Fans of Anne and Mark Burnell rejoice! This fall there is a strong scent of Burnell Music in the air. Starting with a 30th Anniversary show in late summer, the anticipation of a new album this fall and being featured in Chicago Cabaret Professionals annual gala for recognition of outstanding contributions to our artform, this is a season for remembering the contributions of Anne and Mark Burnell and a festive bon voyage as they embark on a future of new accomplishments.
Their 30th Anniversary Show at Davenport’s August 4th might have been titled Love Has Kept Them Together: a 30th Anniversary Celebration. But the “Love” we are talking about is not only the marriage of like minds at the foundation of their musical collaboration but their distinctive love of singing clever cabaret material together. That is certainly true of their gem-like rendition of Little Things You Do Together. Doing Sondheim together is a pretty good place to start! This opener is so “them” it should never leave the Burnells’ repertoire.
The point about the sophistication of their cabaret material is remade next in a clever mash up of 42nd Street, Puttin’ on the Ritz and Lounging at the Waldorf: a cognoscenti’s delight.
Then they come down to earth a bit, reminiscing about their world travel which leads to Anne’s bluesy Paris is a Lonely Town, a Judy Garland number from the musical film Gay Puree.
A light-hearted tour of the travel theme continues with stops in Germany (Weill’s Mack the Knife), Mark’s original nod to the bicycle-mania of Amsterdam (Fiets, Don’t Fail Me Now) and Anne’s favorite admission that ladies NEVER travel light (I Travel Light) – no she does not!
The travel section is capped by the title song from their 2022 album Two for the Road. This rendition, while it celebrates the duo’s tight collaboration doesn’t miss the feeling that the road may have been challenging during recent hard times.
The next selections are wrapped in the duo’s adult sense of fun and laughter from calypso dance party to wicked satire (Shelly Markham’s You Make Me Laugh) and Tom Lehrer’s naughty Masochism Tango. Give Mark Burnell a chance and there will always be a Frishberg tune: Quality Time was replete with what Mark (and Dave F., in memoriam) always live for: ironic humor and fine jazz.
Then we pass to the sincere sentiments of the final duets heralded by a gem from the past, Song Sung Blue with an outstanding piano solo by Mark, followed by the heartfelt counterpoint medley of The First Time Ever I Saw your Face and I’ve Grown Accustomed to Your Face and the thematic adroit revival of mid-seventies pop favorite Love Will Keep Us Together.
Embedded in the festivities are side trips to the wonderful a cappella version of Blue Skies in the inimitable Burnell’s style and a jumpin’ jive Little Joe from Chicago encore. Like Nat King Cole, who recorded it, this cabaret show was unforgettable.
Anne let it be known that the new album This Could be the Start of Something Big is about to drop. Can’t wait. See our calendar for details on the release party at Epiphany Center for the Arts.
-by Daniel Johnson
