Customer Reviews

Joan Ryan

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I purchased Joan Ryan from my Instant Recommendations list, simply because she was there. I wasn't sure what I would be getting myself into, but knew that I had enjoyed her work in the musical "Ruthless."

What a voice. While some of the songs on the CD leave a little to be desired, Joan Ryan makes it all worthwhile. Incredible range, incredible tone, all of it wrapped up into the woman that is Joan Ryan. She truly deserves more projects, more songs, and more albums.

Particularly of note on the CD were the songs, :I Won't Last A Day Without You," "My Brother Lived In San Francisco," and "Shall We Dance." The latter is from the musical, "The King And I," and I never would have thought it to be presented in this particular style. From a lush, jazzy, romantic piece to the soaring belt piece it becomes, going through two key changes, Joan Ryan completely reinvents the piece. I'm extremely happy she did.

I suggest to anyone who may be a fan of cabaret recordings or to anyone who just enjoys hearing a superb vocalist, to check out Joan Ryan.

While some of the songs aren't worthy of Five stars, she definitely is.

It's wonderful to hear many "new" voices recording cabaret music and Joan Ryan hits a high note among all the talent out there. Her voice is clear, evocative and beautiful offering an assortment of songs that veer away from the most popular (and ultimately overdone) tunes. I can't wait for her next CD.

I met Joan Ryan after listening to her perform in San Francisco. I had an interesting evening of laughing and crying (her music moved me to tears). This CD is beautiful and has a nice variety. I highly recommend it.

Like another reviewer, I came across this CD in one of the "recommendations" lists on Amazon. So, I gave a couple of the clips a listen to and boy, am I glad that I did. A terrific voice - especially when you consider that she is married with 3 kids - that adapts to a whole cadre of different types of songs and arrangements. This is another one of those albums where there is something for everyone. From the upbeat "Trust The Wind" to the schmoozy "I Won't Last A Day Without You" to the one song that I think she has the most fun singing, "Good Thing He Can't Read My Mind", this is an enjoyable musical tour de force. The one cut that really caught me was "Shall We Dance". This isn't your mother's version of "The King and I" but, rather, a smooth, bluesy, sultry, jazzy version that makes you want to roll back the carpet and dance with your wife. I enjoyed this CD a lot. Each song was a separate cabaret of it's own and I think Joan enjoyed recording it. For those who may have heard the album, you'll know what I mean when I say: "Bungee jumping? Absolutely!" Enjoy

A friend of mine recommended I listen to Joan Ryan's CD and that recommendation was one of the greatest musical gifts I have ever received. Long a great lover of the female voice, I have found my new favorite singer. Joan Ryan's instrument has the range and power like none I have ever heard. She sings each song with such passion and personal touch that the song will become born anew in your musical memory. My favorites are the incredible arrangement of "I'm Flying", the beautiful "Feels Like Home" and her unforgettable version of "On A Clear Day". The song that will move your heart like none other, however, (and move you to tears if you are a parent) is "The Moon & the Stars". Ms. Ryan is accompanied by incredible musicians and I can not wait for the chance to see her perform live. I could not recommend this CD more!! I assure you, Joan Ryan will become your favorite singer too.

Thanks, Gabriel, I took your advice and bought her CD, and I've got to say I haven't heard a more beautiful voice since Nancy Lamott. Powerful, emotive, sensitive. Just check out her rendition of "Shall We Dance". Someone please let me know when she comes to Los Angeles. Meanwhile, I recommend this CD, it's one of the better cabaret albums I've recently purchased.

Its rare that a singer come along that takes the word talent to a new level. I am amazed that Ms. Ryan has not had other albums released. Her talented voice is so versatile that listening to her sing one wonders where shes been hiding.

The only thing that can match the emotion and quality of this CD is to actually see a live Joan Ryan performance. After seeing Ryan live, I felt that nothing could ever top it. However, the CD is as close as it could be. I HIGHLY recommend it to all lovers of music! The songs are well recorded and provide both humor (as in songs such as "Good Thing He Can't Read My Mind") and beauty (such as "My Brother Lived in San Francisco"). However, words can't describe this CD. You MUST hear it yourself!!!!

I heard Joan Ryan at her CD preview performance in Hollywood, California and was impressed by her ability to convey heartfelt human emotion through the power and the range of her music. The range of her voice puts her in the top league. You have to hear this to wonder where she has been hiding her talents. If you buy this CD be prepared to be emotionally moved by this music. You will be singing along in no time!

Joan Ryan has a wonderful voice, heard here in an uneven assortment of ballads. She has a lovely melodic quality heard to advantage in tracks such as "Trust The Wind" and "I'm Flying" or in "The Moon and The Stars" arranged by the song's composer, Michael Orland.

But, for the most part, the backing mostly fails to give her the support she deserves. John Boswell makes a fine accompanist on "Feels Like Home"; but his good keyboard work on "My Brother" is undone by a leaden flute and cello. Even in the best tracks, such as "Shall We Dance", Ryan's soaring vocal line is spoiled by a truly awful instrumental bridge; and again, in "West End Avenue", where Stephen Schwartz's composition provides one of the album's few genuine opportunities for Ryan's talent to respond to quality material, the sax and percussion are distractions.

I am at a loss to understand why she should include pretty ordinary interpretations of songs by Paul Williams and Carole Bayer Sager while at the same time showing us how she can unleash her emotional power on songs by Rodgers and Hammerstein and Lerner and Loewe. I look forward to more of the latter on her next CD.