By Brian Scott Lipton
Joy. Gratitude. Love. Not only are these the overwhelming themes of Broadway favorite Derrick Baskin’s superb cabaret show at Feinstein’s/54 Below (through July 3), but these are the same emotions you’ll likely feel if you’re re-entering this gorgeous cabaret space for the first time in over 15 months (like I did).
Thankfully, this posh club is as beautiful and comfortable as ever. Moreover, due to COVID-era restrictions, only vaccinated people may enter (allowing you to enjoy both your meal and show maskless), tables seem a little more widely spaced, and no one shares seating with people they don’t know. The menu has also been widely and wisely revamped, with a delicious (and very welcome) burger-and-fries combo now available, along with slightly spicy shrimp and linguini, chicken and waffles, and an array of tantalizing desserts, including a perfectly made strawberry-rhubarb crisp crowned by an irresistible cinnamon crumb topping.
For his part, Baskin serves up plenty of flavor in his 70-minute set, showing off his incredibly flexible and powerful pipes, his sartorial flair (not every man could pull off that fabulous double-breasted, striped sport jacket) and his excitement for being on stage again, having spent one year pre-pandemic as Otis Williams in the hit Broadway musical Ain’t Too Proud. And fear not, early on, Baskin delivers a crowd-pleasing medley of Temptations hits that is guaranteed to put a smile on everyone’s faces.
More importantly, Baskin puts both his heart and soul into every selection, whether transforming Todd Rundgren’s 1972 megahit “Hello, It’s Me” into an instant funk classic, giving a slightly new spin to the beloved sentimental favorite “What a Wonderful World” or offering up a truly roof-raising version of “Amazing Grace” as part of a selection of spirituals that he performs in honor of his parents and grandparents.
Intriguingly, a large chunk of Baskin’s show is devoted to the songs of the great Stevie Wonder, which proves to be a truly fortuitous pairing. Indeed, Baskin sounds more like Wonder than any singer I’ve ever heard, and his extraordinary range and musicality allow Baskin to capture both the complexity of Wonder’s music and the brilliance of his lyrics.
Accompanied by pianist Sheldon Becton and drummer Clayton Craddock, Baskin offers pitch-perfect renditions of such Wonder wonders as “For Once in My Life” and the all-too-timely “Village Ghetto Land.” But the pinnacle of the show is unquestionably Baskin’s almost operatic take on “Superwoman,” one of Wonder’s most technically complex and haunting tunes. It’s basically worth the price of admission.
Luckily, Baskin also knows how to engage his audience, turning the Diana Ross hit “Reach Out and Touch” into a multi-part singalong, and encouraging the crowd to join him in his encore medley of the Motown classics “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “Cruising” and “What’s Going On.”
But you don’t need to hear it through the grapevine, because you’re hearing it from me: Derrick Baskin is a cabaret artist not to be missed.
Feinstein’s/54 Below is located at 254 West 54th Street. For tickets and information, visit www.54below.com
Photos: Nella Vera
