'Spring Forward' - CD Review Roundup

(5 out of 5)

Sutton Foster is truly the only bona-fide Broadway Star of the new generation. She hasn't stopped working since she hit "the boards" in THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE and scored her first TONY Award. She has wisely chosen to wait to debut her first solo recording, as she has had many an Original Broadway Cast Recording of all the shows she has appeared in to date, with SHREK the musical, being released tomorrow, as I file this review. This album is beautifully mixed and mastered, fearlessly focusing on the stellar, clarion tones and range of this extraordinary creature. She can do anything - and does - just as easily as she sings, acts or tears her way through a dance number on a Broadway stage. A "must-have!" The always expert Joel Moss produced the recording and the beautifully written liner notes come from the "always on point" Dick Scanlon. What a pleasurable listening experience. The musical choices are eclectic and she and her expert "team" nail each and every one. In the accompanying notes I received, I'm only sorry I can't point out the arrangers and musicians, as they weren't listed - but know they are fantastic! And, as if she hadn't already let us know how talented she is, the CD package features original art by Ms. Foster.

(5 out of 5)

I was the ideal person to sit and listen to this CD, as I have never seen a SHREK movie and have yet to see the stage musical. An original cast recording can serve two purposes: 1) help you re-live the stage experience, if you've already seen it, or 2) make you want to see it, after hearing the recording. I am in the latter camp and am now anxious to see the show. What a cast! - Brian d'Arcy James, Sutton Foster, Christopher Sieber, John Tartaglia and Daniel Breaker. And the album is so much fun and really well recorded. A good cast album will also tell the story. This is another solid plus here ... and a walloping 19 songs!

If you're lucky enough to live in New York City, all 5 stars of the musical will be doing an in-store CD signing at BORDERS, Time Warner Center, Columbus Circle, on Wednesday, March 25th, at 6:00 P.M.

Also, in true 21st Century fashion, you can get SHREK Ringtones by visiting shrek-music.com or texting SHREK to 30303. Did I really just write this?

(4 out of 5)

We all love Liza and couldn't have been happier that her latest return to Broadway was a smash - but that's where this recording becomes problematic. The 2-disc set is fine and sounds good and you should buy it, BUT if you went to see her at the Palace, part of the "gig" was the frenzy from a hungry audience and how hard she worked for us (with her fellas). Live is live and studio is studio. The album was recorded before the Broadway run and would have been so much stronger and electrifying and more of the "life-force", that we experienced in the theatre with her on the stage if that had been done. It also would have translated better to the listener, who may never have gotten to see it all. That's the only reason for 4 out of 5.

(5 out of 5)

WOW! This is SOME album. I had NO idea what I was about to listen to when I put this CD in the player. Most of you reading this (me included) know Cortes Alexander from Liza Minnelli's recent tour and stint at The Palace, where the second act put a spotlight on Kay Thompson, and Alexander was one of four intricate harmonists, reflecting the work of The Williams Brothers. But a bit of research taught me that Cortes was also part of THE TONICS and his own CORTES ALEXANDER TRIO. This guy IS music and this will be my favorite album in my iPod this summer. Think Jamiroquai, Sinatra, Prince ... it's all over the map, but, somehow, gels in truth .. and that is simply his soul and his approach to each and every song. This album perks up your ears and seems so EURO that it should be all over London radio stations. Many of the songs are written by him. Others, in collaboration with Lindy Robbins, Helen Slater, Dick Addrisi and McKay Garner. Garner produced and engineered this stunning recording and the sounds are spectacular. New and edgy, with a "tip of the hat" to certain styles and sounds. In the division of cover songs, I fell over hearing "Last Train To Clarksville" and "Never My Love." I have now listened to this CD over a dozen times. I love it! You will, too.

(5 out of 5)

We love Jill O'Hara and she was kind enough to appear in one of the BWW Concerts, reprising her songs from the Broadway Hit, PROMISES, PROMSES! Jill is probably best known to theatre audiences for that show, originating the role of Fran Kubelik opposite Jerry Orbach, as well as for HAIR and GEORGE M! O'Hara has a distinctly unique voice and makes really nice choices of songs on both these CDs. The newest one is "Alone Together" and her solo recording debut, "Jill O'Hara" is currently in re-issue. Both are worth having and listening to and both are very well produced by O'Hara, herself, and Philip Jones.

