AmericanTheaterWeb Original News & Reviews

Throughout the year, I get a bunch of discs that are from labels that aren't necessarily dedicated to recording musical theater-related work, or that come from individual artists' own companies. There have been a bunch of notable releases like this, and working in alphabetical order, here are some of the highlights:

Karen Mason's Right Here, Right Now is a swell mix of pop and musical theater songs. Probably the most fascinating thing on the disc, for music lovers in general, is a medley of John Lennon and Paul McCartney's "Help" and Stephen Sondheim's "Being Alive." The arrangement – from Christopher Denny, Barry Kleinbort and Mason – begins with a subtle reference to the latter song before shifting seamlessly into the melody of the Lennon/McCartney tune. Then, just as the lyrics in this "I need somebody, not just anybody, you know I need someone…" the medley segues to back to the "Being Alive" piano vamp and "Someone to hold me…" It's a beautiful transition and combination that's immensely touching and enhances the emotional power of both of these well-known songs. (www.karenmason.com)

Whimsicality floats through all of Jessica Molaskey's A Kiss To Build a Dream On which finds the singer working with husband John Pizzarelli and father-in-law Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar. From the first track, when Molaskey offers up "Happy Habit" (from Dorothy Fields and Arthur Schwartz), listeners will find that her jaunty and effervescent tones are indeed habit-forming. After this, Molaskey delivers a grand mixture of standards and lesser known melodies. Such classics as "Tea for Two" and "I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover" are included, as are original compositions from the Molaskey/Pizzarelli team: the teasingly romantic "Take Me To You" and the pair's merry duet, "Hiding in Plain Sight." (www.arborsrecords.com)

Pizzarelli, John that is, was busy during 2008, releasing a disc of his own as well, With a Song in My Heart. It's a delicious jazz toast to Richard Rodgers. Pizzarelli's selections – which include some terrific riffs and variations – span Rodgers' career almost in its entirety. From early years there's "I Like to Recognize the Tune" and from later ones "You've Got To Be Carefully Taught." In between the disc boasts such standards as "Mountain Greenery" and "Happy Talk." For the song "Easy to Remember," Pizzarelli is joined by father Bucky on guitar. It's a captivating affair all the way around. (www.telarc.com)

I've mentioned Teri Ralston's I Gotta Get Back To New York on the site before. It's well worth checking out – you can read more about this disc, and another one that's great for Sondheim fans, Kritzerland's release of the complete soundtrack recording of Evening Primrose, over at this link. Either of these would be perfect for the Sondheim maniacs in your life. (www.lmlmusic.com, www.kritzerland.com)

Another good disc for Sondheim aficionados is Tyran Parke's Sunday in the Parke. Australian Parke is no stranger to the works of Sondheim: among his credits in Sydney, Georges/George in "Sunday in the Park…." He opens the disc with the "Introduction" this musical, which leads into Steven Lutvak's charming, Latin-infused "I Just Wanted You To Know." This blend of musical theater and pop continues throughout the 14-track disc where Kurt Weill brushes up against Jim Morrison, and a new generation of composers like David Friedman and John Bucchino, who themselves combine Broadway traditions with popular musical vernacular, are handsomely represented. There are two other "Sunday" tracks on here as well as songs from "Threepenny" and "The Glorious Ones," and this one's definitely worth a listen. (www.cdbaby.com)

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