Review: Patti LuPone's MATTERS OF THE HEART Studio Recording

Patti LuPone is up there with some of the musical theatre greats and is an idol to many aspiring performers. With two Tony and two Grammy awards plus a multitude of nominations throughout her forty-odd year career in musicals, she also regularly performs her solo shows which include Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda, the Carnegie Hall sold-out performance The Lady With The Torch and the one featured on this album Matters Of The Heart. Broadway Records is re-releasing the studio recording of this acclaimed concert which originally debuted at the Lincoln Center in New York fifteen years ago before touring internationally.

Matters Of The Heart features a cross section of emotive songs by contemporary songwriters with only a couple of musical theatre numbers. The whole album is remarkably understated by LuPone's standards and possesses a really intimate feel. This lady is known for her storytelling abilities through song and this is reflected on this CD.

Despite the grandeur of the 'Storybook' opening with the stunning piano and violin arrangement, the rest of the numbers are fairly mellow. LuPone always gives light and shade to a performance but she really comes into her own during the songs that build up to a climax such as during 'A Wonderful Guy'. With regard to memorable renditions, it is a musical theatre number that lingers in 'Not A Day Goes By' from Merrily We Roll Along. Also 'This Moment' by John Buccino - whose songs feature several times - is particularly powerful. A refreshing, gentle change of pace is found with 'Air That I Breathe' written by Albert Hammond and Michael Hazelwood.

Matters Of The Heart has its peaks and troughs but above all else shows LuPone's talent for all genres and is a pleasant listen.

Patti LuPone's Matters Of The Heart is now available from Broadway Records and through major retailers including Amazon and iTunes.