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The Popular Songs of World War I
Metropolitan Room
New York, NY
 Nicole Dillenberg’s show, The Popular Songs of World War I, was a nostalgic trip that harked back to a time — repeated in 1941-1945 but now only a memory — when this country’s fighting men were lauded and the population was virtually unanimous in its support of the war. Dillenberg’s renditions nicely captured the songs’ and that era’s jaunty spirits. With brief intros, she positioned her selections sensitively, fashioning an intriguing look back upon that earlier time as well as an enjoyable cabaret show.
Several WW1 songs were touching, such as the child trying to reach her father, with “Hello, Central, Give Me No Man’s Land.” One sentimental favorite that has endured, “If You Were the Only Girl in the World (and I were the only boy)” took on added poignancy when Dillenberg pointed out that the 1916 lyric originally spoke to the parting of lovers as the lad was preparing to leave for possible combat. While some songs seemed dated, others, surprisingly, are still familiar almost a century later. George M. Cohan’s “Over There,” Irving Berlin’s “Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning.” Some will know “Pack Up Your Troubles,” or the British tune that became an American favorite, “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary” or “Roses of Piccardy.”
Among the serious wartime numbers were more than a few humorous ones. “If He Can Fight Like He Can Love,” “Give Me a Kiss By The Numbers,” and “K-K-K-Katy,” glorified as “the sensational stammering song success sung by soldiers and sailors.” Dillenberg, who credited her grandfather’s collection of sheet music, even unearthed one with the plaint of a wounded soldier, “I Don’t Want to Get Well (I’m in love with a beautiful nurse).”
Peter Leavy
Cabaret Scenes
February 24, 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org |
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Nicole Dillenberg and Phil Crosby Jr. are “Too Fabulous For Words”
By Beth Temkin
 Hollywood – In the cozy atmosphere of Tom Rolla’s Gardenia, Nicole Dillenberg sang love songs of Bing Crosby, accompanied by the lush piano of John Boswell. Dillenberg possesses a lovely and velvety voice, reminiscent of Karen Carpenter, although with a darker timbre. Sharing the bill was Phil Crosby Jr., grandson of Crosby.
A sweet, nostalgic treat upon entering was seeing Crosby’s hat, pipe and a framed photo of Crosby on the piano. And when Dillenberg sang her opening number, she used an acoustic megaphone, the very kind Crosby used in early days singing with The Rhythm Boys.
Crosby Jr. may not sound like Bing (who does?), but he has a good sound and enough style and charm to succeed on his own. He sang “Ghost of a Chance,” one of the few lyrics that Crosby wrote, and added that Crosby was envious of songwriters and would have given up his entire career if he could have written a hit song.
Notably, Dillenberg sang the romantic “Moonlight Becomes You,” and a medley of two favorites: “I’m Through With Love” with “But Not For Me”, as well as “It’s Been a Long, Long Time,” in a duet with Crosby Jr. Throughout the show, Dillenberg gave fascinating anecdotes about Crosby’s career. The hour spent with Dillenberg and Crosby Jr. was just “too marvelous for words.”
Dillenberg appeared at the Gardenia Restaurant and Lounge, located at 7066 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, on May 26th & 27th.
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Nicole Dillenberg Salutes Bing Crosby
Entertainment Today June 2, 2006
By Amy Bowker
Wouldn’t it be nice to step outside the non-stop tempo of the 21st century and linger just a moment in an era of swell, mellow tunes? Nicole Dillenberg provides such a respite in “Too Marvelous For Words: The Love Songs of Bing Crosby”, a celebration of the crooner’s best work.
Appearing in a long, gold gown and clutching an old time acoustic megaphonee (what Bing used to amplify his voice in the early days), Nicole opens the program with a fluid rendition of “You’re A Sweet Little Headache”. With a strong voice and a warm and confident onstage persona, Nicole brings a sweet air to her performance. She peppers the evening with Crosby trivia, which further transports us to this bygone era. Highlights of this show include the title song “Too Marvelous For Words” and the 1945 number one hit “It’s Been A Long, Long Time”. The closing song, “Blue Skies”, is an uplifting finale.
Musical Director John Boswell provides a wonderful piano accompaniment. The evening also features a special appearance by Phil Crosby, Jr., grandson to Bing Crosby, who covers several tunes including “Ghost of a Chance”, and one written for Bing’s first wife, Dixie, “Where The Blue of the Night (Meets the Gold of the Day).” All this adds up to a wonderfully nostalgic experience.
The performance reviewed was May 27 at Tom Rolla’s Gardenia, 7066 Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood. Upcoming performances include the York Hotel in San Francisco, June 12, 13 & 14. Tickets are $20. For reservations, call 866-468-3399.
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NICOLE DILLENBERG
JUST LIKE HEAVEN
I've been totally charmed by a singer named Nicole Dillenberg. She has a rather rich voice that serves the varied material well. Her diction is especially crisp without sounding studied. She's pretty jazzy, especially on "Blue Skies," and she navigates the challenging melodic hills and valleys of "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most" with admirable skill. Just as important, she is up to the drama of this lament. This track also brings out some of her lovely head voice which I wish she'd exploit a little more.
