Night Clubs Reviews

May 13, 2007 - Cabaret singer Spencer Day sings at Reno's Studio on Fourth Street

By By Jack Neal

Cabaret singer and emerging singing star Spencer Day sang last Friday and Saturday nights (5/11 & 12/07) in Reno. It was an auspicious debut in the Biggest Little City for a young man whose arrangements were hauntingly lovely, whose original material was very special indeed, and whose singing could not have been more handsomely delivered.

What was missing was an evening of song that might touch listeners with the popular standards, now art songs, for which the singer is so well suited. Where were the Gershwin songs, the Cole Porter songs, the Jerome Kern songs, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera? As good as Day's songs are, his program was too devoid of all other material.

His mini-song cycle about love nurtured, love gained, love tried and true and love lost is exceptional, but by the time it runs its course it runs its course two songs earlier. My complaint isn't the singer and his writing, it's with the programming that was too narrow to carry an evening, even a short one of just slightly over an hour. A quirky and laid-back version of Ray Henderson's enduring "Bye, Bye Blackbird" was an encore. It made one wish for a concert laced with such tunes from the outset.

Day's partner in music is the gifted Yair Elnine who collaborates via cello, guitar, and vocalization. Elnine adds immeasurably to the high artistry of everything presented.

Produced by Diane Dragone of Silver Star productions in Reno's intimate Studio on Fourth Street, the series – formally known as Broadway Divas Come to Reno - is clearly in search of a new name and quite possibly a new home. The hunky and handsome Mr. Day is no diva, but he is worthy of the best in the best Barbara Cook Broadway tradition. The Studio on Fourth Street is a shoe-string venture that's beginning to grow into something special, but that something special has not yet quite arrived. The series was comfortably at home in the Magic Underground Space but that venue is not available enough to plan and set up a series as good as this one. So Silver Star productions is searching for a venue that fits the sophistication of its stars.

Maybe that's what I was looking for and overlooked with Spencer Day. Just maybe he's too sophisticated. A great singer, even a very sophisticated one, needs to sing the great songs audiences love. Come back Spencer Day and sing more of those songs the whole world loves to hear.

For information about upcoming Silver Star productions and the Broadway "Singers" Come to Reno series call 775-851-1638.