All MLive Review: Larry Luger at Notaro Ristorante (March 9,
2010)By Alex Henderson Some jazz instrumentalists
are not very proficient when it comes to interacting with singers, but that has never been a problem for New York City-based
guitarist Larry Luger. And the strong rapport he enjoys with vocalist Sandy Jordan was very much in evidence during their
March 9, 2010 appearance at Notaro Ristorante, an Italian restaurant on Manhattan’s East Side. For several years, Luger
and Jordan have been performing together on Tuesday nights at Notaro—and Luger demonstrated that he is as comfortable
in an instrumental setting as he is playing with a vocalist. Jordan has a strong cabaret/Broadway/traditional pop background,
but she is also an avowed admirer of Ella Fitzgerald and is capable of getting into more jazz-oriented endeavors; Luger’s
swinging yet melodic guitar playing, in fact, seemed to bring out more of her jazz qualities on enjoyable performances of
familiar gems ranging Jerome Kern’s “Dearly Beloved” to The Beatles’ “Yesterday” to Don
Raye & Gene dePaul’s “I Remember April.“ Jordan is by no means a jazz purist, but jazz has clearly had
a positive effect on her. When Jordan wasn’t singing, Luger excelled as a straight-ahead bop instrumentalist on well
known standards such as Ralph Rainger’s “I Wished on the Moon” and Jimmy McHugh & Dorothy Fields’
“Exactly Like You.” Another highlight of the evening was Luger’s interpretation of “Boulevard of Broken
Dreams,” which he gave an appealing Latin-flavored treatment. Rounding out Luger’s ongoing Tuesday-night trio
at Notaro are acoustic bassist Bob Arkin and the 84-year-old drummer Angelo Ferrara, who has been playing jazz since the 1930s.
Notaro is located at 635 2nd Avenue between 34th and 35th Streets.
Alex Henderson is a veteran journalist whose work has appeared in Billboard, Spin, Creem, The L.A. Weekly, JazzTimes, Jazziz,
Cash Box, HITS, CD Review and many other well known publications. Since 1996, Henderson (http://www.alexvhenderson.com) has contributed several thousand
reviews to Theusic
Guide’s popular website and series of reference books. Henderson’s work has also included writing press releases,
bios and liner notes for numerous record companies.
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CHARITIES
Sandy was involved for many years in the charity
world. She produced and packaged visual and performing art shows in the tri-state area. These shows consistantly raised money
for her charity clients. Sandy was on several commitees for the International Cancer Research Facility Waldemar Foundation.
These associations brought her in contact with the movers and shakers in show business, politics and the International financial
community. Sandy co-chaired fund raising events for Graham Home for Children located in Hastings on Hudson, Easter Seal
Luncheons at the Waldorf Astoria, among others and spent a number of fun years decorating the Grand Ballroom at the Waldorf
for the International Debutant Ball --- also was on the Commitee for the Mayor's Gala and many more.
Sandy is currently organizing Sandy Jordan and Friends shows in New York City at Upstairs at San Martin
as well as hosting fund raisers in various clubs in the tri state area. Sandy and New Apple present comedy
nights, music from jazz to opera, art shows, song writer shows, reviews and improvs.For the last 4 years Sandy has her jazz jams every tuesday night at Notaro with the Larry Luger Trio which
attracts numerous celebs in the show biz arena.
Sandy Jordan began her Producing career
at the age of 20. Already a seasoned actress and dancer, having started at 12 years of age, Sandy was beginning an opera career.
After one brief booking singing opera, Sandy wisely decided that it was not for her. Dissatisfied (with tons of reasons) with
her agency and manager, she went out on her own.
When Sandy left college, the only open mic in town was The Improv and that was for comics mostly so started SG Jordan
Enterprises and opened the first open mic nights in NYC, Sandy's first celeb night was theTalent Festivals every
Sunday for a number of years at The famed Apartment Supper Club. Sandy promoted, organized, auditioned the acts was the MC
and sang every week. Soon lines formed outside when it became known the it was a hang out for numbers of show biz celebs.
Rodney Dangerfield was performing Sunday Night at the Apartment and then all the other nights a few blocks away at Dangerfields.
