SOUND OFF World Premiere First Listen: Barbra Streisand's PARTNERS Is The Whole Pie

By: Pat Cerasaro Sep. 11, 2014

Today we are thrilled to be the very first to review the new duets album from legendary stage and screen icon Barbra Streisand, PARTNERS.

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Versatility. Has there ever been a recording artist as versatile as Barbra Streisand? Judging from her newest release, PARTNERS, which finds Streisand re-inventing many of her classics as well as committing fully to a few new tunes, too, the answer is a resounding: no. Never. With an effortlessness, vivacity and grace performers half - or even a quarter - her age would undoubtedly kill to possess, Streisand shows up the current crop of chart-toppers and also pays considerable homage to the greats of the past on the new album - even deigning to collaborate with a few from both of those categories on the album itself, as a matter of fact. Before getting down to brass tacks on the specifics, it is elemental to acknowledge the brass balls - or, shall we say: chutzpah - of Streisand to embark on a risky, tricky endeavor such as this at this stage of her remarkable, utterly incomparable career. As with most distinctly daring artistic risks taken by this triple-threat-plus superstar throughout her incomparable career onstage and onscreen - FUNNY GIRL to A STAR IS BORN to YENTL and beyond - the rewards of PARTNERS are myriad. And miraculous.

Jazz. Pop. Rock. Country. R&B. Opera. Musical comedy. Theatricality to max, each and every track on Streisand's PARTNERS conjures up a distinct mood and atmosphere - with the vast majority going so far as to paint entire aural canvases and create sonic experiences akin to theatre or film itself. Awe-inspiringly detailed and precise production acts as the absolutely ideal backdrop upon which Streisand can craft a painterly portrait of such depth of thought, heart and feeling as to nearly overwhelm - but, it's just right. A rich feast, but painstakingly planned so as to continually satisfy and satiate while teasing, arousing, invigorating and inspiring all the while, with the love and care of a master chef - or a particularly exceptional mother. Indeed, Barbra's own sole progeny gets his chance to shine on this new album - in cahoots and in chorus with mom, no less - and the fact that Jason Gould has the earmark - emphasis on ear - of his mother's unparalleled vocal gifts as evidenced in their astounding take on Irving Berlin's classic "How Deep Is The Ocean?" proves this well of talent runs deep - indeed, as deep as the ocean. Some may claim nepotism - while others may more justifiably cite shrewd shepherding of undeniably stunning talent. After all, no one is a harsher critic than Streisand of her own endeavors, and the fact that her only son is a standout on an album containing such an impossibly starry array of talent is a credit to her expertise and exceptional taste, evident everywhere.

Tastefulness. Another major feature that makes PARTNERS something special. The preponderance of duets albums by music greats new and old is dizzying, but, even still, this album stands out. Weaving in beloved standards ("How Deep Is The Ocean?", "It Had To Be You", "Come Rain Or Come Shine") with Streisand catalogue must-haves ("Evergreen", "The Way We Were"), musical theatre mainstays ("Somewhere", "People") and a few new selections ("I'd Want It To Be You", "I Can Still See Your Face") makes for a considerably stacked deck, yet every single genre and musical style is afforded the care, precision and detail Streisand fans have come to expect, enjoy and exalt in a brand new release. I am more than merely happy to report that that is the case on PARTNERS - perhaps even more so than any of her albums in recent memory. Risks are taken - rewards are reaped. And how! In all the best art, content dictates form and that is unquestionably the case here on PARTNERS - with all the participants revealing a unique side of not only the personality, but the unlimited talent, of the star at the center; and their own.

The album kicks off with a rousing and piquant team-up with popular contemporary crooner Michael Buble on the jazz standard "It Had To Be You", followed up by a surprising and enveloping bossa nova-tinged reworking of the unforgettable FUNNY GIRL ballad by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill written for FUNNY GIRL, "People". Adorning it with his trademark riffs and iconic harmonica, Stevie Wonder provides the ideal foil for a new look at the oft-covered and oft-sung tune, with Streisand infusing it with a refreshing and moving countenance. Much like Streisand and theatrical icon Michael Crawford's legendary interpretation of "The Music Of The Night" from THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, this is as much a calling back to the original as a look ahead to something entirely new and unique altogether. Superb. Difficult to be bettered, even on a release filled to the brim with this many gems, the insinuatingly sexy and unmistakably propulsive John Mayer partnering on the Johnny Mercer/Harold Arlen standard "Come Rain Or Come Shine" comes out of left field, yet hits a grand slam straight out of the park. A pinnacle - and, with a song-stack this strong, that is really saying something significant. As Barbra herself imparts during the sweaty, muscular and scintillating Mayer blues guitar solo, "Oh, yeah!"

