Previewing 54 Below
Last night, all the magic of Puerto Vallarta descended on Nacho Daddy with an oversold house gathered to mark a few firsts. One, this concert was Effie Passero’s premiere at Nacho Daddy. While she has sung there at the occasional Open Mic, this was her first entire show. Second, after living here for six years, this is the first collaboration between Effie and Maestro Mark Hartman at the piano. And third, it was a rehearsal for Effie’s upcoming June 14th debut at NYC’s renowned supper club, 54 Below. We in the audience were so ready!
The song choices were ambitious and extremely well received, with ”The Girl in 14G” creating a couple of stumbles, only for Effie to laugh and get right back on track. Hey – this was a preview!
From her opening number, ”Journey to the Past” from Anastasia, through Adele, Bonnie Raitt, and a couple of originals, to the finale, ”You’ll Never Walk Alone” from Carousel, Effie was in her element, surrounded by dear friends made here in this city.
In the past eight years, since she appeared on American Idol, she has been swept up by Postmodern Jukebox, has been to Egypt, Europe, and all over the United States, and appeared at the Sydney Opera House and Covent Garden within months of each other. An extraordinary experience she speaks of with reverence and immense gratitude.
Effie’s recent debut at Carnegie Hall prompted many from Vallarta to fly to New York to witness her singing with her friends and colleagues, Branden James and James Clark, combined as CelloVoci.
Another serendipitous moment happened in Tennessee when she ended her show there with Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” which was her encore last night. A man with tears still pouring down his face, met her after the show, and wondered aloud why the world had not heard her spectacular voice. One thing led to another, and this man arranged her first recording session in Nashville. This was a couple of years ago, and when Effie was telling me the story over breakfast on the beach, she said she would be working with the band members from Journey. Had I heard of them? (Effie and I share the same birthdate, just 40 years apart, so yes, I had heard of them!)
When Effie (real name Francesca Bavaro) was five, her parents were sure she was a prodigy and enrolled her in voice and piano lessons. Within a year, she was flying back and forth from California to New York to audition for Broadway musicals. She never quite fit the bill and eventually chose a different path that included Mohawk hairdos and tattoos covering much of her body, which effectively put her in a category all her own.
One thing is sure – no matter what she is called, Effie or the more difficult Francesca, according to American Idol producers, she has this VOICE that is hers alone, and glorious. She is coming to 54 Below: be advised, you may borrow her from time to time, but remember, that voice lives in Puerto Vallarta, From Here.
