There was something really magical going on Friday night at the Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood. Lanie Kazan - more famous for her movie roles in recent decades than her singing - is a first-rate singer and performer with terrific power and range. She knows how to command a stage and to have an audience in the palm of her hands. It was a thrilling evening, thrilling to see this side of Kazan.

My two favorite numbers of the evening came near the beginning ("Here's to Life" and the end ("Livin' Alone and I Like It"). The best! Also, thorougly loved what she did with "Music that Makes Me Dance" "The Man that Got Away" and a song that was written for her but became a hit for someone else: "Never Been To Me."

Kazan tells stories with her songs, she inhabits them - all of them - and as an audience member, this is such a gift to receive. What brings it all together beautifully are the stories from her life that she shares with the audience between songs. Like when she filled in for Barbra Streisand on Broadway in "Funny Girl," like when she was backstage at "The Dean Martin Show" and Judy Garland - who she had never met - called and asked her to come to a Christmas party at her house. Once there, Garland asked Lanie to sing for her. In return, Garland sang for her. The song: "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." She performed it Friday night as well as "The Trolley Song,"

It was a lovefest...standing ovations and a real appreciation for the opportunity to see this great star perform live in LA in intimate setting. I'm told there are still tickets remaining for the second ot two shows tonight. Go to the Catalina's website for more information. I'd highly recommend it...

Previous posts on Lanie Kazan:
** Exclusive: Lainie Kazan talks about singing in LA again, Greek Wedding, and going on for Streisand...

**Part 2: Lainie Kazan talks about a career low point and how she came back...

** Lunch with Lainie Kazan