What becomes an entertainer most?

First and foremost, it goes without say that bona fide, good old-fashioned talent is required. New York City native Lord Brian Alejandro is indeed a talented singer.  On Saturday, September 9th, audiences at the Manhattan cabaret hotspot Pangea discovered that for themselves in a grand way when Lord Brian presented his sold-out show, named Autumn Changes… Sometimes.  Kicking off with the oh-so-fitting hit This Could Be the Start of Something Big (and changing the iconic “Sardi’s” in the lyrics to “Pangea”!), the show was a mix of re-styled beloved classics, some lost tunes just waiting to be heard again, and musical tributes to some of the singer’s creative influences. There was a wide range of music in this performer’s robust 75-minute show, ranging from faves like The Lady is a Tramp, to Cole Porter’s Easy to Love, to the theme from the long-running TV show Love, American Style (!).  That said, all the chosen tracks were fine showcases for Lord Brian’s distinctive yet supple vocal style.  Speaking of ranges, Alejandro’s voice boasts an impressive one.  Anyone who needed further proof need only listen to his hard-hitting notes in Sunday, Monday, or Always, the crowd-pleaser Don’t You Know, or his unique take on I’m Always Chasing Rainbows. (Judy Garland would have been impressed…)  This may be a good time to name Lord Brian’s supporting family of musicians: Mitch Bowers on percussion, Sean Murphy on bass, Lauren Riley on trumpet, and Darnell White on piano.  White was also the show’s Musical Director, and he also got to steal perform lead vocals for the feverishly romantic Lush Life … but not without some, shall we say, “backup banter” by Lord Brian.  The rapport between the two was fun to watch; it’s no mystery that the pair are longtime collaborators. 

But back to the original question: What becomes an entertainer most? In addition to talent, any cabaret star must know, at the risk of sounding cliched, how to “work” a crowd.  No seasoned performer would be satisfied with giving less than 100% of themselves, but with Brian Alejandro, it’s more like 150%; he truly makes the most of Pangea’s intimate space.  A true “class act”, Alejandro can rock a sequined vest– but he’s also not afraid to show his playful side, mostly through his banter with the audience in between songs.  He is a skilled storyteller, offering a combination of transgenerational showbiz trivia mixed with some insight into what shaped his own personal creative trajectory. There is a reason why we remember the legendary stars who Brian pays tribute to, including (but certainly not limited to) Sammy Davis Jr. and Judy Garland. These icons of yesteryear could go on singing “till the moon turns pink”, but also knew how to have fun with their audiences. (Both Davis, Jr. and Garland were skilled raconteurs.)  Alejandro has clearly learned from the best.  He also introduces the audience to a few showbiz personalities worthy of a renewed appreciation, including Julie London, Della Reese, and Gloria Lynne.

Alejandro’s Special Guest for the evening was actor and singer Diva LaMarr. If there was a performer who was truly meant to revive Ruth Brown’s hilariously campy If I Can’t Sell It, I’ll Keep Sittin’ On It, it was THIS diva. Funny, sexy, and oh-so-naughty, it was a mini show-within-a-show. It left the audience at Pangea wanting more of this rising star…

 Autumn Leaves have yet to fall in New York City as of the time of this review… but no doubt, when they do, my personal theme fpr the season will be Lord Brian Alejandro’s interpretation of the jazz standard Autumn Leaves: a version which starts out haunting and moody, and morphs into a  to high-energy throwdown. We can lso hope for an encore performance of Autumn Changes… Sometimes.  Now, that’s something worth FALL-ing into”!

Visit Lord Brian Alejandro on Instagram here , on Facebook here,, and on YouTube here.