A Chanteuse and a Gentleman

There’s something magical about the salt air mixing with the sophisticated sounds of the Great American Songbook. During the Friday Night Music on the Beach series at the Sea Bright Beach Club, Diane Ambrose and Phil Alexander brought their act called A Chanteuse and a Gentleman, to the boardwalk. For a few hours, it felt like the Jersey Shore had transformed into a 1950s Manhattan supper club.

Ambrose looked every bit the beautiful, timeless star in an elegant gown and opera-length gloves.. Beside her, Phil Alexander was the consummate partner at the piano, shifting effortlessly from a swinging rhythm to lush, Broadway-style accompaniment.

The highlights were their renditions of "When Your Lover Has Gone" and "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered." In these numbers, she really settled in, letting her own style shine through and elevate the material to another level. The most powerful moments of the night were a devastatingly beautiful "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" and "You Won’t Forget Me," which opened with a fantastic piano solo by Alexander.

It was a night of pure nostalgia and high-class musicality. Diane Ambrose is a formidable and charming talent. Intertwined with Phil Alexander’s dynamically brilliant and technically flawless playing, they provided the perfect soundtrack for a night by the ocean. We hope to see them return to Sea Bright soon!