In a show at Danny's Skylight Room
dedicated almost exclusively to her own songs, Pam Tate has just about the best
possible person singing them: Pam Tate. Any composer, lyricist, or
composer-lyricist would be thrilled to have this woman performing his or her
material, as Tate is one of those rare artists who sings with abandon—and the
notes are just there. A reliable voice is one thing, but this one has
power, texture, and a beautiful tone to round out the vocal package. Oh...and
Tate can act, too.
… Tate sings with so much passion
and pizzazz… She gives an acutely comic performance of a fresh, clever number
called "Bar Mitzvah Shiksa Mamma" (music by Tate, lyrics by
Tate/Raible). She has also penned a wonderfully atmospheric song called
"Sirocco," and she distinguishes herself with an item called
"Slow Down."
In
her act, Tate sings only two songs not of her own composition, and she puts
them over beautifully. She offers a strong rendition of "Marieke" (Brel/Jouannest,
with English lyric by Eric Blau) and, to end the show, a blowout version of
Aretha Franklin's "Ain't No Way."
Tate has two CDs, both of which feature her own songs; they
are Pam Tate: Die Happy and Pam Tate: Dancing on the Pyramids.
Either of these discs will give you a clear sense of Tate as both a singer and
a songwriter. You'll be thunderstruck by her voice, and that might be more than
enough to make the albums worth your while. Her live show is called Love
Lost and Found: Pam Tate Sings Pam Tate. You'll get another chance to enjoy
this commanding performer when she brings the show back to Danny's for four
Wednesdays: October 23 and 30 at 7pm, and November 6 and 13 at 9:15pm.
…this soulstress learned early on how to embrace an audience, and envelop the crowd in her spell. Belting out the blues with a haunting vibrato that sizzles, this is one versatile singer who is very focused and unafraid to strip emotions bare with a powerhouse delivery and a divine poignancy that captivates the room. There is something very sultry and seductive in the way that she delivers a lyric. Each song has her own unique stamp on it, making it all work for her.
BILL ERVOLINO
Singer Pam Tate has pipes The White House would kill for. She’s an awesome belter, with enough power to fill an arena. At The Ballroom last Sunday night, she just about blew the walls off the place.
CHIP DEFFAA
…she’s got a strong, flexible voice, a real feel for her
material, and enough presence to make you want to see her again.