BWW CD Review: Telly Leung's SONGS FOR YOU Uplifts Listeners

For Telly Leung's sophomore album, SONGS FOR YOU, the acclaimed Broadway performer decided to make an album where each song is dedicated to the important people in his life. According to the liner notes that is where each of the classic tunes that compose the track listing found their breath of life, allowing Leung to "focus on the sentiment and energy of the song." Thus, audiences are presented with an album that almost sounds like a cabaret act, except it's clearly recorded in a studio.

For an album that is made up of heartfelt performances of what are presumably Leung's favorite tracks, the crisp perfection of the studio treatment may be the albums largest drawback. Being able to mix and match multiple takes to achieve perfection and clarity, some of the emotionality channeled into the personal connections he and the others artists working on the recordings have made for each track appears to be lost. Perhaps, these tracks would be more poignant and powerful if recorded live or even in just one take.

This is not to say that the album is not lovely. Leung's cheerfully exuberant vocals on each song are beautiful. The band plays with tangible vivacity. It's just that the polish on the album makes each piece come across like a museum quality showpiece protected by stanchions and glass casing, and it's hard to actually be touched by the individual recordings. However, on "I Just Had to Hear Your Voice" (Allan Rich and Jud Friedman) his vocals build brilliantly and he capably sings to the heart of the listener and stirs emotions. The same is true for his renditions of "(Send Me) On My Way" (Rusted Root/Jeanine Tesori) and "A Song For You" (Leon Russell, with elements of "Everything Must Change" written by Benard Ighner).

The nasal Broadway timbre and obvious, unmistakable smile heard in his voice charms throughout the record. Tackling instantly recognizable tunes like "You Gotta Be" (Ashley Ingram), a mash-up of "Send Me On My Way" (Rusted Root) and "On My Way" (Jeanine Tesori), and "Being Alive" (Stephen Sondheim), he showcases his earnest instrument and all of its capability. His tenor is so brightly colored that one cannot help but feel uplifted when hearing it. This makes the album easy to listen to and truly fun from beginning to end.

Working with Gary Adler, his blending of "I Am What I Am" (Jerry Herman) with "I Have Nothing" (David Foster and Linda Thompson) allows him to showoff his own ear and skills for arrangement. He has also successfully put his own personal touches on "Human Nature" (Steve Porcaro and John Bettis), "Leaving on a Jet Plane" (John Denver), "(Send Me) On My Way" (Rusted Root/Jeanine Tesori), and "A Song For You" (Leon Russell, with elements of "Everything Must Change" written by Benard Ighner).

Yellow Sound Label released Leung's SONGS FOR YOU digitally on November 20, 2015. Physical copies of the album will be available on November 24. The album can be purchased from iTunes, Amazon, and elsewhere music is sold.

Lastly, on his night off from Broadway's ALLEGIANCE, Telly Leung will be performing a CD Release concert at Joe's Pub at 7:00 PM on Monday, November 23, 2015. For more information and tickets, please click here.