Pat Holley at the Metropolitan Room. Singer/actor Pat Holley brought a quartet of musicians into the Metropolitan Room on February 28, 2010 to do her show called “Tall Songs and Forgotten Gems.” In the band were: Ian Herman, pianist and Musical Director; Tommy Morimoto, tenor sax; Seth Lewis, bass and Steve Little on drums. Looking sleek in a black sleeveless top, long satin skirt and silk scarf, Pat was in high spirits as she entertained the full house of friends and family.

Pat explained that the “Tall Songs” were ones that were difficult to sing, and/or obscure, like her opener “I’m All Smiles;” the rumba “Sand in my Shoes,” Cole Porter’s “In the Still of the Night” and “99 Miles from LA,” written by Hal David and Albert Hammond (without Burt Bacharach). She made good eye contact with the audience and was very personable. Pat’s breathy alto voice was perfect for the jazzy tunes that she presented.

The “Forgotten Gems” were made up of standards such as, Rodgers and Hart’s “I Didn’t Know What Time it Was,” “The Man I Love,” “Easy Living” (made famous by Billie Holiday), “But Not for Me” and “I Could Have Told You.”  She sang the verse on Gershwin’s “The Man I Love,” painting a vivid picture with her words and facial expressions. Steve Little played some nice brushwork on the drums, rarely picking up his sticks. On “I Could Have Told You,” pianist Ian accompanied Pat sensitively, and the audience was captivated by the melancholy spirit of this tune.

Pat also wrote music and lyrics to a musical, entitled “Me and Caesar Lee.” She sang a couple of songs from this show, and these animated numbers got a big round of applause. Pat Holley is getting her feet wet again after not performing for 22 years, and would do well to continue diving in!