We open our musical book of singers to the 'R' page this time, and spend some time with recent recordings by Johnny Rodgers and Molly Ringwald and a reissue of early record albums by Chita R…
Although they are different types of cabaret ladies, the first more Broadway and big-voiced, the other a low-key but graceful presence, both have recent CDs and will be back in Manhattan clu…
Norbert Leo Butz was captured at New York's hot venue 54 Below in a show he called Memory & Mayhem. ... on the other coast, singer Tom Culver's endeavor is titled Thanks for the Memory.
Since it's our policy that cabaret picks represent events/people I've seen a lot, and been glad I went, this week's pick is the annual MAC Awards on Thursday, March 21 --- at BB King in Time…
In a cabaret show, to take on the songbook and legacy of the formidable, fearless Elaine Stritch, you'd have to be formidable or fearless yourself-or kind of crazy.
Whether brightly brimming with optimism or-as in "Born to Be Blue"-telling a tale of woe, Wopat makes it all sound effortless, without artifice, without sweat.
... in the key of B today: buoyant with a trio and vocalist recording from Bobby Belfry and the Budway boys; blisteringly honest and back to basics with Barb Jungr; and back to the bright B…
MAC Male Vocalist nominee and Bistro Award winner T. Oliver Reid's Do I Love You, Bistro Award winner Moira Danis' Some People's Lives, Together Through Time: The Brownings in Word & Song, w…
... t the cast album from the brief Broadway run of a musical based on the life of Hollywood's immortal figures, with a heartfelt score ... duo-disc set of strong appealing "guide vocals" a…
She's back! And she looks and sounds terrific. As you might expect, Dreamgirls star Jennifer Holliday includes two big songs from that very musical that put her on the Broadway map.
Maria Jacobs demonstrates the Art of the Duo, mostly with one guitarist or another (or, instead, bass or piano player). Jessica Molaskey's pianist du jour is also her singing partner and the…
You can say that all musical theatre roads liltingly lead back to composer Jerome Kern.
Context is everything. Have some patience and drink it all in, and don't judge by casual first listen. The brand new revival cast album of The Mystery of Edwin Drood is fully understood and …
Patti LuPone comes from the world of theatre and Patricia Racette is an established opera singer, but each has found another home on the cabaret stage. Each has a new live album that include…
"Retirement." It's not even a thought for performers Barbara Cook and Joel Grey or writers Sheldon Harnick and Sherman Yellen.
Beyond the usual Top Ten Vocals, there are a couple of other special honorees.
These are the ones that make me want to press "repeat play" repeatedly and think will hold up and I'll hold closer over the coming years.
Let's leap into the new year with looks at two new cast recordings, both courtesy of the invaluable Ghostlight Records label.
This is a feel-good fest. Lively and upbeat, the 69-year-old is as bubbly as the soon-to-be-corked New Year's Eve champagne.
Recommended listening comes from vocalists who've perked up my ears and piqued my interest.
Brian Stokes Mitchell, Telly Leung, Robert Cuccioli and Natalie Toro.
It's a wonderful feeling, finding an eye-opening, ear-opening dazzling treasure-chest of songs with melodies by a master, many of which have never (or rarely) been recorded.
Tell the stage manager to cue the snow as we welcome two Broadway veterans teaming up and joined by a small instrumental group. Then, two other albums: both vocalists from the Washington, DC…
There are three things certain in life: death, taxes, and that every year there will be a bunch of new Christmas recordings on the market. "Haul out the holly" and have a look at this year's…
Anthony Newley "The Last Song: The Final Recordings," "Top Hat" 2012 London Cast, and Andrea Marcovicci's "Smile" reviewed.