Nicole had the luck to stumble upon a hitherto unrecorded song by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke, who wrote so many standards for movies. It's a quirky and adorable tune called "A Green Love for Walter." It's full of sweetness and joy with playful lyrics and a bouncy melody. A medley of two songs with the same title, "True Love" is another nifty excursion. The irreverent "True Love" has lyrics with lines like "the Devil drives a Buick." The sincere "True Love" is the Cole Porter song introduced in the film musical High Society by Grace Kelly and Bing Crosby. Guess who she came up with as her own duet partner - Bing Crosby's grandson, Phil Crosby, Jr. She's also appearing with him in his Christmas show on Sunday, December 18, 2005.
The other selections are "You Go to My Head" and the title tune from the group The Cure, a story song sung with passion but showing restraint. It also has elegant playing by a string section. The piano and arrangements (two more factors making Just like Heaven quite heavenly) are by Bill Cunliffe. He and Nicole produced the CD along with Richard Barron, who plays mellotron (!).
This is a classy affair, not a quickie debut except in length; it shows care. In California, Nicole has played at the Gardenia and will return next month. I definitely want to hear more from this lady.
After taking a one-week break for Thanksgiving, I'll be back on December 1 to tell you about some new holiday albums. Meanwhile, I'm thankful for this week's music and I'll be listening for you and the jingle bells.
-- Rob Lester / www.talkinbroadway.com
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YOU'RE THE TOP
TOP TEN VOCAL CDs OF 2005
Last week, I discussed my Top Ten Cast Albums of 2005. Choosing the top ten vocal albums of 2005 is not easy in a year when we have reviewed so many - over 100 were discussed in this column. Some reviewed were wonderful, but don't fit the requirements (full-length CDs released for the first time in the calendar year 2005 consisting of material very recently recorded); a few of those were especially noteworthy and are noted at the end with some other mentions.
My rules prevented me from considering half-length albums (EPs), but two were exceptional: Spencer Day (The Movie of Your Life) is a red-hot singer-songwriter who is growing by leaps and bounds. We'll be hearing a lot more from him. Nicole Dillenberg's abbreviated recording Just Like Heaven proves that good things come in small packages: only a few tracks, but a real pleasure.
Thanks to all the great singers and their musicians in our Top Ten. "You're the top/ you're a Waldorf salad ... You're a Berlin ballad ..." Now that we've gotten Over the Rainbow with the Arlen centennial, we've begun the 100th birthday celebration for composer Jule Styne, born on New Year's Eve: Just In Time.
-- Rob Lester / www.talkinbroadway.com |
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Nicole Dillenberg on Cabaret
Modern cabaret is about creating a living archive of the American Songbook. It is about transporting the listener back in time, and the intimacy of the medium demands nothing less than our complete sincerity. That's not to say a cabaret show can’t include humor or scripted material…but I believe a cabaret artist’s real responsibility is to serve as a sacred vessel for a genre of music which might otherwise fade away.
Early in my training, I was fortunate enough to study with a Broadway luminary, and I got in trouble for making a slight change to the end of Irving Berlin’s "What'll I Do?" For emphasis, I had decided to sing the final line of the song, "What will I do?" I was gently scolded, for Irving Berlin had written the song perfectly the first time, and my job was to interpret it--not to change it.
To me, this depth of respect for the material is what cabaret is all about. These songs comprise a sacred trust--and we take the passing of the torch quite seriously in the cabaret world. So many of those who went before, as well as the ones who are, thankfully, still with us, have been amazing in their generosity. The sharing of music, so much of it out of print, between teacher and student, mentor and protégé, is one of the most admirable aspects of our genre.
Nicole Dillenberg grew up in New York's Hudson River Valley, surrounded by talented artists and musicians. She has appeared at California venues such as the Hollywood Palladium, Tom Rolla's Gardenia, and the Empire Plush Room in San Francisco. She has also been a featured guest on several radio shows, including The New Jazz Thing with Vince Outlaw (San Diego Jazz 88.3 FM).
Her 2005 CD release, Just Like Heaven, with arrangements by Grammy-nominated pianist Bill Cunliffe, includes an innovative Cole Porter medley with Phil Crosby Jr., grandson of the late crooner, Bing Crosby. Recorded on vintage equipment with L.A.’s jazz finest, the CD also includes a never-before-recorded Johnny Burke/Jimmy Van Heusen gem, "A Green Love For Walter," which Nicole unearthed on the internet.
Her latest show, the retrospective Too Marvelous For Words: The Love Songs of Bing Crosby featuring Phil Crosby, Jr., debuted to rave reviews at Tom Rolla's Gardenia last spring followed by a successful run at the Empire Plush Room.
Nicole will be performing her Crosby show (with special guest Phil Crosby, Jr.) at The Gardenia in West Hollywood on Jan. 31 & Feb. 1 and at Helen's Hideaway Room in New York City (with Musical Director Shelly Markham) on Feb. 17 & 18.
Her website is www.NicoleDillenberg.com
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