Customer Reviews

John & Jen (1995 Original Off-Broadway Cast)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I had never heard of this musical until I did a search here on Amazon.com for Carolee Carmello, whom I consider one of the finest female vocalists in theatre today. When I began to read the description of "John & Jen," I was intrigued to see whether a two-performer show could be pulled off. I figured, "What the heck?" and purchased the CD. Am I ever glad I decided to take the chance.

"John & Jen" may very well be one of the most emotionally ravishing stage soundtracks I have ever heard. Andrew Lippa's score is gorgeous beyond words, enhanced by the simple but effective orchestrations of Jason Robert Brown (composer of "Parade," another Carolee Carmello starrer) for piano, cello, and percussion.

Carolee Carmello, as expected, delivers a knockout performance -- in fact, I consider it her best recorded performance that I have ever heard. And she is exquisitely matched by the astounding James Ludwig, for whom this is the first recording. Both of their voices are strong and assured, with abundant emotional nuance to distinguish the various songs.

And the songs themselves -- one mind-boggling gem after another. But a select few stand out as superior, which is impressive considering the entire line-up: the 'chin up' encouragement "Hold Down the Fort"; the confident "It Took Me A While"; the bitterly confrontational "Run and Hide"; the sarcastic "Talk Show"; the painful "Graduation"; and the final, cathartic sequence of songs, "The Road Ends Here," "That Was My Way," and "Every Goodbye Is Hello."

Those who would accuse the new generation of composers of being overly cold and cerebral must experience the strong emotional texture of "John & Jen." It is a score rich in melody, harmony, and orchestrations; they are lyrics of depth and power; and they are performances of exceptional vocalists.

For anyone who has a younger brother or an older sister, this is the recording to buy. In such simplistic ways, it tells a beautiful story of a sister and brother who grow up together, lose their way and find themselves again in the future. The cast numbers only two. Carollee Carmello plays Jen, lending her thrilling voice (the best in New York, I say) to some beautiful tunes penned by composer Andrew Lippa. James Ludwig has a slightly more difficult task: he must portray Jen's brother, John, in the first act, reaching up to his teens...and must play Jen's SON, John, in Act II. It is a rather remarkable journey to simply listen to on recording and it shows the amazing promise of composer Andrew Lippa (now represented by the off-Broadway Wild Party recording)

I first saw this show because Andrew Lippa had been a music teacher at my middle school. At that point in my life, I had only just started getting involved in theater, and my experience was limited, nevertheless I loved the show. The songs express a wonderful childlike naivity and enthusiasm in the earlier stages of both acts (Think Big, Going to Camp) and are acted wonderfully by both stars. In addition, it is simply a pleasure to listen to, and although it is not necessary to leave a musical humming a tune, I recall leaving this one humming Think Big for a day or two. As I write this, Andrew Lippa has just won a Drama Desk award for his newest work, The Wild Party (To avoid confusion: The Manhattan Theater Club one. It is infinitely confusing to have two shows with the exact same name on Broadway at once...) and from what I've heard of the score of that one (One song, performed at the Drama Desks)it is just as much of a treat. Also, if you enjoy his music, pick up the new cast version of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, for which he wrote Beethoven Day and My New Philosophy, which are my two favorite songs on the recording. Enjoy the music!

As a musical theatre nut, I am always in search of another recording of a show no one knows about. I have many "duds" in my collection, but this one is a treasure... one I keep quite handy and always available to pop in the player and never grow tired of.

Being a huge fan of Carolee Carmello, I could hardly wait to open this CD and play it. What I experienced was an incredible range of emotions.. laughter, tears, sadness and joy. This show is one that is not to be missed. Carolee's performace is wonderful as usual. She is able to shade her voice with many nuances that many performers today can't do. Many singers just sing the notes as written. Carolee makes you FEEL them.

It's a shame this show is not more popular, because it should be. The score is so well written and deserves much more attention than it gets.

Go buy this CD... you won't be disappointed!

I heard bits and pieces of this musical online. I became interested in the fact it was about a brother and sister, and that relationship affected their lives. So I bought it. My sister and I are close and seeing these songs reminds me of hard hitting times we both have face.

As I've learned this is one of Andrew Lippa's earlier musicals. His level of talent is immense here. His melodies are great. But there is much for complexity in the music, but his words seem to bring the music to a whole new level.

I loved this musical because it really pushes the boundries and helps us reflect on our relationships with others. Also, it shows how the future is reflected by the past. It forces you to realize not to live in the past nor forget...but to grow from the past.

The vocal strength and talents of the cast ring true the words..."Actors are to writers as angels are too God." If you get the opportunity buy this cd...it's worth every penny.

I was lucky enough to see this show performed by a very professional community theater company in New Jersey and it was executed beautifully. It was one of the most touching stories yet manages to combine realism with incredible humor. The music runs the gammit from cute & funny to haunting & powerful. This is simply a must-have cd.

I have to admit, the first time I listened to this CD, I thought, "Ehhh. Not bad." Then I sat through it another time and began to realize what a fascinating piece of musical theatre this is: a two-person performance spanning decades in the lives of two siblings, and, in act two, a mother and son. While some of the tunes are not as straightforward as your regular contemporary songs, they are intricately crafted and expertly performed. As one reviewer said, "Bye Room" is the most accessible number on the recording - but only because it is the most "pop". Listen more closely to the great harmonies, the complex thematic material, the clever orchestrations for a three-piece band, and the brilliant combination of Carolee and James' voices - and you'll see why this show is nothing short of brilliant. I cannot recommend it more.

This recording, featuring the always wonderful Carolee Carmello, is a delight to hear. While listening to it for the first time, I found myself laughing at times and crying at others. It is one of the best scores from a "little-known musical" that I've heard in some time, and (hopefully) proves that American musical theatre is alive and well! To paraphrase Stephen Schwartz...intelligent songs for literate adults.

The story, music, and lyrics in "john & jen" are absolutely wonderful. This is a story of sister-brother love, bonding, then rivalry in the first act, which transitions to mother-son, love, bonding, and "saying good-by" in the second act. The two singers are each superb in every solo piece, and they combine beautifully in the duets. The musical score for piano, cello, and percussion is jazzy and upbeat, with brilliant rhythmic counterpoint. The music provides the perfect backdrop to this poignant, powerful, story about sibling and parental love; this story about being possessive, but finally, learning to "let go."

Wow, wow, wow. This show is so great, with just two Cast members, and a small orchestra this show hits a home run. The show centers around John and Jen (go figure) but John her brother dies, and she blames herself partly, so when she has a son she names him John and tries to reincarnate her brother. It is such an amazing show. I strongly suggest getting this show no matter who you are. Listen to it all the way through, and see if you aren't moved. This show is great also in that the music tells the story perfectly. Jen's voice can be a little sharp, but over all its fine. Jon's voice is absolutely lovely. This would get a 4.5 stars if I could give it. And again this isn't just for Broadway lovers, but everyone! Favorite Song: "Every goodbye is Hello"