This Is No Dream

Audrey Lavine's initial album, This Is No Dream, grows out of one of her cabaret shows of the same name which was instrumental in her being awarded the 2001 Bistro Award for Outstanding Vocalist. This album demonstrates Lavine's understanding and mastery of the essence of cabaret. This becomes immediately apparent with the eclectic, multi-generational program, which runs the gamut from familiar standards, including "How Long Has This Been Going On," to the tongue-in-cheek "Egyptian Ella" and then to a sultry, provocative "One Mint Julep," where she engages in some heart-to-heart patter. Then there's a combination of edgy in-the-gutter, down-in-the-dumps tunes: "Wail of the Reefer Man," "Caramel," and "Boulevard of Broken Dreams." Then she does a one-woman reprise of the Boswell Sisters' version of "Sentimental Gentleman From Georgia." More versatility is heard as Lavine turns from the glib and flip to an absolutely enthralling, dramatic "This Is No Dream," done in a stunningly pure soprano. It is with the latter style that she leaves the listener with "When You Wish Upon a Star" as the album's coda. Irrespective of the type of song she is presenting or her mannerisms in doing so, Lavine remembers that the main role of cabaret is to tell a story. It's the words that count even more than the music in which they are embedded. The music may make the toe tap, but it's the words that touch the heart one way or another. She gets plenty of help during this performance from Ross Patterson on piano, Ratzo B. Harris on bass, and multi-instrumentalist Aaron Heick, cabaret veterans all. Showcasing the keenly honed multi-dimensional singing endowments of a top cabaret performer, this maiden album is highly recommended.