Description:
Audra McDonald may well have the best voice and interpretative skills of all current musical-theater singers. This album, though, is oddly disappointing. McDonald's gorgous soprano is as pure as ever, but her feisty attitude and sly sense of humor are less in evidence than on previous recordings (just check out "A Little Bit in Love" on a studio recording of Wonderful Town). On this pared-down sounding outing, the tunes mix pop-rock songwriters both contemporary (John Meyer, Rufus Wainwright, Nellie McKay) and old-school (Neil Young, Laura Nyro, Randy Newman--though Dusty Springfield's version of Newman's "I Thi
Audra McDonald may well have the best voice and interpretative skills of all current musical-theater singers. This album, though, is oddly disappointing. McDonald's gorgous soprano is as pure as ever, but her feisty attitude and sly sense of humor are less in evidence than on previous recordings (just check out "A Little Bit in Love" on a studio recording of Wonderful Town). On this pared-down sounding outing, the tunes mix pop-rock songwriters both contemporary (John Meyer, Rufus Wainwright, Nellie McKay) and old-school (Neil Young, Laura Nyro, Randy Newman--though Dusty Springfield's version of Newman's "I Think It's Going to Rain Today" remains the definitive one), along with composers from the artier side of musical theater (Adam Guettel, Ricky Ian Gordon). Things start off great with a haunting take on Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello's "God Gave Me Strength." Highlights include a poker-faced version of McKay's parody of 1950s matrimonial bliss, "I Wanna Get Married" and Wainwright's tango-ish "Damned Ladies." But Doug Petty's arrangements and production are too monochromatic, and the songs quickly meld into each other--typically, Nyro's "Tom Cat Goodbye" feels a bit flaccid. Someone please get McDonald a huge orchestra for her next outing. --Elisabeth Vincentelli
Album Description
Audra McDonald's Build A Bridge recreates a remarkable program of songs she premiered to great acclaim at the premiere of the American Songbook Series for Jazz at Lincoln Center. As the album title suggests, she combines material from precious young songwriters like Rufus Waiwright, Nellie McKay and even John Mayer with the work of frequent collaborator and Broadway innovator Adam Guettel, Elvis Costello/Burt Bacharach, Laura Nyro, and Randy Newman.
... (more)
(less)
Manufacturer: Nonesuch
Release date: 26 September 2006
EAN: 0075597986228 UPC: 075597986228
My tags:
Add tags