Sandy opened many a show for Rodney at Dangerfields and elsewhere. Sandy's bikini photo and head shot began showing up in
the famed Earle Wilson's column often and then more followed suit. Many appearances on Joe Franklin helped a lot also...and
then more interviews
Sandy packaged
musical reviews and poresented them in clubs around the city, also for organizations, charities, hotls in the Catskills and
elsewhere., taught singing at her singer workshops and ran comedy workshops taught by Phil Foster. Sandy partnered
with Hilda Vincent and their comedy routine about their mothers was a big hit weeknights in the Catskills. Hilda moved
to LA and that eneded that. A fun job singing with her trio followed in Vegas, and around Europe. She was told her album
was selling in Japan. She has never seen a cent from that. She went on, and as Sandy likes to say, to 'perform at openings
and closings, parties and non parties.'
During this time
she m0stly sang Broadway music. Sandy was booked as a "Society Singer". Sandy was the opening singer for the famous
Irish singer, Martin at Carnegie Hall, and also did her cabaret shows at Prive, Jimmy Daniels, Freddies, Martys, Mr Sams,
Drake Hotel, Panache, and much much more. TV and radio interviews followed. She performed her one woman show, "This
Is My Life" in Cabaret, sang standards, opera, Broadway and jazz in the jazz clubs and acted in film, TV and commercials.
Sandy sang at Mon Amour 5 nights a week for a few years, then 2 nights a week at La Cave on First for a year, The Piccolo
Club, The big Apple, and weekends, til they stopped their music policy at Broadway Joe. Sandy booked as well as performed
at La Mere Poulard in The Lombardy Hotel til the restaurant closed. And on and on. Now singing with a jazz style, Sandy sang
with some famous musicians, for instance Ram Ramitez who wrote "Lover Man" for the great Billie Holliday, Tony Bennett's
pianist, Tony amborella, and many more.
Numerous
beginners developed and celebrities performed in Sandy's shows, such as Bette Midler, Jimmy Walker, Steve Landesberg,
Fred Travalena, Steve Ross, Baby Jane Dexter, Gabe Kaplan, David Brenner, Richard Pryor, celebrities such as Rodney Dangerfield,
Marilyn Maye, Phil Foster, David Frye, Jackie Gayle, Jackie Vernon, Monty Rock the Third, and too many more to list here.
To quote Denis Sheahan in Woman's Wear Daily "Sandy Jordan gives an exceptionally fine performance. Sandy has
the intimacy that goes with a tiny room as well as the power to spell bind in Carnegie Hall. She jokes about life's rocky
road and one finds it easy to laugh and smile at her humor and song which is very much New York"
"Cafe singer Sandy Jordan sings 18 hours of love ballads Beats the Guinness
Book of Records"
What a fun time it was!
"It was 8am Sunday,
February 14th, 1993 on a relatively warm Valentines Day in New York City when I started singing. I didn't stop till 18 hours
later. "New York cabaret singer, Sandy Jordan sings 18 hours of love ballads at Letizia Restaurant" was the headline
in numerous papers around the country. Friends in Chicago, LA & Philadelphia sent me copies of articles and pictures of
me singing.
Johnny Rivers of Channel Four "Sunday in New York Show "was there promptly at 8am
with microphone and cameras. He remained throughout the day interviewing me ad some of those who came to listen and cheer
me on. As the day wore on, more and more TV, radio, Associated Press & numerous papers showed up to film & interview
me between breaths."
The live coverage on TV and radio brought hundreds to the restaurant who stayed & wined and dined till 2am, when
thankfully the songathon ended. I lived to sing another day. Actually, it was tons of fun!
"Singer
Sandy Jordan sings John Lennon"
This was the headline in papers around the country!
"Dec 8 - Singer Sandy Jordan commemorates the anniversary
of John Lennon's death at Cinecitta Cafe in New York City." Headlines again! I was very very proud to share them with
John Lennon. It was fun to see the TV, radio and press back again. We partied till the wee small hours."
'This time I shared the stage with my portrait of John Lennon called Strawberry Fields and had the accompaniment of Don Edmonds on piano. I was especially delighted
when Don Williams of Channel Four News interviewed me
at my studio and filmed me along with many of my paintings. Since then I have gone on to do many commemoratives.I did a promo
for the psychic sciences with a painting I did of Shirley MaClaine. I ecven did one of the great writer Tom Wolfe. One of
the most fascinating was a tribute to Michael Jackson...........where I did not sing, just presented my psychic interpretation
of Michael. See photo of painting below':