Julie London was an American actress who also stole many an audience’s hearts as a singer. With her stardom spanning four decades, Julie was an artist whose body of work couldn’t be more ripe for rediscovery as we enter 2025.  Ms. London’s life story was just as fascinating as could be, especially when that life story was shared with the audience via Kati Neiheisel’s more-than-capable musical and storytelling talents. In her tribute show London by Night, which enjoyed an encore at New York City cabaret venue Pangea on Saturday, February 1st, Ms. Neiheisel playfully captured the many sides of Ms. London’s multi-faceted career.  The attendees at Pangea got to hear a diverse playlist of songs ranging from the smooth, slick, and light-as-air Free and Easy, to the deliciously dated Girl Talk, to the feverishly romantic Go Slow.  Kati even threw in a Marlboro cigarettes jingle, a campy throwback to Julie London’s concession to advertising– which was decidedly NOT recommended for ex-smokers! 

An example of Ms. London’s established legacy as a sex symbol was brought to life with one of Kati’s anecdotes about her inspiration: As one record executive noted, “Julie was the only singer I knew that could sell albums to men who don’t own record players!”  Neiheisel captured Ms. London’s well-known sultry essence from the start of the show with the titular opening number, London by Night.  In just a few notes, Neiheisel made the bustling British city seem as irresistibly romantic as “Gay Par-ee”, especially when she soulfully sang lyrics like “Most people say they love London by day; But lovers love London by night!”  (FYI: London by Night, first recorded and released by Frank Sinatra, was the name of one of Julie’s albums.) Next up was the delightful You Stepped Out of a Dream, an homage to Julie’s days as a popular pinup girl during World War II.  The song, first recorded and released by Glenn Miller and his orchestra, also gave Neiheisel the chance to flirt with her trio of hard-working musicians: Gregory Toroian on piano and additional vocals, Skip Ward on bass, and David Silliman on percussion. Kati followed that crowd-pleaser with the oft-redone Alan Rankin Jones standard Easy Street.  While Ms. Neiheisel expertly honored the musical traditions of jazz and the blues, her voice remains amazingly youthful and unblemished. Speaking of the blues: It’s amazing how this color can be a wonderful thing (blue eyes, blue skies…) but can also perfectly describe a certain “mood”.  That brings us to Kati’s soulful, provocative take on The Meaning of the Blues, from Julie London’s appropriately named 1957 album About the Blues. A real showstopper, it was impossible not to be moved by her rendition, which was perfectly accented by Toroian’s piano. Yet, Kati can also effortlessly segue into a campy classic like Daddy (“Hey, Daddy, I want a diamond ring, bracelets, everything; Daddy, you oughta get the best for me; Hey, Daddy, gee, don’t I look swell in sables? Clothes with Paris labels?”), which was one of the biggest hits of 1941.  Remember: Ms. London’s heyday was in the 50’s and 60’s.  The times were a-changing, and pretty darn fast… hence the audience favorite Nice Girls Don’t Stay for Breakfast.  (It may as well have been named Pass the Jam!) Neiheisel’s teaming with Toroian on vocals for the classic Route 66 was no less than perfect synchrony… and when Toroian took the lead vocals for Julie Is Her Name, the audience was so captivated by Neiheisel that the song may as well have been redone as KATI Is Her Name!

By now you may be wondering about Julie London’s biggest hit, 1955’s Cry Me a River.  Neiheisel saves the eternally popular song for the final moments of the show… although, after a zesty show like London by Night, it would hardly be accurate to say that Kati saved “the best” for last. Let’s just say that it’s no mystery why Cry Me a River is still being utilized in pop culture well into 2025– especially after hearing Ms. Neiheisel’s emotional version.  There was indeed an encore.  I won’t give it away, but I will say that it sounded like it was patently written for proud “night”-hawks like me!   

As directed by Lina Koutrakos, Kati Neiheisel didn’t waste a single lyric or a single minute of banter with her audience between the songs of London by Night.  Attendees in the audience that evening included Sidney Myer, Tanya Moberly, Susan Mack, Sue Neuffer, Ellen Auwarter, Elvira Tortora, Maria Corsaro, Becca Kidwell, Mary Sue Daniels, and many other members of the cabaret community.

Make sure to grab your tickets for this trip to “London”!