John Lloyd Young WOWs Cafe Carlyle Crowd!
February 19th, 2016
John Lloyd Young
By Charles Alexander, JBB Special Correspondent
For a belated Valentine treat, Cathy and I saw John Lloyd Young at the Cafe Carlyle on February 16, 2016. I’ve been a fan of the Tony-winning singer since I first heard him at the recording session for the Jersey Boys cast album. I was even more impressed after he left the JB cast and embarked on a solo career with a stunning debut concert at Lincoln Center back in 2008. It’s hard to believe, but Young, now in his fourth stint at the Cafe Carlyle, is still growing as a singer, packing more emotion, more style, more nuance and more sheer vocal power into every song. He’s always done uncanny interpretations of the great ’60s singers (the echoes of Frankie Valli, Roy Orbison, Gene Pitney, Paul McCartney and Smokey Robinson were heard last night), but now he’s adding some of his own compositions to make his show fresher than ever. If you like virtuoso singing and are in the New York area, this show is a must. He’s still at the Cafe through Saturday night. I also enjoyed seeing my friends Cynthia and Beverly at the show. Every JLY concert includes a mini-reunion of JB fans, and we can’t take our eyes off John.
Click HERE for wonderful the New York Times Review!
John Lloyd Young continues through Feb. 20 at Café Carlyle, Manhattan; 212-744-1600, thecafecarlyle.com.
As a fairly new convert of JLY (after seeing the movie in June 2014), I have had the privilege and pleasure of seeing John Lloyd in Cincinnati, California, Washington DC, and now NYC. He is the real deal, and there are no adequate adjectives to describe all that John Lloyd is, but I’ll try. The whole package is a wonderful combination of extraordinary talent, uncanny charisma, gorgeous good looks and the biggest heart of gold for all of his fans. And to think he hasn’t peaked yet! JLY just keeps getting better and better. I anxiously await his next adventure! “See you” John Lloyd!
Comment by Polly McCord — February 20, 2016 @ 6:36 am
Nice write up, Charles! Glad you were able to see John Lloyd again in his element. It’s been so long since I’ve heard him live, I hope he plays some more dates on the west coast. His debut show at the Allen Room (now it’s called the Appel Room????) back on that cold winter evening in 2008 was quite spectacular.
Comment by Gary — February 20, 2016 @ 9:37 am
Fantastic write up of a fantastic show! Thanks for capturing it so well as always, Charles!
Comment by Pamela — February 20, 2016 @ 9:28 pm
I was at Cafe Carlyle on Feb. 11 to see John and he was fabulous. I have been a fan of John Lloyd Young since seeing him October 11,2005 at a preview of Jersey Boys on Broadway, and been a fan since then.
I am so excited to see how John Lloyd has evolved into a great talent on his own.
I saw him at Kennedy Center in November and at Carlyle the three times he has been there in past years.
John is such a great performer and such a wonderful person.
Thank you John, for coming to NYC with your wonderful show.
Love and Hugs,
Viv
A Fan from New Jersy,
XOXOX
.
Comment by Viv — February 23, 2016 @ 8:10 am