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(3.5 out of 5)

My first observation about this recording is that the "live" element seems to "come and go" and reactions and applause are uneven for a LIVE recording. Also, the orchestrations and number of musicians are skimpy and this is a self-released recording on her own label, which explains much of my issue with the recording itself. That said, she's still Elaine Paige. Great voice and a good recording for fans. The way she maps out her career as she travels through it, for the audience (listener) is poorly executed and she needs someone to build her a good ACT. ie: She sings "Broadway Baby" and interrupts it for stories of her British career ascension and heads back into the song (???). My favorite cuts were "With One Look" and a bonus track of a song she recorded with Euro Group SECRET GARDEN, called "The Things You Are To Me."

(3 out of 5)

You gotta hand it to the folks at The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization. They do everything in their power to keep the engine running .. and, by the way, do it very well.

Produced for records by David Lai, Bruce Pomahac and Ted Chapin, this recording couldn't be better executed. Conducted nicely by Larry Blank, with a first-rate cast - Laura Benanti, Leo Norbert Butz, Liz Callaway, Nathan Gunn, Judy Kuhn, Audra McDonald, Marni Nixon, Patrick Wilson and others... This is the first ever complete recording of the show and that, I'm afraid, is what will make it sit on the shelf of your CD library. Unfortunate, but true. Once you pour over the beautiful booklet and encyclopedic information, of which there is plenty, what are you left with? Nary a song. Sure, there a few - "The Gentleman Is A Dope" (which Bernadette Peters kills with on her Rodgers & Hammerstein recording), "A Fellow Needs A Girl" and "So Far." But not up there with the R&H great tunes of all time. Nevertheless .. worth a listen. Stephen Sondheim was a production assistant on the show and offers some musings in the Liner Notes. The themes here are wholesome and simple with not so great a story. It doesn't exactly want to make you want to see a production of the show. But an organization like R&H putting this together, for us, is not any small feat and somewhat monumental. That admitted to, the musical and theme of this unsuccessful show, from 1947, are too simple and the story doesn't compare to those of their other works. Even the ideas running around in FLOWER DRUM SONG have this trumped. Of special note: an appearance by Ted Chapin's father, Schuyler Chapin, is charming and put a smile on my face, as he recently passed away. A lovely little tribute to have on this historic recording.

(3.5 out of 5)

Norm Lewis is a favorite of many in the "leading man" category of Broadway reliables. Professional, attractive, talented with almost nowhere to use it in the times we are currently living in. Someone like him, in the '50s, '60s and even '70s, would have gone from show to show to show and probably have become a recording artist on a major label, making guest appearances on television variety shows. But those days are gone. I remember when a young Lewis stepped out of the chorus of TOMMY and into his first major role, as John in MISS SAIGON. That started the ball rolling. His debut album is very well executed, but stylistically all over the map, ignoring some of his own work/roles, in which he replaced someone, where the fans would have loved to hear him sing those songs. So .. as eclectic as the choices on the recording are .. "Why run away from what the fans want?" Plenty of nice stuff here, but trying to show too many stylings - at the expense of exhibiting a singular voice. Still .. it is a beautiful voice and, hopefully, there will be more recordings. That's the real issue with all Broadway performers who do their first recordings. It's so difficult to get the opportunity or get financing and with no assurance that there will ever be another .. so they try to show all aspects at once.. and it becomes like an audition. Sad, but true. Norm is really talented and this is definitely worth a listen.

(5 out of 5)

It's hard to believe, but this is the 10th FORBIDDEN BROADWAY CD and it does not disappoint. Whether you've seen this edition or not, you will be laughing for 70 minutes. It's all here and all up-to-date, just as one would expect from writer/director Gerard Alessandrini. NO ONE is safe. The casts, over the years, have included some of the most talented and versatile performers ever to take to a stage. This recording features: Christina Bianco, James Donegan, Gina Kreiezmar (who does an insane Patti LuPone), the uber-talented and funny Michael West and a cameo appearance by FB vet Edward Staudenmayer.

(5 out of 5)

Well, here we have a beguiling recording that will have us salivating for the forthcoming stage production of the same name. The songs on this new disc, from the composer of SPRING AWAKENING, will make up the musical score of the new musical - and, I, for one, can't wait. Gorgeous, haunting, dark and evocative. 12 new songs from Sheik, including a scheduled "single" release of "We're Here To Tell You." Kyle Jarrow co-wrote four of the songs and Holly Brook is a beautiful voice featured on the recording. If you loved SPRING AWAKENING or are a Duncan Sheik follower - grab it!