Customer Reviews

Kander & Ebb Album

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you've read any of my previous reviews, by now you've probably guessed that I'm crazy about Broadway music, its composers, and performers. Another of my favorite solo performances on CD, produced once again by Bruce Kimmel for his Spotlight Series on Varese Sarabande Records, is Brent Barrett's The Kander and Ebb Album.

In the past quarter century, the marvelous team of John Kander and Fred Ebb have entertained us with many popular and award-winning musicals which include Cabaret and Chicago, both of which are currently playing on Broadway, and Kiss of the Spider Woman.

This new CD from Brent Barrett, one of Broadway's best, features songs from each of those musicals as well as songs from Woman of the Year, Steel Pier, and the film Funny Lady, among others.

Mr. Barrett has an astonishing and powerful voice that works well with songs like Second Chance from Steel Pier and The Skin of Our Teeth from Over and Over. At the same time, his voice has an ethereal quality that is particularly moving on such songs as Seeing Things from The Happy Time and A Quiet Thing from Flora, The Red Menace.

And in all deference to Ms. Streisand, his interpretation of Isn't This Better from Funny Lady seems to me to be the definitive version of a wonderful Kander and Ebb song.

Also featured on this recording are duets with Jane Krakowski and Ruthie Henshall.

If you enjoy Broadway, Kander and Ebb, and magnificent vocal performances, I think you'll truly enjoy Brent Barrett - The Kander and Ebb Album.

Brent Barrett, currently Billy Flynn in Broadway's CHICAGO, has one of the finest voices in today's musical theatre, a powerful and flexible tenor that's improved with time. He's also an intelligent and sensitive interpreter, and it's evident in every cut on this album. It was a wonderful idea to team him with the songs of Kander and Ebb; he's a versatile enough actor to pull off the heated "All That Jazz" and "Wet" (the latter with Jane Krakowski), the cynical "All I Care About", and the straightforwardly romantic "Sometimes a Day Goes By" without straining credulity.

There's not a mediocre song or performance on this whole album. I can't praise it enough.

Brent Barrett has been a favorite of mine since I happened upon the recording of Maltby and Shire's revue, Closer than Ever. Unfortunately, he never seemed to show up on an original cast album. Luckily for me, I found him on the original recordings of Grand Hotel and the late 90s revival of Candide. Luckily for us all, Varese Sarabande chose to spotlight his wonderful voice on a solo album devoted to one of the greatest songwriting teams in musical history, John Kander and Fred Ebb. Brent Barrett has an amazingly expressive and pretty rangy voice. He puts it to good use as well, singing songs that many people might not have heard. Numbers from the Happy Time and Zorba are most welcome alongside more well-known numbers from Chicago and Cabaret. We're fortunate that three amazing talents all came together on one CD devoted to showcasing them all.

Being from the UK, I have never heard of Brent Barrett till Amazon recomended this album to me. This is a truly wonderfull voice, all the tracks are brilliant, but my favorite is, "Seeing Things" If you'r a Broadway fan buy this album, it is so refreshing.

Brent Barrett has a wonderful voice that is well suited to the Kander and Ebb songs on this CD. From the rousing opening with "Second Chance" to the last strains of "Quiet Thing", Barrett sings with joy and precision. I would love to hear him sing "Skin of Our Teeth" in a theatre, because even on the CD player it makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. I hope Brent will be releasing many more CD'S. In the meantime, this is one to enjoy over and over.

....now partner him with Judy Kuhn in a show, and we'll all go to heaven. Barrett knocks every Kander and Ebb song, in all of their various styles, out of the ballpark. In particular, "The Skin of Our Teeth" is absolutely electrifying as Barrett picks every note out of the air with the ease of a Linda Eder. And this Varese release, gratefully, doesn't muck up the recording with a lot of bizarre arrangements (as do a lot of their other showcase CDs). If you enjoy Broadway in the least, you need to hear this man. Highly recommended.

The rare combination of choice material with a wonderful singer and arrangements. There isn't a bad track on the CD and I haven't grown tired of listening to this one - which is something you cannot say about most CD's. The Kander and Ebb songs have never sounded better - the fact that Kander himself is playing the piano on A Quite Thing should be a tipoff that he knew a good thing in the making.

Brent Barrett develops, interprets, and projects his work in sound as well as words, lyrics. Listen to his sound, the way he uses his voice. He speaks/sings with his sounds. Brent's sounds do it as much as the lyrics. Just listen to the sounds this guy makes. What a voice!

Having never heard Brent Barrett before, I decided to take a chance on buying the album based on the material, and I'm glad I did. Barrett has a warm, expressive tenor. Songs like "Sometimes A Day Goes By", "Isn't This Better" and "A Quiet Thing" are definite highlights. This album is a must for theatre fans. are definite

This album is absolutely wonderful. I saw Brent Barrett recently on Broadway in "Chicago" with Sandy Duncan and all I can say is that HE was the best part of the show. Brent's voice is strong, smooth and very soothing. He hits all the right notes in the Kander and Ebb Album. After buying this CD and also meeting him, I am now Brent's biggest fan. You should all treat yourselves and get this excellent CD. You will love it so much!