on various Tuesdays at 8pm at
Pescatore
955 2nd Ave, New York City (at 51st Street)
(212) 752 – 7151; reservations recommended for the cabaret.

 

 

 

 

 

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