As the holidays near, the number of new releases is slowing down. But there was a last-minute announcement and release this week that, even if this was the only release, is essential for fans of Stephen Sondheim. Here is New In Music This Week: December 8th
My Top Pick Is:
MUSICAL THEATRE: STEPHEN SONDHEIM’S OLD FRIENDS: A CELEBRATION (Live at the Sondheim Theatre) – Multiple Artists – First Night Records
On May 3 of last year Cameron Mackintosh assembled an all-star line-up to celebrate his friend, Stephen Sondheim. It was, according to all who were there, a night unlike any other. A live recording of that concert is this week’s top choice.
What’s most joyous about this album is hearing the audience respond as theater stars in the US and UK took to the stage to sing and perform 41 of Sondheim’s songs. The line-up includes Shan Ako, Christine Allado, Michael Ball, Rob Brydon, Ashley Campbell, Helena Bonham Carter, Anna-Jane Casey, Petula Clark, Rosalie Craig, Janie Dee, Judi Dench, Daniel Evans, Maria Friedman, Josefina Gabrielle, Louis Gaunt, Amy Griffiths, Haydn Gwynne, Rob Houchen, Holly-Anne Hull, Bradley Jaden, Bonnie Langford, Damian Lewis, Julia McKenzie, Ian McLarnon, Julian Ovenden, Bernadette Peters, Sian Phillips, Jon Robyns, Clive Rowe, Jenna Russell, Jeremy Secomb, Imelda Staunton, Charlie Stemp, Matthew White, Gary Wilmot, and Michael D. Xavier, students from Mountview, and The Royal Academy Musical Theatre Company.
While the entire recording yields delight after delight, it has its melancholy moments, particularly when Haydn Gwynne appears to perform two songs from Company: “The Little Things You Do Together” and “The Ladies Who Lunch.” Gwynne who appeared in Billy Elliot the Musical (and was terrific) passed away on October 23rd.)
I’m firmly of the belief that the best-ever performance of Send in the Clowns by Judi Dench from the 1995 Royal National Theatre production. Her performance here 27 years later is just as good.
This show was so well-received that a revised production of it is currently running in London through January 6, 2024. For tickets and more information, please go here.
Though not extensive, here are the rest of my picks for New In Music This Week: December 8th:
JAZZ: NOW’S THE TIME: THE GENIUS OF CHARLIE PARKER #3 – The Quartet of Charlie Parker – Verve Records
Originally released in 1957 after Parker’s death, this is a vinyl re-issue that’s part of the Verve By Request series. It features a dozen tracks and two different quartets comprised of Hank Jones on piano; Teddy Kotich and on bass and Max Roach on drums. This sessions was from late 1952. This quartet was responsible for the first six tracks which make up side one of the record.
The other six tracks featured Al Haig on piano; Percy Heath on bass and Max Roach on drums. This session dates back to late July 1953.
There have been multiple releases of this labum with adiditonal songs added and more alternate takes of Chi Chi, but the vinyl re-issues sticks to the original track list.
JAZZ: A SHADE OF BLUE – Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio – Evolution Media
76-year-old Japanese jazz pianist has been releasing album since 1974. In this very traditional and very enjoyable trio album he is joined by Hiroshi Kagawa on bass and Toshio Osumi on drums.
There are ten tracks that allow the musicians to stretch out over 70 minutes of music. The songs performed include Bye Bye Blackbird, Last Tango in Paris, Misty, Speak Low and The Way We Were.
I wasn’t too familiar with Yamamoto before listening to this album, but the beauty and simplicity of it has prompted me to explore more and more of his music. You should, too.
OPERA: OPERETTE – WEIN, BERLIN, PARIS – Diana Damrau – Erato
Clearly the title of this album indicates that the recording will feature music from operettas rather than opera. Along with the two composers you most expect to hear on an album like: Johann Strauss II and Franz Lehár, Damrau has included many other composers who might be as familiar to you: Paul Abraham, Henri Christiné, Emmerich Kálmán, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Francis Lopez, André Messager, Robert Stolz and Oscar Straus.
It comes as no surprise that Damrau sings with passion to this material which is much lighter than audiences might be expecting. She is joined by tenor Jonas Kaufmann for two tracks.
Ernest Theis leads the Das Münchner Rundfunkorchester in this thoroughly enjoyable recording.
That’s our short, but compelling, list of New In Music This Week: December 8th.
Enjoy your weekend. Enjoy the music!
Main Photo: Part of the album cover for Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends