There are many cabaret shows in New York, but every now and then there’s a cabaret event, an evening when you feel a shiver of excitement because you know you are watching a future star. Jenna Esposito’s January 11 show at Feinstein’s was titled to uncover Italian-Americans who changed their names to ones that would be more politically acceptable. What was uncovered, however, was an exciting talent.
I admit to a bias. Besides being an Italian-American, I grew up with the songs on Jenna’s program, those made famous by Frankie Avalon, Bobby Darin, Dion, Lou Christie, Dean Martin, and others. Still, I’m a tough audience, feeling, like many of my generation, that these songs are “owned” by the original performer. Jenna has made me a believer. With her powerful voice, irresistible stage presence, and her backup band and vocalists, even the naysayers (myself included) were on their feet.
Italian-Americans are big on family and Jenna’s show was very much a family affair. Her father, Fortune Esposito is her musical director and played guitar, including several impressive riffs, her sister, Kelly-Esposito-Broelmann, along with Rob Langeder, sang backup, David Crone, on piano, Rob Broelmann (Kelly’s husband), on bass, Scott Morehouse, on drums, and Brian Broelmann (Rob’s brother), on tenor sax, accordion, and mandolin.
Mark Rotella, whose book, Amore—The Story of Italian American Song, inspired Jenna’s program, introduced the singer. The show began on a high note with Anthony Dominick Benedetto’s (Tony Bennett’s) “Boulevard of Broken Dreams.” Jenna noted that this was Bennett’s first song to be recorded “under the watchful eye,” of composer and lyricist Harry Warren. (Jenna sprinkled background information on the singers throughout the program. She introduced most songs with the singer’s ethnic name, inviting the audience to guess the well-known name).
Lou Christie (Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco) didn’t see his new name until his song, “The Gypsy Cried,” was released. (He hated the name, wanting to be known as simply Lugee). Jenna had been in touch with Christie, who had hoped to be able to attend the show. Her rendition of “Lightning Strikes,” was a show stopper. (And the women in the audience loved that Christie’s male philanderer was changed into a female one. Yes!)
The hits just kept on coming—Bobby Darin’s “Mack the Knife,” Frankie Laine’s “That Lucky Old Sun,” Bobby Rydell’s “Wild One,” and Vic Damone’s “You’re Breaking My Heart.” Jenna’s performance of Frankie Avalon’s “Venus,” was beautifully wrought, a love song for the ages and for all ages.
The audience got into the action when she sang Dean Martin’s “That’s Amore.” (How could we resist?) Langeder donned mouse ears for “Pepino the Italian Mouse,” bantering with Jenna through the humorous lyrics, in English and Calabrese, of Lou Monte’s song. (For those who never watched The Ed Sullivan Show where Pepino often appeared, the mischievous mouse lived in the walls of a man’s kitchen, came out at night to eat cheese and drink wine, and even befriended the man’s cat).
A poignant moment occurred with Jenna’s performance of “Fa’ L’Amore Con Te” (“Making Love with You”), composed by Ernie Rossi, owner of E. Rossi & Co. in Little Italy. Jenna explained that In 2010, she was scheduled to sing at the San Gennaro Festival. One day, she wandered into Rossi’s store and he asked if she wanted to hear a song he had written. Jenna loved the song, sang it at the festival, and now includes it in her Italian Undercover program. The song, written by Rossi for his ailing wife, is a beautiful ballad and, singing in both English and Italian, Jenna did justice to the song’s heartfelt lyrics.
Who knew that Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler was Italian? Is it possible that the American Idol judge felt pressured to change his name from Steven Tallarico even in the 1970s? Apparently so. Jenna sang Aerosmith’s “Amazing.”
Besides Italian Undercover, Jenna also performs To Connie….With Love, Jenna, celebrating the songs of Connie Francis. She closed the set with Concetta Franconero’s best known hit, “Where the Boys Are.” As always, the song was a crowd pleaser. For an encore, Jenna had the crowd singing along to “Mambo Italiano”, made popular by Dean Martin, Rosemary Clooney, and many others.
Much praise has to be given here for Jenna’s band and back-up singers. What is a rock ‘n roll song without those essential back-up vocals? And this duo—Kelly Esposito-Broelman and Rob Langeder—were marvelous. Jenna joked that Brian Breolmann can play any instrument placed in his hands, during this performance, the tenor sax, accordion, and mandolin. Kudos to Jenna’s father Fortune Esposito, not only for his musical direction, but also for those guitar solos. David Crone (piano), Rob Broelmann (bass), and Scott Morehouse (drums) completed this incredible team of musicians. Bravo!
Jenna observed that fans have embraced the Great American Songbook. Is there room for another, the Great Italian-American Songbook? Jenna thinks so. And after enjoying this stellar lineup of Italian-American hits, sung by such a talented, energetic singer, we have to agree.
Jenna Esposito plans to bring back both To Connie….Love, Jenna, and Italian Undercover this year. Watch Woman Around Town for more information.
Click to read Jenna’s Woman Around Town profile.
