CABARET
Outstanding Cabaret Female Vocalist in a Major Engagement
(tie) KAREN AKERS and KEELY SMITH

Outstanding Cabaret Male Vocalist in a Major Engagement
CY COLEMAN (posthumous)

Outstanding Duo/Group Cabaret Performance in a Major Engagement
LIZ & ANN HAMPTON CALLAWAY

Outstanding Cabaret Female Vocalist
CAROLYN MONTGOMERY

Outstanding Cabaret Male Vocalist
PHILLIP OFFICER

Outstanding Cabaret Musical Comedy/Characterization Performance
PETER YAWITZ

Outstanding Cabaret Musical Revue/Group/Variety Performance

TEDDY CARES (Ruby Rims)

Outstanding Cabaret Piano Bar Performer
LESLIE ANDERSON

Unique Cabaret Event
"UNDER THE COVERS" (at Mama Rose's)

COMEDY
Outstanding Female Standup Comedian
LAURIE KILMARTIN

Outstanding Male Standup Comedian
PATRICE O'NEAL

Outstanding Group Comedy Performance
INVITE THEM UP (EUGENE MIRMAN & BOBBY TISDALE)

Unique Comedy Performance
DAVE GORMAN'S GOOGLEWHACK ADVENTURE


JAZZ
Legend of Jazz
MARK MURPHY

Outstanding Jazz Soloist
BILL CHARLAP

Outstanding Jazz Combo Performance
JOE LOVANO

Outstanding Female Jazz Vocalist
PAULA WEST

Outstanding Male Jazz Vocalist
JACKIE PARIS (posthumous)

The NIGHTLIFE AWARDS winners are selected by critics from amongst performances in New York City cabaret, jazz and comedy clubs. There are no acceptance speeches. Instead, the work of the winners speaks for them. This year, the ceremony lasted for nearly four hours, but those were hours crammed full of the sounds, songs and observations of some of the most talented folks around town.

Over the course of the evening, host Bruce Vilanch took the opportunity to wax sarcastic on everything from C train woes to the Iraqi elections as he introduced presenters and winners to the crowd, and Outstanding Standup Comedians Patrice O’Neal and Laurie Kilmartin offered refreshingly politically incorrect commentary on Martha, Bush, Islam and abortions, but the core of the NIGHTLIFE AWARDS was a melodious mixture of jazz and cabaret standards. There were many highlights this night, but a few that demand mention.

A great moment occurred just after the NIGHTLIFE AWARDS intermission, when Tony Danza, having introduced Keely Smith (co-winner of the Outstanding Cabaret Female Vocalist in a Major Engagement award), briefly joined her onstage for a duet. Lennie Watts did an impressive rendition of You Keep Me Hanging On (Unique Cabaret Performance). Both Cy Coleman and Jackie Paris received posthumous awards, but the most touching moment was Patti Lupone’s heartfelt tribute to the late Dick Gallagher.

Overall, THE 2005 NIGHTLIFE AWARDS highlighted the abundance of talent in New York City. Spanning a diverse spectrum of performers, these awards remind us why we love the arts and why they are so important. If a song can spark a memory, if a melody can rear emotion, if a joke can alter disposition, then the ability to create these things is a power.

- Kessa De Santis -

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