The American Songbook Series is an annual event presented by Lincoln Center to feature a wide range of performers presenting the American songbook in a broad interpretation. Singer Karen Akers presented a program of traditional classics and new works the evening of February 1 in the Allen Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

I wouldn’t say Akers is my favorite performer. While the rather brief show seemed too staged and a bit stilted, I did enjoy her interpretations from the musical Nine (of which she was a star in the original), the newer musical Next to Normal and Sondheim’s Into the Woods.