It takes a star as bright as Tonya Pinkins to out shine the beauty of the recently refurbished Joe’s Pub. On Monday evening, shine Tonya did in her show Bring On the Men, her command of the stage, sex appeal and acting ability kept all eyes on her while she was singing. Tonya’s voice is a wonderful instrument that can be loud and boisterous but also beautifully sweet as it was when she performed My Funny Valentine. Brad Simmons, the co-star of the show, marvelous work on keyboards and singing worked beautifully with Tonya Pinkins vocals.
The songs in the show are about the many aspects of love. Tonya and Brad do a rock version of Irving Berlin’s Anything You Can Do that might have Mr. Berlin turning over in his grave but had the Joe’s Pub audience in stitches. Most of the songs in the show were of recent vintage but Tonya did mix in some standards such as her beautiful version of Unchained Melody. It was great fun to see Tonya mingle with the audience while singing Jamie Foxx’s Blame It (On the Alcohol). The closing number was a rousing mix of Feeling Groovy and Irving Berlin’s I Got the Sun In the Morning.
Tonya Pinkins and Brad Simmons will be back at Joe’s Pub 425 Lafayette Street with a different version of Bring On The Men on Sunday March 24 at 9:30 PM.
