Motown Midtown with Jackie Fornatale

March 8, 2010 · Posted in Arts & Entertainment, Buzz, Q on Stage

Jackie Fornatale - photo by Alex Kaplan

For “Get Ready,” five people, in concert black, file around the center aisle at Don’t Tell Mama, in the heart of New York City’s Restaurant Row. Each took his or her place on the stage, behind a microphone, guitar, bass, drums, or what may properly be termed an infant piano, as it’s such a small baby grand. The stage is set for the voice that comes from somewhere behind and in front of us at the same time-enter Jackie Fornatale.

When you think “Motown,” the first thought to come to mind may not be an impeccably turned out olive skinned beauty. Dressed in a 1960s vintage elegant silver-and-black gown with gold accents, Jackie has the guts and the rhythm to perform the music she loves. From the first moment she sings, you’re hooked!

The encyclopedic jaunt down Memory Lane starts with “Dancing in the Streets,” a huge hit for Martha and the Vandellas, among many others. The backup group’s name came from eliding Van Dyke Street in Detroit, with Martha’s favorite singer, Della Reese. Of course, Jackie’s group needs a name so after a bit of brainstorming, they become the Fornadellas including Gerry Dieffenbach on piano and vocals, as well as expert musical direction, Liz Lark Brown on vocals, Mike Fornatale on guitar, Eddy Zweiback on drums, and Matt Lindsey on bass. When you have a troupe of expert musicians, they are more than the sum of the parts.

Jackie continued with “I’m Ready for Love” with “You Can’t Hurry Love,” and the great energy returned. She shared tidbits of Motown factoids and offered to be the person we all could call should we find ourselves on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” and need help. Ruminating on how a 12-year-old Stevie Wonder began work at Motown and Brenda Holloway first recorded at 14, Jackie offered that American Idol contestants seem geriatric in comparison-talent knows no age, and when Jackie sings the 23-year old Wonder’s “All In Love Is Fair,” the genius of both artists is evident.

Medleys abound in this program and the “Guy” medley includes great segués from “My Guy” to “Jimmy Mack” to “Don’t Mess with Bill” to “Nathan Jones” to a cute riff on “Ben.” Immediately following was a sultry rendition of what “Heat Wave” may have sounded like if Martha and the Vandellas had a few more miles on them, with Jackie’s quote from “Fever,” at the end of the song, elevating the temperature in the room considerably. Going from there into “Signed Sealed Delivered,” it’s hard to catch your breath.
Moving in to Brenda Holloway’s “Every Little Bit Hurts,” Jackie shows that she is a great actor-her face tells you everything that is in her heart, adding grace notes to the emotion in her voice. Next comes “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy,” a song co-written by Holloway, and made most famous by rock band Blood, Sweat and Tears. Motown’s roots and reach go far into all types of music, and a great song is a great song.

The Fornatellas then move into the longest medley I’ve ever experienced, and one of the best, highlighting the talents of each of the vocalists, including Jackie’s brother Mike, whom, you’ll recall, is the expert guitarist. Roving through “Back in My Arms Again,” “Stop, In the Name of Love,” “Superstition” and more, each vocalist, Dieffenbach, Brown and the Fornatales frère et soeur raise the energy higher and higher. From there, one of the greatest gifts of the evening-Kim Weston’s “Just Loving You”-flows and brings us to a more contemplative place.

Not content to leave our energy in shadow, the Jacksons Medley brings us back up and then “Up The Ladder to the Roof” puts a twinkle in every eye. The final feature of the evening is a duet by Gerry and Jackie of Marvin and Tammi’s “You’re All I Need to Get By,” and the warming of the heart is complete.

March 18 is the last presently scheduled performance of “Get Ready” at Don’t Tell Mama. Make your reservations now at http://www.donttellmamanyc.com or call 212/757-0788 after 4 p.m. When you’re having a tough day, there’s power in live music and the exchange of energy that only stellar musicians can give. Treat yourself-you’re worth it-and so is “Get Ready!”

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