Josephine Sanges: How My Heart Sings

Josephine  Sanges’ lush voice unfurls clear, strong, supple. We need no forbearance for warm up; she’s fully calibrated and present from first notes. “How My Heart Sings” (Bill Evans/Deborah Mann) arrives uniquely entwined with “Clair de Lune” (Claude Debussy/lyrics, John M. Cook). It’s colored classical, but without pretension.

“Lately, I’ve been thinking about what it is that makes my heart sing… it’s making pottery and making music, but what really brings me joy is doing those things with people I love.” Paul Williams/Roger Nichols’ “I Won’t Last a Day Without You” follows tender and engaging. “When there’s no getting over…” eyes close, voice opens-“that rainbow…” Sanges’ warmth permeates the room. 

“From six to sixteen, my best friend was this little portable, General Electric radio,” she tells us holding it up. “Anything I needed to know about life and love…” A medley of songs from those years treats pop with the value it held. Sanges appears younger, lighter. “Somewhere around 1977, my braces came off and everything started to change” precedes “I Feel the Earth Move” (Carole King). “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love?” (Melvin and Mervin Sands) begins a trajectory including heartbreak and recovery. Clever and well executed, but excerpts of fewer songs would serve.

Bart Howard’s classic “Fly Me to The Moon”, with full out, period-bland, 60s arrangement, was the vocalist’s entry in a Metrostar Contest (years ago). Just as I’m thinking treatment is all wrong, Sanges
tells us that critic Roy Sander did just that at the time, suggesting she connect to the lyrics. The revision
is just right. “In other words,” she speaks, head tilts, “darling, kiss me.,” she sings.

“It’s said that the lyric is the most important thing. I don’t disagree, but I want to put a word in for melody. Lyrics are like the boat, melody the ocean.” Arnett Cobb’s “Smooth Sailing” as sung by Ella Fitzgerald, is entirely wordless scat and the highlight of the show. Savory, muscular, and ardent, it pleases and surprises. More please.

John M. Cook and Josephine Sanges

“John (M. Cook) and I get along most of the time…Baby Jane Dexter and her musical director went to couples counseling! We deal with our issues on stage.”“Everything I’ve Got Belongs to You” (Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart) is a prickly duet with a additional lyrics by Cook. The collaborators have worked together ten years tonight. (A proper gift, we’re told, is aluminum.)

“Where Am I Going?” (Cy Coleman/Dorothy Fields) and “Everything” (Rupert Holmes/Paul Williams) both seem like candor, as if she’s singing to a mirror or confiding in her best friend. Every small gesture is more meaningful for its scarcity. Written during the Pandemic “When Music is More Than Music” is an Ann Hampton Callaway poem set by Cook. “Our hearts full grieve/Till the bitterness leaves/and simply the sound of a human voice/Can rescue us back to the shore…”, Sanges sings as if hinting at a miracle.

Arrangements of the three last songs before encore are too similar. Additionally, Cook’s natural fusillade gets a work out tonight.

A wellspring of talent and heart graciously shared.

Photos by Alix Cohen

Josephine Sanges: How My Heart Sings
Directed by Jeff Harnar
Music Director/Piano- John M. Cook

ALSO November 22, 2024

Pangea
178 Second Ave