John Herndon Mercer, aka Johnny Mercer, was more than just a lyricist of popular song; he was a true American poet and That Old Mercer Magic! is an amazing new project from three equally amazing ladies called JaLaLa; Janis Siegel of The Manhattan Transfer, Laurel Masse« (an original founding and former member of The Manhattan Transfer) and Lauren Kinhan of New York Voices fame. Siegel, a nine-time Grammy winner, seventeen-time Grammy nominee and one of the founding members of the vocal group The Manhattan Transfer jumped at the chance to do a full project of Mercer songs. The most difficult challenge of the project, which is a testament to Mercer s true genius, was picking just 12 songs that would encompass a well-rounded representation of his popular compositions, said Siegel. Yet the easiest part for Janis was creating the vocal group JaLaLa in collaboration with two of her favorite singers Laurel Masse« and Lauren Kinhan, both being acclaimed vocalists whether singing in harmony or showing off their solo chops.
Standout tracks are; Spring, Spring, Spring from the Tony Award winning Broadway musical Li l Abner and You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby, which starts off with an underutilized verse and then shifts into a funky party gear with a New Orleans feel featuring Lew Soloff on trumpet. Fans new and old will also enjoy the signature Dream, which was highlighted in the OSCAR nominated musical film Daddy Long Legs that featured Fred Astaire and Leslie Caron, one of the few songs that Mercer penned both music and lyric. Another Mercer classic, Moon River, written with Henry Mancini for the movie Breakfast at Tiffany s, is given a heartrending wistful treatment by Laurel Masse« and Frank Vignola, then languidly glides into Moon Country a Mercer/Hoagy Carmichael collaboration. JaLaLa will certainly please the legion of Mercer fans while irresistibly enticing today s music listening generation with That Old Mercer Magic!
Label: Dare Records
Deborah Martin and Jill Haley Release 'INTO THE QUIET' Album
by Blair Ingenthron
- May 27, 2023
Into The Quiet is the second collaboration between electronic ambient visionary Deborah Martin and renowned English Horn player and Oboist Jill Haley. Their previous album was 2021's The Silence Of Grace, a pastoral collection that received numerous accolades including Zone Music Reporter's list of Top 20 albums of the year.
Sylvie Courvoisier & Cory Smythe Release New Album 'RITE OF SPRING - SPECTRE D'UN SONGE'
by Blair Ingenthron
- May 20, 2023
With The Rite of Spring – Spectre d’un songe, two of contemporary music’s most vital and innovative pianists – Sylvie Courvoisier and Cory Smythe – interpret and converse with one of the 20th century’s landmark compositions. On this breathtaking new recording, released May 19, 2023 from Pyroclastic Records, Courvoisier and Smythe perform Igor Stravinsky’s striking two-piano rendition of his iconic Le Sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring), followed by a bold new Courvoisier composition that draws inspiration from Stravinsky as a launchpad for investigatory improvisation.
THE GUAVA TREE, A New Bilingual Musical For Young Audiences, Releases Cast Album
by Blair Ingenthron
- May 20, 2023
The official cast album for The Guava Tree / El Guayabo, a new bilingual musical for young audiences, is available digitally on all platforms. With book and lyrics by Diana Grisanti and music by Emiliano Messiez, the musical premiered at the renowned Creede Repertory Theatre in Colorado in 2021. It toured across the Southwest and was seen by more than 40,000 students.
Listen: Matthew Scott's THE JESUS YEAR: A LETTER FROM MY DAD Out Now
by Chloe Rabinowitz
- May 19, 2023
PS CLASSICS, the label dedicated to the heritage of Broadway and American popular song, has announced the release of the debut album from actor-singer Matthew Scott, who has been lighting up the Broadway stage since making his debut in Jersey Boys.
Author Mike McHale Launches Monthly #DinoDogzDonates Program
by Blair Ingenthron
- May 13, 2023
Mystery Mike McHale and DinoDogz have announced the launch of their new fundraising program, DinoDogz has previously raised funds for various charities including WORTHY OF LOVE, TUESDAY'S CHILDREN and BELLA AND BUDDIES ANIMAL RESCUE through the sales of their first book DinoDogz: Eggzellent Adventure which is the first in a series.
Video: Patrick Pacheco Opens Up About Putting Pen to Paper with Chita Rivera
by Backstage Live with Richard Ridge
- May 09, 2023
She was born Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero—until the entertainment world renamed her. But Dolores—the irreverent side of the sensual, dark and ferocious Chita—was always present center stage, and was influential in creating some of Broadway most iconic and acclaimed roles, including Anita in West Side Story‚ the part that made her a star—Rosie in Bye Bye, Birdie, Velma in Chicago, and Aurora in Kiss of the Spider Woman. In this video, watch as co-author Patrick Pacheco chats with Richard Ridge about the new memoir!
Back to Upcoming Releases...
|