Creative Cauldron kicked off the 2020 “Passport to the World of Music” cabarets with a breezy, relaxing jazz show by San Francisco Bay Area-based jazz vocalist and arranger Danielle Wertz. She’s originally from this area and was familiar with Creative Cauldron audiences.
Wertz is an intimate singer; she draws you in and it’s a warm, cozy place she draws you into.
Backed by Dan Roberts on piano, Eliot Seppa on bass and Ele Rubenstein on drums, Wertz and the trio did a set of brand new originals, previously published original songs, and some intriguing arrangements of a classic. She has an ear and a talent for scatting that provided some joyful riffs in the interludes.
She is also a generous headliner—every one of the backing trio got a chance to show off some amazing talent; on one song, the bass and drums had a most intriguing conversation.
Wertz is an intimate singer; she draws you in and it’s a warm, cozy place she draws you into. Even though Creative Cauldron is an intimate space, the show was fully sold out on Saturday and she held the audience in the palm of her hand.
While some of the songs dealt with first love, heartbreak, love again, others also focused on being human in an often inhumane world. One of the loveliest of the evening was her working of “Wish You Well” (written by Becky Hill).
Wertz will be back in the area in May, so if you missed her this time—keep an eye out for that event notification.
“Passport to the World of Music” is one of the DMV’s most enjoyable gems of the theatre season. With a line-up of 12 different acts over the next four weekends, there’s a wonderful world of music to escape into.
Running Time: About one hour and 15 minutes with no intermission.
“Passport to the World of Music” series of cabarets runs through February 1, 2020, at Creative Cauldron, Falls Church, VA. For more information, click here.
