Customer Reviews

Everything the Traffic Will Allow

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Klea Blackhurst is not a household name, but she definitely should be. A fantastically buoyant performer, full of antectdote and research, Klea performs her one person Ethel Merman tribute live...Not only is it amazingly well performed musically,(Klea hits an 9.0 on the Merman scale) but it is a wonderful valentine to a performer, to that performers inspiration, it is a valentine to life,to Broadway, to the magic of live performance.

If you are a Merman fan, or a musical fan, or are looking for a wonderful performer who has slipped beneath your radar, check this out/.

If you are a Broadway fan, a Merman fan or just a fan of great singing, performing and/or story telling, you are going to love this CD. Klea has an amazing voice and brings her own style and interpretations to songs that have been so associated with Merman that few before have been able to accomplish making them their own. In addition to the great music, Klea takes us on two great trips in one evening. We get to learn about Merman's life in and out of the theatre (for those who don't already know the details...and even if you do there are still some new juicy tidbits here), and along the way we get to know about Klea's life growing up and as a performer. This CD is simply a sheer delight that will get repeated playings. I have listened to it over and over and am still enthralled by it. (And just in case you'd like to listen to the songs minus the snappy patter, they have indexed the CD so you can just program the songs...but why would you want to do that?!)

Everything the Traffic Will Allow, won the inaugural Special Achievement Award from Time Out New York magazine as well as the 2003 Manhattan Association of Cabaret and Clubs (MAC) award for Recording of the Year: Female Vocalist. The recording was also named one of the top ten show albums of 2002 by Talkin' Broadway.com. Klea Blackhurst won the 2002 MAC award for Best Female Vocalist. These accolades are most certainly deserved and are indicative of Ms. Blackhurst's wealth of talent.

I recently was fortunate enough to attend a live performance of Ms. Blackhurst's beautiful tribute to Ethel Merman. Klea Blackhurst has a gorgeous voice and superb comic timing! This CD is a wonderful contribution to the history of musical theatre and a marvelous gift to its quintessential star! Every song is majestic in its own right. "Ridin' High" and "Everything's Coming Up Roses" have fabulous musical arrangements by Michael Rice. The truthfulness in Klea Blackhurst's voice on "World Take Me Back" is profoundly moving and brings tears to my eyes. With every word that she sings and every syllable that she speaks, it is evident that Ms. Blackhurst researched her muse with all of her heart and soul. If you love musical theatre, you will love this CD!

Cabaret acts are usually great. You have to have a lot of talent to make your living with just a microphone. Klea Blackhurst does an outstanding job of bringing Ethel Merman to life. Part biography, part personal journey, and all fun, this album is touching, amazing, sweet, sultry...and everything in between. It's really worth having if you're a fan of the theatre. =) Favs: "Life is just a bowl of cherries," and "Life take me back" (the rarely heard Hello Dolly song. -Jayson!

Excellent recording. Klea Blackhurst not only captures the essence of the fabulous Ethel Merman, but weaves some terrific stories about her and her importance to the Broadway Musical theatre. It's obvious that she loves Merman and it shows in her anecdotes and the renditions of her songs. She's not an imitator of Merman- has her own voice, but all the joy and excitement that people felt from Merman onstage is there. Well worth listening for both the songs and the patter.

What a joy-packed CD! Not only can Klea Blackhurst belt out a song, she tells the greatest stories! She knows Ethel!

You are swept away on a great cloud of Broadway music and ballads. Klea Blackhurst is an amazing vocalist and a great storyteller! What a fun evening this must have been.