Wednesday, December 22, 2010

The best (and worst) of 2010

Bridget Everett, Photograph: Allison Michael Orenstein

Kanye West bum-rushed everyone’s list this year.
By Adam Feldman, Corban Goble, Sophie Harris, Jay Ruttenberg, Hank Shteamer and Steve Smith.
 
The best cabaret
Adam Feldman, cabaret editor
1 Bridget Everett at Joe’s Pub Yearlong The unstoppable blond blew us away in multiple sets, with a hurricane of sound and fearless self-exposure.
2 Alan Cumming at Feinstein’s April and June The puckish Scots Cabaret star finally crafted a cabaret act—and revealed a dazzling mastery of his domain.
3 Maude Maggart: Three Little Words at the Oak Room April–May The beauteous siren carried love songs to the heavens on the gossamer wings of her voice.
4 Justin Bond at Joe’s Pub Yearlong Part transsexual den mother, part cultural assassin and offhand Cassandra, Bond had a riveting mix of nurture and menace.
5 Elaine Stritch: Singin’ Sondheim at Café Carlyle January The great Broadway virago’s tough-love tribute was the best of 2010’s countless salutes to the peerless composer.
6 Our Hit Parade at Joe’s Pub Yearlong When it clicks into gear—as in December’s awesome 1990s edition—this madly eclectic revue is the most exciting show in town.
7 Paula West at Feinstein’s October–November The uncompromising San Francisco singer brought real jazz and thrillingly rich vocals to NYC.
8 Susan Mosher: The Great Daisy Theory at the Laurie Beechman Theatre July–August The funny lady wore her need on her sleeve as she wove a bittersweet daisy chain of music and stories.
9 Jackie Hoffman: Jackie Five-Oh! at Joe’s Pub November–December In her birthday show, the Queen of Kvetch proved that her robust whine gets better with age.
10 Shells Hoffman at Joe’s Pub July–December This drunk-dialing mess, embodied by the fearless Roslyn Hart, compelled weird sympathy and delirious laughter.

Cabaret CD of the Year
Barb Jungr, The Men I Love (Naim) The superb English singer showed off her infinite variety with lush, insightful reinventions of songs by Dylan, Springsteen, Cohen and more. Buy The Men I Love on iTunes

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