A newcomer to the world of cabaret, Scott Evan Davis has quite the career ahead of him. His debut show, "Both Sides Now," at Don't Tell Mama's April 18th, is a clear sign of that.

Scott has most recently been seen performing at Jim Caruso's Cast Party, accompanied by none other than well-known songwriter, John Bucchino. He was also seen upfront at the Duplex having some fun with the one-and-only Flotilla deBarge.

His current show, directed by Linda Amiel Burns (The Singing Experience) with musical direction by another bright new talent, Brian J Nash, is a unique and beautiful take on growing up as a member of the generation with no name. It's clear through his title song choice, "Both Sides Now," that we're in for an eclectic evening of song. But what most surprised me was Scott's vulnerability as an actor on the intimate stage. He let down a lot of walls, which you seldom see a young male cabaret performer let go of. By the end of the evening, I truly felt like I knew this young man, and that he had something to say.

He tackles issues including his own sexuality, and the death of a dear friend from cancer with remarkable sensitivity and ease. He makes his audience feel as if they are all his old friends and we're just hangin' around singing and listening to him tell a story.

The show was almost seamless with a perfect balance of comedy and pathos throughout the evening. Scott's sweet high baritone sound carried songs such as Bucchino's "Better Than I," and Amanda McBroom's "From Where I Stand." And his versatility is showcased quite well as his voice soars in Craig Carnelia's "Flight," followed by a funny and poignant "Things I Learned in High School." His obsessed co-dependent take on "Leavin' on a Jet Plane," nearly made me wet myself.

This gifted and talented new performer is not one to be missed or dismissed. He's a very rare breed and I greatly look forward to his future endeavors.

Craig Carnelia's "Things I learned In High School" took on a bitter-sweet mood, I sensed a real connection to the music.

"Leaving On a Jet Plane" took on the angst of youth. Scott made it very personal, funny but with an intensity and an undelaying feeling of the sadness that only the young can experience.

In Scott's hands, Amanda McBroom's "From Where I Stand" became a heartbreaker. He took my breath away with this one.

Michael Nelsen
MN On Line

This handsome young man, with a handsome voice, is ... a delightful addition to the NYC cabaret scene.

Stu Hamstra, Cabaret Hotline

Scott Davis' debut show, Both Sides Now, contained a great deal of personality, both in its construction and in its delivery. Davis is an incredibly engaging performer with a strong sense of 'self,' which is displayed in every song and every moment of patter. While his choice of themes for the show is a cabaret cliché (an autobiographical saga about growing up and coming to New York to be an actor), he overcame the predictability of the subject with a highly personal and eclectic choice of songs and through patter that displayed a great deal of wit and never quite went where one expected it to.

Highlights include a surprisingly understated "Better Than I" by John Bucchino, an exquisitely sung "From Where I Stand" by Amanda McBroom and a pairing of "Leaving on a Jet Plane" (by John Denver, and treated with a nice dollop of wry humor) with Joni Mitchell's "This Flight Tonight." His closing number, a William Finn song unfamiliar to me, "Anytime," was an ideal way to end the evening.

Davis has all the elements necessary to deliver a successful cabaret show: strong voice, good presence, a sharp intelligence that digs into a lyric, and a wry sense of wit that allows him to not take himself too seriously.

Jonathan Frank, Cabaret Corner