A terrific cabaret act is equal parts personality, pipes and passion. Plus, pizzazz and point-of-view. In his new show at Birdland Jazz Club in NYC, Cheyenne Jackson minds all his P's (and cues) and puts on a refreshing show that touches on his recent trials and tribulations. He kicks off his act with ''Feeling Good,'' but adds ''it's been the most difficult year of my life,'' but also his best. He admits, ''I struggled with alcohol and drug abuse for 20 years. And I had a lot of shame about it.''
In lesser hands, this could be mediocre musical therapy, but not here. Jackson comes across genuine, open and honest. Add to this his strong, big and beautiful voice, and his self-deprecating sense of humor. After belting ''A Little Less Conversation'' (which he sang in ''All Shook Up''), he catches his breath and quips, ''That was harder to do than it was 10 years ago. I'm gonna be 40!'' (He's actually 38.)
And his song selections keep you guessing: Sylvia Plath's ''Mad Girl's Love Song'' (set by Ben Toth, his musical director); ''Squeeze Me, It's Christmas,'' a pop-py tune he wrote with Toth; Joni Mitchell's ''A Case of You'' (with gorgeous guitar accompanist by Steve Bargonetti), and a duet of ''Prisoner in Disguise'' with special guest Christine Ebersole.
The show also celebrated the release of his CD, ''I'm Blue, Skies,'' featuring his soaring new anthem (written with Stevie Aiello). The title clearly is a pun on the Irving Berlin classic from the great American songbook, which has been a big part of his musical-theater career, but he wants you to know he's charting his own way (''Here, I am, letting go'').
Jackson's really grown and is owning it as an artist. Kudos. He will do a Q&A and CD signing today (Dec. 2) at 5 p.m. at the Drama Book Shop, 240 W. 40th St., and he's got one more show tonight at 9:15 at Birdland (315 W. 44th St.).
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