I've always wanted to see Eartha Kitt, in performance, but my budget didn't stretch to the prices for her cabaret appearance at the Cafe de Paris (Coventry Street, London W1) in the 1950s. Earlier this year - she's now 81! - she got exceptional reviews for her appearance at the Shaw Theatre and, later, at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival. I heard that this performance had been recorded for CD and, even better, for DVD. SFE Network SN6590 (best deal hmv.online for £12 99). The DVD also has EK in Conversation (good stuff, too) 17 mins + an encore from her gig 'Alone' - a bit daft as it should have been part of her concert.
"The most exciting woman in the world" Orson Welles (1950)
"I am the creme de la creme of cabaret" Eartha Kitt (2008)
And she really is. This is an astonishing performance and she covers Sondheim, Vernon Duke/Yip Harburg, Dorothy Fields, Cole Porter, Murray Grand/Elisse Boyd, Lester Judson, Marve A Fisher, - a heart breaking tribute to Edith Piaf with several songs - Jacques Brel, Kurt Weill, & Ervin Drake in an 85 minutes gig.
Daring to start with the sheer range of Sondheim's 'I'm Still Here' and instead of finishing on a note of defiance:
"I got through all of last year
and I'm here, I'm still here"
she chortles after the first line as if she can't believe her luck. No drama queen, she!
Sends herself up when she hits the opening notes of Uska Dara bang in the centre - stops to say 'At 81 you don't know how that's gonna come out..' - although we already knew that she wouldn't tackle what she couldn't do. I've watched the DVD 4 times, aware of a formidable technique - she instinctively knows when to pause, or send a meaningful glance with split-second timing - but not, at any time, is there a feeling of autopilot performance. La Kitt has been performing for 65 years! I looked hard to detect where the wheels were turning but she remained concentrated and sustains direct contact. I got a clue in her 'Conversation' bonus track. She spoke about always being 'responsible' in her work - how ironic in a week of cruelty and abuse in broadcasting - and 'always keeping in step all the way' when working. Quite astonishing.
A gorgeous full length velvet dress (dark purple) with a side-split to show a finely proportioned leg. She is backed by a quintet of musicians whom I'd happily go to see in their own right. My only quibble is that the "mix" is occasionally out-of-kilter. During my last viewing I concentrated entirely on their work which is a treat.
Daryl Waters Musical director/piano (for the past 25 years)
Joe Friedman Guitar
Luico Hopper Bass
Brian Grice Drum
Carlo 'Gogo' Gomez Percussion
I shed the years with Eartha
when she sang 'Just An Old Fashioned Girl':
"...I like Chopin and Bizet
and the songs of yesterday;
string quartets and Polynesian carols..."
