Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Over at Birdland, JULIE BENKO & EUPHONIC GUMBO celebrate Mardi Gras with style and charm

• By drediman
• February 11, 2025
• No Comments

Last night, I caught the wonderful Julie Benko, who returned to Birdland Jazz Club with her jazz-pianist husband Jason Yeager and his band Euphonic Gumbo for their annual Mardi Gras-themed cabaret act. Although Benko is perhaps best known for being Beanie Feldstein and Lea Michele’s standby in the recent Broadway revival of Funny Girl (she was also noteworthy in Barry Manilow’s short-lived musical Harmony), I would argue that she shines even more brightly playing herself on the cabaret stage, where she can break free from the constraints of musical theater vernacular and fully flex and show off her considerable vocal abilities and innate sense of musicality.

Balanced and well-researched, the show remains accessible and charming as it vividly channels the spirit of “Fat Tuesday” — and by extension, the fascinating city of New Orleans, of which both Benko and Yeager are big fans. Beginning with a rousing march through the sold out Birdland audience (“Basin Street Blues / Bourbon Street Parade”) and ending with a tender and intimate delivery of “Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?” as her encore, Ms. Benko was in superb voice throughout. Indeed, the singing actress is a natural jazz singer, and it was a pleasure to hear her let loose in confident and stylish renditions of “Pretty Baby”, “Let the Good Times Roll / Tipitina”, and her own anthemic “Tomorrow Is a Day for You” (which she wrote in celebration of the passing of the Marriage Equality Act). Also enchanting was her lilting “Lakes of Pontrachrain”, a refreshing detour from jazzy fare into Irish troubadour territory. Throughout, Ms. Benko’s instrument — which is capable of both sweetness and sass — was controlled yet pliable, and wielded with great intelligence and finesse. 

In addition to her merits as an emerging vocalist of distinction, Ms. Benko’s easygoing rapport with the audience and unaffected stage presence was a breath of fresh air — even if occasionally a tad more grounded gravitas would have benefited the set; this will certainly come with time. Over the course of the evening, her banter was cool and engaging, and her occasional off-the-cuff comic remarks would have made Fanny Brice proud (she also somehow amusingly integrated and moderated New Orleans-themed quiz sessions between numbers). The night’s set was skillfully arranged by the charismatic Mr. Yeager, who wonderful led the excellent six-piece Euphonic Gumbo ensemble, who in turn provided Ms. Benko authentically swinging accompaniment song after song.

RECOMMENDED

JULIE BENKO & EUPHORIC GUMBO
Cabaret
Birdland Jazz Club
1 hour, 15 minutes (without an intermission)
One-night-only on February 11