New In Music This Week: August 18th

Welcome to the weekend and my selections of the best of what’s New In Music This Week: August 18^th.

Our top choice falls under the category of Broadway (adjacent) and it is:

ALBUM – Joe Iconis – Ghostlight Records

Composer/songwriter Joe Iconis is best known for the musical Be More Chill. He has a new musical, The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical that begins previews at the La Jolla Playhouse next week. He’s also beloved by fans of musical theatre and the artists who perform in them.

This 5-lp vinyl box set contains 45 songs written by Iconis and they are performed by such artists as Danny Burstein, Kerry Butler, Annie Golden, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Andrew Rannells, Krysta Rodriguez, Will Roland, George Salazar, Aaron Tveit and 61 others.

The music had previously been released digitally. This vinyl box set includes an new track, “The Whiskey Song.” You’ll want to listen to this entire project but remember, an album is not forever. Even this one.

Here are the rest of my choices for New In Music This Week: August 18^th.

BROADWAY (adjacent): DRAMA QUEEN – Idina Menzel – BMG Records

Broadway star Menzel does the inevitable pop album. The star of Wicked, Rent and the voice of Elsa in Frozen, has created an album that is going to be very popular in clubs and on dance floors around the world.

Menzel shares writing credits for all 10 tracks on the album. Amongst her collaborators are Nile Rodgers and Jake Shears (of Scissor Sisters) who will soon be seen taking on the role of the Emcee in the London production of Cabaret.

If you want to hear power ballads, this isn’t the album for you. But if you want to shake your groove thing, give this drama queen a listen.

BROADWAY (adjacent): STOP MAKING SENSE – Talking Heads – Rhino Records

Last week I included the original album of Here Lies Love by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim. This week another project of Byrne’s is getting a deluxe edition vinyl and digital release. It is for the Jonathan Demme film Stop Making Sense which was filmed at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood.

While Byrne has recently played Broadway with American Utopia (available to watch on MAX), his passion for a theatrical experience is perfectly captured in this film and the accompanying album.

All the songs performed in the film are included on the album as are two songs that hadn’t previously been released.

This is one of the greatest concert films of all time. You’ll have a chance to see the film later this year when it gets a limited re-release.

CLASSICAL: 40@40 – Laura Strickling with Daniel Schlosberg – Bright Shiny Things

Two years before her 40^th birthday, soprano Strickling decided to commission new works for soprano and voice that were to run between 2-5 minutes. The end result yielded over 40 songs.

This album with pianist Schlosberg focuses on 20 of those newly-composed songs by composers H. Leslie Adams, Juhi Bansal, Eugenia Cheng, Tom Cipullo, Andrea Clearfield, Nell Shaw Cohen, Evan Fein, Jodi Goble, Daron Hagen, Juliana Hall, Felix Jarrar, Joseph Jones, Lori Laitman, Bess McCrary, Reinaldo Moya, James Primosch, Myron Silberstein, Dennis Tobenski, Scott Wheeler and Ed Windels.

I was unfamiliar with the composers and with Strickling. Now I can’t wait to hear the other 20 songs.

JAZZ: VOICES – Danny Jonokuchi Big Band – Outside in Music

When Ella Fitzgerald first started her meteoric rise to superstardom it was as a member of Chick Webb’s band. All to say that there’s a long tradition of vocalists performing with big bands.

This is the concept of big bandleader Danny Jonokuchi whose big band features 21 musicians. Joining those musicians for this album are vocalists Alexa Barchini, Tahira Clayton, Martina DaSilva, Hannah Gill, Shenel Johns, Alita Moses, Sirintip, Brianna Thomas, Charles Turner, Lucy Yeghiazaryan and Nicole Zuraitis.

Jonokuchi has written some great arrangements. Fans of big band music (with or without vocalists) will want to check out this album.

JAZZ: ARE YOU SURE YOU THREE GUYS KNOW WHAT YOU’RE DOING? – Mike Jones – Capri Records

You may or may not know pianist Mike Jones. You should. You probably know his drummer on this album, Jeff Hamilton. And there’s a good chance you know the bass player, Penn Jillette. Yes, the Penn of Penn & Teller.

Jones is the music director for Penn & Teller’s show. He first asked the illusionist to join him for a duo album. The Show Before the Show was released in 2018. Now they are back with a trio album with Hamilton.

You’ll hear their versions of such classic songs as The Girl From Ipanema, On Green Dolphin Street and What a Difference a Day Makes.

JAZZ: SWING OF THE PENDULUM – John Wojciechowski – AFAR Music

Saxophonist Wojciechowski may not be the best-known musician outside of Chicago, but he’s definitely one to get to know. 

On this album he is joined by pianist Xavier Davis, drummer Dana Hall and bassist Clark Sommers. Most of the songs were composed by Wojciechowski, but Sommers has also contributed a few of the 8 tracks.

This is his third album and one that absolutely reflects the music he’s been listening to his whole life. If you’re looking for something out there, this isn’t it. Swing of the Pendulum firmly falls into a more traditional quartet album and it’s a good one.

That’s New In Music This Week: August 18^th.

Enjoy the music. Enjoy your weekend.