Cabaret Scenes reviews Bond & Beyond
Cabaret Scenes writes:
The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra was in its pops mode at the State Theatre in New Brunswick where the repertoire was almost exclusively songs, background scores and related music from the twenty-four James Bond films (plus some bonus tidbits). Michael Krajewski conducted the large ensemble and supplied some lighthearted commentary along the way, joking that he had prepared for this event by sitting through a one-day marathon of all the Bond movies. Snippets of the films were shown behind the orchestra.
Debbie Gravitte was the guest vocalist, the perfect choice to sing the James Bond theme songs. She has the big belt of Dame Shirley Bassey and the expressive sadness of Adele, yet managed to put her own stamp on all the songs, all the while gracing the stage in an array of fancy gowns.
After an opening gambit of the pounding “James Bond Theme” (Monty Norman), the lush “Theme from From Russia with Love” segued into Gravitte’s powerhouse rendition of “Diamond Are Forever” (John Barry/Don Black) and a smooth, sensual “Nobody Does It Better” (Marvin Hamlisch/Carole Bayer Sager).
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Hearing these pop themes played by a large ensemble of expert musicians under the guidance of a conductor who understood and had fun with the music, was a treat. Add in the warm interpretations of Debbie Gravitte and it’s clear why the orchestra got a standing ovation.