PRESS REVIEWSBBW REVIEW (LA) Dangerous Curves Deliver Harmoniously @ Sterling's by Don Grigware LosAngeles.BroadwayWorld.com / Cabaret Tuesday, December 6, 2011 On Sunday December 4 Las Vegas' popular female trio Dangerous Curves performed @ Sterling's Upstairs @ Vitello's. Lisa Smith, Karen Michaels & Margaret Menzies, who comprise Dangerous Curves sang solo and together in a 75 minute varied set that just about blew their audience away. All three are distinctly different beauties in talent, personality and looks, and when they come together, what voices and what beautiful harmony! Not that easy to find nowadays amongst vocalists who strive to overdo style, and scream and screech to grab instant recognition. These gals can really sing and harmonize, and indeed they did with fabulous musical director Dan Ellis at the piano throughout. Using the title Finding Harmony on the Road Less Travelled the gals incorporated traditional and newer style pop, jazz, rock and Broadway. Highlights of the evening included: their grab'em opener "Sing", Hendricks' and Ross' eclectically jazzy "Cloudburst", Smith's lovely interp of "Someone to Watch Over Me", Michaels' great rendition of "Faithless Love", Menzies' intro to a terrific Judy Garland medley from all three, including: "You Made Me Love You", "Rockabye Your Baby", Charlie Chaplin's gorgeous "Smile", "The Man That Got Away", the rarely heard "Mr. Monotony" and of course "Over the Rainbow". For Broadway stalwarts like myself, we were treated to a Stephen Sondheim medley that blended: "Anyone Can Whistle", "Being Alive", "No One Is Alone" and "Not While I'm Around". Menzies talked about how much Garland has influenced most female singers and how Sondheim's lyrics really interpret the character an actress is playing. The gals payed tribute to their friendship with "Moon River", did a cute "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens" and put out the idea to everyone of follow your dreams with "Sing Your Own Song". They closed with "I'm A Woman" and as encore did a splashing arrangement of their newly recorded "I'll Be Home for Christmas". This was a splendid evening of song and merriment @ Sterling's, perhaps one of the finest of this past season. Michaels, Smith and Menzies all possess great vocal instruments individually, and, I'll say it again, when they put it together, the harmony is sensational, akin to the Lennon or McGuire Sisters, a sound you just do not hear enough of these days. I was over the moon. You will be too, if you purchase their CD Girl Talk! CABARET REVIEW (LA)
Dangerous Curves at Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's by Robert Machray BlogCritics.org / Culture Friday, December 9, 2011 On December 4 Sterling’s Upstairs at Vitello’s brought a little Vegas to Los Angeles in the form of a marvelous “girl group” called Dangerous Curves. These women are totally professional and are obviously skilled and experienced performers. The trio is made up of Lisa Smith (soprano). Margaret Menzies (mezzo), and Karen Michaels. Their voices blend together beautifully and one couldn’t help but be brought back to an earlier time when groups, male and female, were at the top of their game. They were reminiscent of the Andrews sisters but with a more modern sensibility. Took me back to my favorite groups of the '50s and '60s. Although they blend together seamlessly, individually they couldn’t be more different. Lisa Smith is a jazz singer who, when she doesn’t perform with the group, appears in a tribute to Frank Sinatra. She is totally at ease in this lounge situation. Margaret Menzies is the group’s self-proclaimed “Broadway Goddess.” She is is from Connecticut so she brings with her an Eastern energy that includes all things Broadway as well. In Vegas, she acts as a vocal coach and musical director to many groups in town, both amateur and professional. She also finds time to do an occasional show as well as doing improv. Karen Michaels is the zaftig firebrand of the group. She can really belt out a song. She spends her time doing private functions, corporate parties, weddings, etc. and is working on a solo act with her husband. Their program consisted of solos as well as group numbers. I really enjoyed most all the songs but the highlights were the Sondheim medley, as well as “Someone to Watch Over Me,” “Moon River,” and the hilarious “Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens.” Many of their songs had a feminist slant exemplified in “I’m a Woman” and “Natural Woman.” They have released one album, Girl Talk, and are working on a Christmas album. I look forward to seeing and hearing this group again. They appeared at Sterling’s Upstairs at Vitello’s on Dec. 4. Read original article: http://blogcritics.org/culture/article/cabaret-review-la-dangerous-curves-at/ |
