It was not surprising to learn that Joelle Lurie has a strong jazz background, since some of the finest moments of her cabaret debut were in the sections that incorporated those skills.  Her voice was more robust than many jazz singers, and enabled her to belt standards as well as pop, often thunderously.

She opened with “This Time Tomorrow,” a rock tune that was oddly suited to cabaret.  With a strong connection to the audience, she wowed us all for the balance of her show. I applaud her jazzy version of the Gershwin rarity “I Was Doing Alright,” as it is not easy to find a Gershwin tune that is not familiar.

A varied menu of standards, rock tunes and originals ("I Don’t Want to Love You" by Matt Van Brink) was rounded out by Stephen Sondheim’s “So Many People” – another tune that has not been done to death.

Ms. Lurie is young, adorable and has a voice of much power and quality.  As with many young singers today, she is at the mercy of a musical director whose talents might not be on par with her potential.  She is not aided by the pianist’s lack of pacing and unimaginative arrangements.  There were practically no instrumental solos - a practice, when not over-done, that can award a singer with proper space and good pacing.  Joelle has the skills to figure this out and I hope she does as soon as she can, because of the fleeting amount of time one has to distinguish themselves from the horde of talented newcomers walking onto the stage every day.

I also implore her not so use so much voice!  The over-belting song after song, lessens the effect of the performance and actually can endanger her superior instrument.  Rather than listening to the Sutton Fosters of the world, she should study the art of Christine Ebersole, Mary Martin and other vocal actresses who husband their talents carefully, while still allowing the audience to feel deeply.   Certainly familiar with jazz, she can go back to Ella; Carmen, et al to confirm that less can be more.  Sure, we all love an Ethel Merman moment, but not a full diet of it in a cabaret show.   Good luck to this talented newcomer!