There's a little overlap in our singers and musicians, in material by composer-lyricist-pianist-arranger-orchestrator-(co-)producer Michael Patrick Walker and then similarly multi-tasking Ge…
Her New York City engagement at Feinstein's at Loews Regency, running through February 4th, finds her in fine form, connecting strongly with her appreciative audience.
There's the outrageous and irreverent, profanity-peppered parody of the once-scary saga of "The Silence of the Lambs," plus "raindrops on roses," reverence, Reverend Mother, Rodgers & Hammer…
Which vocal albums impress mightily on first spin and have the lasting power, too, for frequent visits? It's time to sing the praises of such CDs released for the first time in 2011
Rob's list of top ten (plus an honorable mention) cast albums of 2011.
"The People in the Picture" ... cast album, with its bits of dialogue and high drama feels like an old radio play meant to spark listeners to "see" the action ... Melodies composed, arranged…
To complain that "Elf" is too giddy and rollicking is almost like being surprised and ungrateful that the plateful of sugar-sprinkled gingerbread and chocolate is kinda sweet or that bearded…
Each season, new holiday-themed recordings emerge and, despite a zillion versions, it's the famously usual suspects that dominate, secular or sacred. Enter humming. But there's always a fres…
On West 30th Street, The Urban Stages eclectic festival Winter Rhythms continues through December 11 ... Susan Winter is one of this week's attractive attractions at the Metropolitan Room ..…
Wintertime is here in NYC in the time zone of cabaret. Over on West 30th Street, the first day of December saw the beginning of Urban Stages' 11-day festival of (mostly) cabaret events, many…
Here are three very different musicals which have in common the theatrical conceits and conventions of putting their often dramatic dramatis personae right in the spotlight's golden glow or …
These three singular singers, who came together not long ago on Broadway for "Sondheim on Sondheim," sound convincingly deep into their material.
Our ears and eyes are on a recently closed new British musical comedy ... and three tribute CDs.
It's not that "far from the first of the year," so before composer-lyricist Jerry Herman's 80th birthday year ends (he turned 80 over the summer), the tributes are still coming, with autumn …
Satisfying looks at two "books" this week, with two energized female vocalists: one with the songbook of musical theatre hits (and a few appendixes of her own) and the other singing about th…
The Great American Songbook is in good hands as some familiar hands turn its pages and raise their celebrated (and celebrating) voices at the 22nd annual Cabaret Convention concerts, in the …
It's the intriguing cast album from the recently-closed new musical "Death Takes a Holiday," which some may find surprisingly full of life. And then, an appealingly lively live album that is…
The Equal Rights Amendment might itself be amended to include the trend-bucking Betty Buckley who doesn't just ask why a woman can't sing the songs of a man, but goes ahead and sings them an…
Here are three vocalists saluting their special favorites, major songwriters of standards, with tracks sampling many of those writers' numerous writing teammates.
Good music rules the day, thanks to that girl who is a self-appointed and plucky "Little Princess" who comes from literature, her story bringing us to Europe and Africa, with the latter cont…
If you're looking for high-energy musical romps both raucous and rosy, cozy cooing, happy harmonizing and dance breaks, this very bright and sunny Anything Goes goes a long way towards fitti…
It's one scoop of each flavor this time. We're going down a country road with the Kristin we know from Broadway (and TV), while another Kristin, new to these ears, takes the "standard" route…
The house lights dim and the band begins. We turn our attention to the singer that the nightclub "is very proud to present" taking a turn in the spotlight. A recorded souvenir may lose somet…
Jason Graae sounds a big "You I Like" hurrah for Jerry Herman ... melodies by Jason Robert Brown tell the tale of a determined young swan ... Phil Swann ("Play It Cool") takes the vocal spo…
... two thoughtful musicals that examine how male/female partners-in-life-and-love deal with each other and other compelling things that enter the picture ... The first is adapted from Georg…