CLIENT REVIEWS"Dangerous Curves is comprised of three delightfully talented ladies, each vocally accomplished in their own right. But when you bring their voices together, something magical happens…we were blown away. Dangerous Curves took us all by wonderful surprise, and definitely left us wanting more!" ~ The Tabor Family, Private Party @ The Waverly, Cheshire, CT (Jan 18, 2009) “On behalf of the Las Vegas Towne Club, and myself, I thank you very much for a great performance at our recent luncheon. You ladies gave us such a good time. We appreciated your talent, your energy, your professionalism and your ability to fit the program to the audience. I received so many pats on the back because I was smart enough to book you. As I told you before, I wish I could book you every month…I look forward to seeing you perform again!” ~ June Schule, Vice President - Programs, Las Vegas Towne Club @ Four Seasons Hotel, Las Vegas, NV (Feb 23, 2010) "Dangerous Curves came out to the Nevada State Veterans Home and performed the most beautiful Christmas Program I have ever heard. The three ladies had amazing voices and their interaction with the residents at our nursing home was very loving and professional. They were touched and amazed at how wonderful this show was. We are having them back as soon as we can because they were so wonderful. I highly recommend Dangerous Curves to anyone looking for a lovely program!" ~ Angela Metcalf, Activities Coordinator, Nevada State Veterans Home, Boulder City, NV (Dec 12, 2013) "I could not have been more pleased with Dangerous Curves and received far more positive feedback from attendees than for any other event I've arranged." ~ Karin Loverud, Vice President, Westside Newcomers Club, Las Vegas, NV (Dec 10, 2008) "We were very pleased with their performance and the selection of songs was just right for our audience. They were professional, on time and pleasant. Everyone is still talking about how great they were!" ~ Babs O'Neal, WACOM Luncheon, Ridgecrest, CA, (Oct 12, 2010) "Dangerous Curves created quite a buzz at our ‘Hot Summerlin Nights’ concert series. The fabulous music, incredible harmonies, wonderful stage presence from all 3 beautiful women on stage has everyone talking & planning for the next show. I can't wait to bring them back for an encore performance!" ~ Susan Haller, Marketing Director/Series Producer, Grace in the Desert Church of Summerlin, Las Vegas, NV (Jun 14, 2009) "Dangerous Curves performed for the Nellis Air Force Base ROWC at their Christmas luncheon December 9. Performing holiday songs and popular tunes, the audience was delighted with the personality, talent and scope of the program. They will definitely be invited back during the 2010 season." ~ Virginia Smith, Retired Officers' Wives Club, Las Vegas, NV (Dec 09, 2009) "Dangerous Curves was fabulous. I enjoyed working with them -- from the initial contact of the performance request to their set-up, their show and their finale -- very professional and easy to work with. The volunteers and residents of the Veterans Home truly got to see some talented singers!" ~ Angela Metcalf, Special Activities Director , Nevada State Veterans Home, Boulder City, NV (Apr 25, 2009) CD REVIEW"What I love about the CD ["Girl Talk"] is that it is the perfect balanced experience that one wants a CD like this to be. The trio hits really great harmonies on the group numbers and come to each with a really distinct point of view. In addition, each singer gets an individual moment to shine, so you feel like you’ve met them all after listening to it. And there is a great mix of standards (Old Cape Cod, Moon River) and new or lesser-known songs (Is This Any Way to Fall In Love, The Girl I Used to Be). Download it on iTunes and you’ll smile a lot!!" ~ Michael Miyazaki, Miyazaki Cabaret Update: DC & Beyond, October 3, 2009
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