Sutton Foster's debut CD 'Wish' has been confirmed for February 17th release on Ghostlight Records. The album features 15 songs culled from the worlds of jazz, pop, Broadway and cabaret, and highlights Foster's eclectic choices, ranging from Patty Griffin's 'Nobody's Cryin' to Duke Ellington's 'I Like the Sunrise'...from Frank Loesser's 'Warm All Over' to John Denver's 'Sunshine on My Shoulders'.
Tony-winner Foster has also confirmed a February 19th NYC appearance, as part of the popular Lincoln Center Songbook Series.
Currently starring as Princess Fiona in Broadway's 'Shrek the Musical', Sutton Foster was given high praise this week by Ben Brantley of The New York Times, who compared her to musical royalty: "She has emerged as an inspired, take-charge musical comedian in the tradition of Danny Kaye and Carol Burnett..."
"Foster's unique ability to be irreverent and respectful from moment-to-moment shines through on 'Wish', as her voice wallops through 'Oklahoma' (a bonus track,) only minutes after a delicate, warm delivery of Noel Coward's 'Come The Wild, Wild Weather.' She is a musical chameleon with a voice as appealing as her down-to-earth personality" describes press notes.
Here's an excerpt from Dick Scanlon's song notes for 'Wish':
If the song list is eclectic, so is the singer. You know that magical quality of morning light after a night of torrential downpour? Redemptive. Pure. Joyful, but a joy hard-won by having survived the rain. Listen to Sutton's take on "Sunshine" (a bold choice, given the knee-jerk dismissal the song often elicits). This is an ode to the sun offered up by someone who has known the clouds-perhaps quite recently-and is that much more grateful for warmth, for energy, for all that is life affirming. Optimistic by choice, because she knows the alternative is the easier option, and nothing good ever comes easy...Wish is the culmination of a musical expedition that began during Millie, when Sutton first started to collaborate with music director Michael Rafter beyond the confines of that show. Together, they combed through countless songs (Michael was resistant when Sutton's first suggestion was "Sunshine") and developed a means of communicating that required few words. A smile here, a shake of the head there, and a song's fate was decided. Along the way, they tried out material in sold-out gigs at Lincoln Center and Joe's Pub, all of which I attended. It's thrilling for me to hear the songs that made the cut-and to remember some of the loopier experiments that didn't.
'Wish' was Produced by Joel Moss, and Co-Produced by Michael Rafter. Executive Producers are Kurt Deutsch and Sutton Foster. The CD package features original artwork by Sutton Foster
Track listing for 'Wish':
1. I'm Beginning to See The Light -(Duke Ellington, Don George, Johnny Hodges, Harry James)
2. Warm All Over (Frank Loesser)
3. The Late, Late Show (Murray Berlin, Roy Alfred)
4. Up on the Roof (Carole King, Gerald Goffin) * this song is dedicated to Christine Zic
5. My Romance/Danglin' - (Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers/Maury Yeston)
6. I Like The Sunrise (Duke Ellington)
7. Air Conditioner (Christine Lavin)
