Osnes' repertoire for her set at the Carlyle, which she debuted there in June, encompasses both the worlds of musical theater and pop. From the former, she revisits a couple of the songs from her brief – yet impressive – five years in New York, starting with "How ‘Bout a Dance?" from the Broadway musical Bonnie and Clyde. Frank Wildhorn's melody for this bluesy tune has a subtle seductiveness that takes on a bit of sexy fire thanks to Osnes' smooth delivery, and her performance on this disc demonstrates why she garnered a Tony nomination for her work in it last season.
Osnes also delivers "I Have Confidence" (amusingly refitted for her cabaret debut) from The Sound of Music, which she performed (as originally written) as part of a concert version of the show at Carnegie Hall last spring, and as a special bonus, she previews one tune she'll be delivering on Broadway in early 2013 – "In My Own Little Corner" from Cinderella.
Her musical theater selections also extend to one show that she'd like to do, The Music Man, and she delivers a sterling rendition of "Till There Was You" from this classic tuner. In addition, she offers a couple of songs that were part of her life prior to her days in New York. Listeners will first encounter one of these, "Don't Rain on My Parade," as a bit scratchy – it's a delightful recording from her childhood – prior to experiencing the exuberant power that the adult Osnes brings to the Barbra Streisand standard.
Another tune from her pre-Broadway days is one of three duets on the disc, "A Whole New World" from Aladdin, which she sings to splendid effect with her husband – and one-time onstage partner – Nathan Johnson. Osnes' other guests on the disc are Tom Wopat -- who joins her for a joyous take on the classic "Baby It's Cold Outside" -- and her former Bonnie and Clyde co-star Jeremy Jordan, with whom she sings a giddily playful "Anything You Can Do" from Annie Get Your Gun.
From the realm of pop music, she surveys songs ranging from Peggy Lee's hit "Fever," which turns white-hot in Osnes' smoldering performance, to Norah Jones' "Sunrise," which becomes a twangy joy in the singer's delicately conceived performance.
The CD also preserves the patter from the show, which gives a sense of actually being serenaded by the singer, and the recording comes with an amply illustrated booklet that feels like a keepsake for anyone who was lucky enough to catch the show at the Carlyle earlier this year.