The incalculable contributions made by producer Babyface to the album as a whole and more specifically to his duet on the Academy Award-winning A STAR IS BORN theme penned by Streisand herself along with Paul Williams, "Evergreen", are appreciable and occasionally much more than that. The recurrent sounds of a Babyface-populated choral accompaniment on several tracks gives the experience a sonic cohesiveness and thematic integrity that many duet albums traversing multiple genres often lack, which is a credit to his vast abilities as not only an erudite producer of great renown, but performer, as well. The R&B accents on the track are well-chosen, while Streisand imbues yet another recording of one of her most well-loved songs with a fresh sense of sensuality and purpose. Not to be outdone, the duo of Babyface and Streisand also shine on the attention-grabbing Lionel Richie duet of another classic film theme beloved by Babs devotees, "The Way We Were". Occasionally inverting the theme and expanding the inherent musical horizon even further, the trio make magic out of the mellifluous melody and heartrending lyrics of the song written by the recently deceased Marvin Hamlisch along with Marilyn and Alan Bergman - themselves a trio of music masters and some of Streisand's closest friends and collaborators, as it were. Simply stunning.

Venturing out into even more treacherous and unknown waters, Streisand shares the recording booth with country superstar Blake Shelton to craft a Nashville-ready centerpiece that immediately brings to mind "Lost Inside Of You", a duet made famous by Streisand and Kris Kristofferson in A STAR IS BORN. Nailing yet another genre to the wall, "I'd Want It To Be You" evokes not only the warm, down-home feeling of a country and western classic-in-the-making, but also offers some delectable winking references to some memorable Streisand classics themselves - FUNNY GIRL and THE WAY WE WERE, among them. After all, she really will "always be that funny girl" to us.
All of these tracks make significant impressions, yet the five other selections not yet discussed may very well be the best of the best. Closing the album with a wish-fulfillment a half-century in the making, Streisand utilizes state of the art technology to convincingly collaborate with the king of rock n roll himself, Elvis Presley, on the King's unforgettable "Love Me Tender", ending the album on not only an enviably historic note via two of the world's most important, influential and successful American artists of all time heard together for the first time on a single track, but also one of, well, love and tenderness. Highlighting the utmost passionate and optimistic side of love, whether young or old, Josh Groban joins Streisand for a new version of the seminal Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim WEST SIDE STORY showstopper "Somewhere", with the dulcet tones of Groban's incredible instrument marrying the buttery brilliance of Barbra in a performance that is, to cite a common Babs-ism, like buttah. Both of these tracks satisfyingly show distinctly different sides of Streisand's gifts as an actress and interpreter of a lyric, whereas the Andrea Bocelli duet on the titanic "I Still Can See Your Face" is, in a word, epic. Pretty damn awesome, too.

And then there were two - "New York State Of Mind" and "What Kind Of Fool". Without a doubt, these are the two tracks that I would go out on a limb to classify as instant new classics in the truly wow-worthy canon of Barbra Streisand - a discography with virtually no modern-day equivalent. Billy Joel brings a commanding vocal and an adorable affability to his side of his own deep cut once resurrected and re-introduced to the world byway of Streisand's SUPERMAN in "New York State Of Mind", while she matches him note for note and riff for riff - with a spine-tingling new arrangement and sparkling orchestration George Gershwin himself would enjoy ("Rhapsody In Blue" is even brilliantly and lovingly referenced, as is the culinary expansiveness of NYC). Surely, the dramatic centerpiece of the entire affair - at least aside from the impressive Bocelli and Groban collabos - is the jaw-dropping new version of Barry Gibb's "What Kind Of Fool" from Streisand's worldwide bestseller GUILTY as voiced by Streisand alongside current R&B king John Legend. An instantly intriguing orchestral introduction gives way to a smart, sensual and otherworldly reworking of the song placing it firmly in the 21st century - or maybe the 22nd. Much like David Foster's legendary reinvention of "Somewhere" for THE BROADWAY ALBUM made a staple something fresh and new, so, too, does this new "What Kind Of Fool" do the original one better. A masterpiece.

PARTNERS proves without a shadow of a doubt that Barbra Streisand as a septuagenarian is equal-parts contemporary, classic and oh-so cool more than 50 years after her debut. With literally nothing left to prove, Streisand reminds us why there never was and never will be anyone quite like her in the entertainment realm. She not only does it all, but does it all better than anybody else - although, given the chance to collaborate, as she does with 12 willing participants on PARTNERS, she shows she is more than happy to share the pie. And, honestly, who doesn't like pie?! The same can be said for Barbra Streisand's PARTNERS - it's impossible to resist. It's all worth savoring - every last bite. Now, who's up for seconds?

Barbra Streisand's PARTNERS will be released on September 16. More information on PARTNERS and pre-order with bonus incentives is available at the official site here. Also, pre-order PARTNERS on Amazon here and iTunes here.

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