Karen Akers: Feels Like Home

The unique contralto Karen Akers once had a reputation as the epitome of the elegant, sophisticated, somewhat icy nightclub chanteuse, a persona she spoofed in Woody Allen's The Purple Rose of Cairo. More recently, however, the star of Broadway's original Nine and Grand Hotel has emphasized a melting streak of emotion. Her latest program at Birdland includes songs by Stephen Sondheim, Carly Simon and Randy Newman, among others.