Randy Newman is a raconteur who sings in character, pointing out he does not write personal songs. “Maybe people want personal confessions," he said in a 1987 Playboy interview. "Maybe that’s why I don’t sell two million records. In fact, I always thought people could tell what I was like from my stuff more easily than they necessarily could tell about a confessional kind of songwriter.”
We all know someone like a Randy Newman character. Maybe there's even some part of a Newmanite in each of us like the tender, heart-warming spot in the sweet, "You've Got a Friend in Me." Then again, it might be a hint of a biting pessimist, the hopeless depressive of "Every Time It Rains," the small-minded bigot reflected in "Short People," the snide politician of "Political Science" ("They all hate us anyhow/ So let's drop the big one now").
Newman's personalities are as approachable as your favorite neighbor or as mean and low-down as the nastiest bully on the block. To perform his unfailingly truthful songbook with authority demands an astute actor/singer, and Lincoln Center’s American Songbook series chose super-cool actor/singer, James Naughton, to open the 16th season at the Allen Room.
Like Newman, Naughton (Chicago, City of Angels) has an affinity for story songs, and he forms recognizable characters in his songs. Unlike Newman, Naughton is suave and urbane. He has a smooth, low-and-sexy bass-baritone and a demeanor that's somewhat laid back. Yet he easily folds into the warmth in "Real Emotional Girl," the unbearable poignancy of a lost love, "Marie," and the tender simplicity of "When She Loved Me." "You Can Leave Your Hat On" is on the nose with miscreant wit as a gent dictating exactly how he needs his sexual satisfaction.
Naughton’s ability to interpret a wide range of moods and opinions is tested in the Newman songbook and he earns an A+ for depth of focus. Extracting the subtext's dry humor and sarcasm, he nails home the truth with incisiveness. He paints Newman's caustic picture of ageism with "Shame" and offers a biting look at historical marauders with "The Great Nations of Europe" ("Hide your wives and daughters/ Hide the groceries too/ Great nations of Europe coming through.")
Naughton's ease with Newman's acerbic diatribe against religion, "God's Song (That's Why I Love Mankind)," boosts the bitter message in the song. His rendition of "The One You Love," manages to illuminate a sophistication in lyrics that seem pure down-home Newmanesque ("She may not know exactly what's on her mind. / But you better know, or you're gonna find you lose the one you love").
An ironic pairing of "I Love L.A." and "My Life is Good" presents an honest look at both the high life and downtrodden side of his home town, where his career bloomed as a successful songwriter for Hollywood films. From “Toy Story,” the jaunty, "You've Got a Friend in Me," offers a spot for special guest, Greg Naughton, to join Dad. Papa Naughton also gives a nod to another city, one that seems to inhabit Randy Newman's heart, New Orleans. He ends his show with "Sail Away," a no-hold-bars frank perception of slave trading backed by John Oddo's nostalgic ragtime piano chords.
Musical director/pianist/arranger Oddo adds the final swipe of polish to the show with Nate Brown on guitar, Jay Leonhart his bass, Dave Pietro on woodwinds and Dave Ratajczack's drums.
