Estelle Reiner Delivers At Vine St.
Jazz Review by Don Heckman
Estelle Reiner may have gone into film history books when she delivered her one
line in son Rob's film "When Harry Met Sally...": "I'll have what she's having."
Context, set-up and timing, of course, didnt' hurt. And Reiner makes similar
use of those invaluable elements whenever she shows up for one of her occasional
singing performances around town.
Wednesday night at the Vine St. Bar & Grill, she delivered a mixed-bag collection
of standards and novelties that convincingly showcased her winning personality
and sweetly engaging way with a song. On "Love Come Back to Me," she swung with
jazz-phrased intensity, her rhythms buoyed by the impressive back-up work of Tom
Garvin on piano, John Heard on bass, Mike Stephens on drums and Stacy Rowles on
fluegelhorn.
She was at her best in several novelty songs --most notably Dave Frishberg's
whimsical "Let's Eat Home" and the rarely heard "Where's Poppa?" (from husband
Carl's 1970 film).
Review Appeared in The L.A. Times
Date of Review: December 8th 1990
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