Jane Krakowski – The Laziest Gal in Town
(DRG Records)
Summer gets a little hotter with this superlative disc that preserves the multi-award winning performer’s show at Feinstein’s last fall. Whether she’s acting the vixen with “A Little Brains, A Little Talent” (from
Damn Yankees) or saucily delivering “Tweet” (Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman provide the witty revised lyrics to Rodgers and Hart’s “Zip”), Krakowski proves that she’s what might be considered the 21st century’s answer to Betty Boop and Sophie Tucker combined, particularly with a version of “Diamonds Are a Girls Best Friend” that’s been deftly rearranged for the 21st century. This is a disc that’s unalloyed joy.
Life Begins at 8:40 (PS Classics)
Kudos to producer Tommy Krasker for bringing this forgotten revue from composer Harold Arlen and lyricists Ira Gershwin and Yip Harburg back into our consciousness, and for doing it with such consistent quality and verve. “You’re a Builder-Upper” is the one standard in the score and husband-and-wife Christopher Fitzgerald and Jessica Stone deliver it with zest. Among the highlights of the lesser-known songs are the intricately and wittily rhymed “Quartet Erotica” and the Latin-infused “Shoein the Mare,” which Montego Glover fills with spice.
Broadway Bares – Openings
On many levels, this selection of opening numbers from Jerry Mitchell’s annual Broadway Cares fundraisers blends the sexiness of Gal with the revue nature of 8:40. The songs come from the likes of Andrew Lippa, David Nehls and Shaiman and Wittman (working with Laura Kenyon) and are delivered with panache by such powerhouse artists as Krakowski, Lillias White, and Julia Murney. All of the double entendre-filled tune are giddy pleasures, but two highlights are Titus Burgess and Mary Birdsong’s fearlessly lustful delivery of “Wonderland” and Sara Gettelfinger’s sultry performance of “New York Strips.”
Glee: The Musical – Journey to Regionals
(Sony Music)
This album has all of the songs from the season finale of FOX’s hit show, including a new version of “Don’t Stop Believin’,” the number that signaled the series’ success when it was a mere pilot. Along with this terrific track there’s also a grand cover of Lulu’s hit “To Sir With Love” (with lead vocals from Lea Michele); Matthew Morrison’s gently folksy rendition of “Over the Rainbow,” a sweetly romantic duet of “Faithfully” for Michele and Cory Monteith, and a powerhouse version of Freddie Mercury’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” led by Jonathan Groff.
Clay Aiken – Tried and True
On this exceedingly enjoyable collection of standards, Aiken’s vocals are not only smooth, they’re also powerhouse. Listeners will find Frankie Valli’s hit “Cant Take My Eyes Off You” is filled with a grand big band sound and that Henry Mancini’s “Moon River” is not only achingly melancholy in Aiken’s interpretation but also filled with a certain sad urgency. The world of musical theater is represented with a cover of “Mack the Knife” that is a grand tribute to the Bobby Darin interpretation of the Kurt Weill classic and a “What Kind of Fool Am I?” (from Stop the World…), which has a jazzy cocktail music swing feel.
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