Miles' brand new show opened to unanimous acclaim in the Autumn of 2005!

The show played through the end of the year at New York's hottest new club, right in the heart of the Theatre District - The Encore!

.

.

Miles was named one of the most outstanding Cabaret, Jazz and Comdy Performers of the Year by New York's top critics for his performance in Specific Overtures at the 2006 Nightlife Awards as a finalist in the category of Outstanding Cabaret Male Vocalist!

.

Other honorees included: Elaine Stritch, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Chita Rivera, Rebecca Luker, Jack Jones, Michael Feinstein, Karen Mason, Tom Andersen, Colm Reilly, Sandy Stewart & Bill Charlap, John & Bucky Pizzarelli, Jimmy Webb & Glenn Campbell, Jason Graae, Kristen Schaali, Judy Gold, Heather Lawless, Bill Burr, Greg Giraldo, Demetri Martin, Hank Jones, Paula West, Annie Ross, Freddy Cole and special Legend Honoree Eartha Kitt!

.

Miles then moved the show to one of New York's finest nightspots through the Spring of 2006 - Helen's!

Specific Overtures is Miles' exploration of life's “stepping off” points – moments of trust and reaching out that are integral to the human experiences of friendship, love and faith. The song list features an impressive range of material from showtunes and standards to pop and rock. All of it presented in Miles’ inimitably warm, breezy, yet passionate and fiercely intelligent style.

Miles is teamed again with award winning musical director and composer, Jason Wynn. Their creative energies and engaging chemistry were central to the success of The Unrest Inside Me. Once again, their great friendship and winning onstage rapport are featured brilliantly in this show.

Miles will be taking the show on the road for special appearances throughout 2006!

Check back here for the latest news and scheduled performances of this exceptional night of cabaret.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

.

Everybody's Talkin'

 
"Miles Phillips is an actor/singer. He's also a very smart and perceptive artist. When he puts on a show you can expect an act as rich as a seven layer cake, with seven levels of meaning as well. His new show, cleverly titled Specific Overtures, deals with those moments when we step off into the unknown. It might be taking a chance on love or starting a new job. In its simplest form, it's about putting out your hand to another person without knowing if your gesture will be reciprocated. In the instance of someone reading this review, who is otherwise unfamiliar with Phillips, it might be choosing to see Specific Overtures.
 
"Phillips has a warm, pleasing light baritone. He's not a belter, but passion can infuse his voice with an emotional ardor that surpasses the bark of a belt, providing, instead, a genuine bite. He's comfortable singing in a variety of styles that segue easily from standards to pop and rock, but all of his material is lyric driven. And all of it is carefully chosen to explore the theme of his show; as a consequence, he often unearths fresh perspectives out of songs you thought you knew. He makes those new perspectives stick thanks to his skills as an actor. One of the - if not the - most conceptually satisfying show of the year it is performed with considerable charm, grace, and style."
Barbara and Scott Siegel / The Two of Clubs / TalkinBroadway.com

.
"Artfully conceived and smartly staged, with beautiful singing, heartfelt and insightful interpretations, and a good deal of charm.  Altogether a splendid show.  I look forward to seeing it again."
Roy Sander / Columnist & Cabaret Critic
.
.
"With his cleverly titled show Specific Overtures, and affable manner, singer Miles Phillips turned up a winner in his not too long ago gigs at the Encore (which has now closed its doors). Loosely examining life's 'stepping off' points through an impressive song list culled mainly from musical theatre, he shared an hour of intimations of the human experience through funny and poignant reflections of friendship, faith and love. An experienced actor with considerable credits in musical theater and the recording studio under his belt, his no frills, down to earth humor made the hour fly and added balance to the more earnest moods. With multi-talented musical director/co-arranger Jason Wynn at the piano and on occasional backup vocals, it all lived up to the great word of mouth the show had been getting.
.
"Phillips' voice is a confident baritone that, at times, recalls a young Neil Diamond or the late Larry Kert in its resonance and intonation. This was particularly true on a searing medley that linked 'Simple Song' and 'I Go On' from Leonard Bernstein's 'Mass,' (words by Stephen Schwartz). Both of these artsy masterpieces, are musically and lyrically structured in a way that, while innocent enough in their semi-secular messages, are deceivingly difficult to interpret for many singers. Extended legato and fortissimo passages can also be tricky. Phillips handled them with tenderness and ease resulting in a bona-fide highlight that was inspiring.

