Mabel Mercer Sings Cole Porter
Born at the turn of the century, Mabel Mercer dwelled at the heart of cabaret culture, first as a dancer in Paris's legendary Bricktop's and then as a singer in New York, influencing artists from Frank Sinatra to Bobby Short. Her precise articulation and developed sense of a song's drama defined cabaret singing, and those skills are ideally suited to Porter's songs, what with their sculpted ironies and casual melodies. Her art is especially apparent on Porter's less-celebrated songs--like "Ours" and "I Am Ashamed That Women Are So Simple"--the crisp minidramas and period pieces that haven't become standards. Beneath their polished surfaces and perfect diction, Mercer's performances are able to suggest different depths of character and restrained passions.--Stuart Broomer