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Buddy Greco: From Philly to MacArthur Park and Beyond

At: Arci's Place

Reviewer: David Roberts for Theatre Reviews Limited

In his current show at Arci's Place Buddy Greco "shares all his love songs" with his audiences and, in the process, also shares decades of performance anecdotes and experiences. Mr. Greco is nothing less than an encyclopedia of music and song and he is an incredible talent. Sitting at the piano, in complete synch with bass player Bill Moring and drummer Mike Meachum, Buddy Greco sells a song like no one else can.

These three musicians have such admiration for one another that none of them requires a "solo spot" to showcase their individual talents as performers. Buddy Greco and these musicians are true partners on the stage who often seem to breath at the same moment and can anticipate one another's interpretation of a song with an astounding effortlessness.

Buddy Greco also has a great deal of respect for the songs he chooses to sing and even when he (characteristically) changes a lyric he does it with tender care so that the integrity of the song is never compromised.

Being with Buddy Greco is "A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening" (the first song in the program on March 11th) and he and his musicians literally breeze through such favorites and signature Greco songs like "Summer Wind," "She Loves Me," "Misty," "The Lady Is A Tramp," "Girl Talk," and "Under My Skin." Buddy Greco's voice was never better and his keyboard skills are nothing short of brilliant.

Highlights of this Arci's Place show are a Nat Cole Medley and Jimmy Webb's hauntingly elusive "MacArthur Park" the song Buddy Greco always chooses to close his shows. If Jimmy Webb's song is a metaphor for the ending of a relationship, Buddy Greco's performance is always about the beginning of the relationship between him and a lyric and between him and an audience, a relationship which always equips the listeners to pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and start all over again.

What better gift can there be.

Reviewed on Saturday March 11, 2001

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With Bill Moring on bass and Mike Meachum on drums. At Arci's Place, 450 Park Avenue South between 30th and 31st Streets. Performance schedule: Tuesday through Thursday at 9:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday at 8:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. There is a $50.00 cover charge and a $25.00 food/drink minimum. For reservations call (212) 532-4370.

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