"With a penchant for Sondheim, Phillips' other offerings showed off an emotional vocabulary that exposed layers of meaning . . . In a show filled with pearls, particular standouts included an intense 'Anyone Who Had a Heart' (which has almost become a cabaret anthem) by Burt Bacharach and Hal David and a wonderful Jerry Herman medley of 'I've Never Said I Love You' and 'Kiss Her Now,' both from 'Dear World,' (joined by terrific singer Rob Langeder) that created some magic. Harry Warren's plaintive 'This Heart of Mine' was understated and simple and scored another home run. His strength lies in exposing an emotional punch right from the heart. Everything he sings has an inner joy that's palpable."
John Hoglund / Back Stage
.

"This is another example of a fantastic pairing of talents - Mr. Phillips magical vocals and Mr. Wynn's inspired arrangements. It was an enjoyable hour of overtures, covering all the many meanings of the word. Special treat was the surprise back up vocalists who appeared out of the audience half way through the show and joined Miles onstage (Rob Langeder, Kristopher Monroe and Michael Barbieri), with Rob staying on to sing a duet with Miles. It all made for a most entertaining hour of cabaret."
Stu Hamstra / Cabaret Hotline

.
"To invoke an old but pleasant saying, Phillips has a way about him.  That way is made up of equal parts
steel-girder-strong baritone and take-me-as-I-am personality . . . exquisite . . . genius . . . genuinely gracious . . .
that's what I call intimate-room savoir-faire."
David Finkle / Back Stage

"Did you every go to a show that made you just come home wanting to work on YOUR music because you were so inspired by the quality of what you just saw? . . . I was at Miles' show yesterday afternoon and let me just say this . . . if this show doesn't put Miles 'on the map' (to the masses, as he has always been this in my book) as one of the greatest Cabaret singers to step on a stage then there is just something wrong in the universe.  At my table last night were Judy Barnett, Jeanne MacDonald, Colm Reilly and Shane Matthews (owners of Helen's), Mychelle Colleary and numerous other folks who all seemed to agree that what we saw last night was as good as any Broadway show. Miles' voice is just stupendous. Really. It's one of those voices that doesn't seem to have a top or a bottom (NO jokes here folks, especially from you Miles!).   Miles' ear is a marvel so the harmonies and the charts that he and Jason have done are worth seeing the show for alone. Then we get a 'special moment' in the show which I won't spoil because Miles HAS to bring this show back soon. And there's a duet with his best friend Rob Langeder (I starred with both of these men in the Question W Revue by the way along with Joan Crowe) that just, as Judy Barnett put it, 'Knocked my socks off so I was glad that I was wearing a pair!' . . . If I had an award to bestow, it would be yours, Miles. If he brings this show back it MUST SELL OUT every night. If he made this show a little longer and got backing, it could be an off-Broadway show. THAT'S truly how good it was. (Note to self: MUST start playing lotto so that I can produce shows like this!) . . . Like all of us I suppose, I get 'green eyed monsters' all the time over other people's talent . . . but when I see the level of talent like I saw in Miles, well, it humbles me in one way then inspires me to constantly set the bar higher.  He has been blessed with a talent that needs to been seen . . .  I'm still on the high of having seen a really wonderful show and a genuine STAR being born!"
Sue Matsuki (MAC, Bistro & Julie Wilson award winner) / suematsuki.com

.
"Artfully conceived and smartly staged, with beautiful singing, heartfelt and insightful interpretations, and a good deal of charm.  Altogether a splendid show.  I look forward to seeing it again."
Roy Sander / Columnist & Cabaret Critic

.
"That's just GREAT news because now I can add my '2 cents' to all the accolades Miles has been receiving. First, let me say, I’m not a blogger or post-er so for me to chime in means I REALLY REALLY loved Miles' work.  It was gorgeous to listen to, intelligent, enormously moving, brilliantly constructed. And he ain’t bad to look at either!  Go go go on the 15th!"
Laurie Krauz (Bistro award winning Jazz artist) / lauriekrauz.com

.

"Miles: Just wanted to tell you again how much I loved your show Friday. It was fantastic from start to finish. 'Anyone Who Had A Heart' is my favorite Burt Bacharach song. Believe it or not, even though I enjoy many of Dionne Warwick's songs, I never warmed up to her version of 'Anyone Who Had A Heart'. Your version and Maureen McGovern's are the only ones I really think are definitive versions of it. I also loved your duet with Rob on 'Kiss Her Now'. La Cage Aux Folles is one of my favorite musicals of all time. Your version of 'Song of the Sand' was fabulous!! I loved it!"
John DiMarco / Long Beach, New York

.

"I had been hearing such raves about Miles' show that I wondered how it could possibly live up to the advance hype. What a delight to find that it was even better than expectations. Full of joy and energy, Miles uses his glorious voice to create an evening of story-telling, shaped in love and filled with excitement - a real catharsis and the experience we all hope for when we see live entertainment."
Cynthia Crane / cynthiacrane.com

.