Barbara Carroll at the Algonquin

A SUNDAY JAZZ BRUNCH

Jazz pianist and vocalist Barbara Carroll began her seventh season at the Oak Room this afternoon and it was like stepping back into a golden era when cabaret in New York was the height of sophistication. The tiny room was packed with smartly tailored white-haired gentlemen with their elegant stick-thin wives, all here to pay tribute to the 86 year old Ms Carroll whose previous professional home was the Cafe Carlyle.

You could hear a pin drop as Carroll and her longtime bass player Jay Leonhart presented a glorious set beginning with Irving Berlin's "Slumming on Park Avenue". Her elaborate musical intros often left one fascinated as to where Carroll was heading before she'd suddenly launch into the familiar chords of "Autumn in New York" or "Let's Face the Music and Dance" or "There Will Never Be Another You". Highlights included a medley of "Is There Anything Better Than Dancing?" (from NICK & NORA) and "Dance Only With Me" (from SAY, DARLING) and a stunning ballad by Dave Grusin and Marilyn & Alan Bergman called "A Love Like Ours" which left both of us sobbing wrecks. Thank goodness for the camouflage of soft candlelight. A happy surprise addition was  24 year old Aaron Weinstein from Chicago, looking for all the world like a 12 year old Yeshiva boy, who rose from the audience with his violin to join Carroll and Leonhart on hot Grappelli-esque renditions of "Just One of Those Things" and "Body and Soul" which brought cheers and all around predictions of certain stardom. The presence of jazz legend Tony Bennett in the crowd added to the sense of occasion and we emerged into the afternoon sun feeling as mellow as Matilda the Algonquin cat.