credit: Bruce-Michael Gelbert	Sweet-voiced tenor John DeMarco opened a new cabaret show, "It's All About Love," at Judy's Chelsea, on January 24.  Assisting were talented back up singers Susan Peirez and Jackie Fornatale, pianist Daryl Kojak, drummer Mike Lauren, and bass player Sean Conly. Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler's "Let's Fall in Love" served as DeMarco's swinging opening.  Comparisons may be odious, but John, Jackie and Susan knew which choices were "Better," among a myriad of options, in Edward Kleban's upbeat song.  DeMarco lamented a love affair that lacked the finishing touches, in contrasting Kleban selection "The Next Best Thing to Love," and quietly expressed regret in Laura Nyro's "I Never Meant to Hurt You." Giving "Secret Love" a lively beat, John suavely brought Sammy Fain and Paul Francis Webster's old chestnut to life anew.  "I Thought about You," the tenor crooned caressingly, in a Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Mercer number, paired with Frank Loesser's "Slow Boat to China."
DeMarco wistfully limned a love that was satisfying, though devoid of deluxe trappings, in Michael Leonard and Russell George's "Not Exactly Paris."  Turning to the sophistication of Cole Porter, John made "I've Got You under My Skin" his own by tweaking the rhythm a bit and interpolating some high vocal ornaments. When the singer temporarily ceded center stage to his back up artists, Jackie perched on the piano for a steamy "I Don't Know Enough about You," by Dave Barbour and Peggy Lee, and Susan got back at a false love with a biting "Cry Me a River," of Arthur Hamilton, which also elicited a virtuoso solo from Kojak at the keys.  John rejoined them to harmonize on Richard and Robert Sherman's "Ten Feet off the Ground," a spirited salute to invention of melody.  Probing a painful moment, with Peirez and Fornatale's help, he poured heart and soul into Sharon Hirsch's "I Can't Stop the Rain" and, with no less feeling, urged seizing the moment to demonstrate love and appreciation, in Jerry Herman's "Kiss Her Now," from the musical "Dear World." Acknowledging his teen age adopted son, Jayson, in the audience on opening night, John offered a tender "I'll Be Here with You," a lullaby by David Friedman that he sang when the boy was small, then waxed nostalgic for "The Hungry Years" of his own youth (thanks to Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield), in which love conquered all hardships.  For a heartfelt finale, the three singers sang of overcoming adversity, in Johnny Mercer's "Dream," and explored hopes and aspirations in Billy Joel's "Everybody Has a Dream."
Judy's Chelsea 169 8th Avenue, between 18th & 19th Streets $15 cover, $10 food or drink minimum  212/929-5410 Fridays January 24-February 28 at 8:30 p.m.