Don't You Want to Eat Your Sunday Brunch in the Presence of Greatness, Manhattan? New York Notes DAYLIGHT: Barbara Carroll is a Shining Star at Jazz Brunch at the Algonquin; It is the Rolls Royce of All Sunday Brunches in Manhattan Because of Barbara's Talents, and by the way, Barbara Recommends the Nantucket Bay Scallops at Swifty's! Who's Like You Barbara? Damn Few!

Peachy Deegan is not a girl that does brunch...do you think we would be closing in on 6k posts in less than 2 years if she slept in ever?  Peachy Deegan IS a girl that loves great jazz and she listens to Rod Stewart's The Great American Songbook cd's a lot and has for years...and also we love Harry Connick Jr.  But before everyone we know came Barbara Carroll, and we were absolutely dying to see her, and we did yesterday!  And her initials are BC!  (you know Peachy always talks about how she loves Boston College.)


There are so many places in Manhattan you can go for brunch, but there is nowhere better to go if you love jazz than the Algonquin on Sunday at 1pm.  There was not an empty seat in the intimate Oak Room, and the crowd just adores Barbara.  We counted about sixty in attendance, and when you are in the presence of such greatness the small size really makes a difference.  Also, as we head into winter, the ambiance of the Oak Room is perfect.  


Barbara's fingers dance along the piano with a true sense of familiarity, as if they always belonged there.  A bassist accompanies her whom she calls her Bon Vivant, but it is widely apparent who the **STAR** of the show is and this is one time where we're not talking vodka.  (But Barbara we do hope you try The Peachy Deegan next time at Swifty's, made with Star Vodka...)  Barbara Carroll plays with the energy of someone half her age; we're not sure how old she is but she plays with the spirit of a 35 year old.  Pure joy is exuded on her face with every note and you can tell this is her calling in life and your ears are getting quite a treat.  You could hear a pin drop in the audience and the tremendous respect and enormous appreciation those that go have for Barbara is top-notch.  You feel as though you're living through an award-winning score...


However, the audience is in an age range that supercedes the age of Peachy's parents for the most part, so we want to bring this to the attention of our younger readers: YOU ARE MISSING OUT IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN BARBARA CARROLL AT THE ALGONQUIN!!!!


Her singing is just as good as her piano playing.  We cannot help but say this reminded us so much of a Prescott Program at Miss Porter's....from Irving Berlin to Sondheim she captures many hits in the great American Songbook....Barbara Carroll truly shines with her glowing aura of fiery red hair in the coral spotlight as she makes your fingertips and toes tap all around.  We particularly liked "You Can't Take That Away From Me" and the song about missing New York.  As you say in your song, Who's Like Us, Damn Few!; we say to you Barbara:  Who's Like You!  Damn Few.


In addition to being a star performer, Barbara Carroll is a class act as a person.  She chatted with Peachy Deegan after the show and told her she has been playing the piano since age 5, and that she wants our readers to know that she is keeping the American Songbook alive.


If you were born with ears and they work, this is where YOU should be at 1pm on a Sunday in Manhattan.  Whom You Know highly recommends Barbara Carroll at The Algonquin!!!  And, Barbara Carroll loves the Nantucket Bay Scallops at Swifty's.  Peachy Deegan went to Swifty's two times last week but Barbara was there THREE times, so she has us beat.


We recommend reservations!!!


Thank you Robert Caravaggi for your suggestion!


http://www.algonquinhotel.com/jazz-brunch