"At the Ritz.com" (Satellite radio/internet program) by Lynn DiMenna

Craig Pomranz  'More Than A Seasonal Thing'  Metropolitan Room

I had heard the "buzz", read the "hype" and listened to his first CD and I was very anxious to see and hear Craig Pomranz perform in his latest outing at The Metropolitan Club in New York debuting the songs from a much anticipated new "concept" CD entitled "More Than A Seasonal Thing." As a performer, he proved himself to be a "triple threat," a "singer for all seasons," if you will, who has clearly earned the glowing reviews he's received since returning to the cabaret stage.

His songs focused on expressions of love, influenced by the changing seasons and Don Rebic's arrangements were sensitive and skillfully orchestrated both in performance and on CD. Although the "concept" on stage may have worn just a tad thin by the end of a slightly ballad-heavy journey, it was a clever one and very well developed.  With acting and dance in his background, when he sings, Pomranz maximizes all his strengths showing a powerful vocal range, easy, affable stage presence and an ability to communicate a songwriter's intentions.

Opening with a beautifully sung "Autumn in New York," he segued to a well-phrased "When I Fall In Love," (Edward Hyman/Victor Young) followed by a humorous Martin Charnin/Luther Henderson song called "Ten Good Years" and then a lesser known Irving Berlin song "Let's Start the New Year Right." The latter song is the opener on his new CD and it's interesting and important to note that song list adjustments generally need to be made from CD to stage, what works on recording doesn't always work in live performance and Pomranz is thoughtful enough to know the difference.

There were also two gorgeous ballad pairings. Rodgers and Hammerstein's "It Might As Well Be Spring" with Alec Wilder and Loonis McGlohon's "Blackberry Winter" and the Gershwin's "Summertime" and Jerome Moross and John La Touche's "Lazy Afternoon." Pomranz tells the stories, paints the pictures, showing a variety of vocal shades and colors with each new phrase. Curiously, there's an unexpected quality in his voice that reminded me, at times, of a young Jerry Lewis (of all people) and then, in his lower register, the smooth, round tones of one of his idols, Frank Sinatra, could be detected. Additionally, along with his "side-kick" accompanist, Stephen Bocchino, he had fun and showed quick humor on Henry Nemo's "Tis Autumn."

With fall just beginning, it may have felt a little early for "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let it Snow" and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" but within the context of the evenings theme, they, and the other seasonal favorites, worked and served to remind us of just how soon the holidays will be upon us.

Though the seasons change and bring challenges, love hopefully endures and as long as we have singers like Craig Pomranz around to interpret songs like Herman Hupfeld's immortal "As Time Goes By," we can weather it all!