Customer Reviews

Let's See What Happens

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Kate Baldwin's first solo outing, "Let's See What Happens", is a fabulous recording. The quality is terrific - beautiful arrangements and in listening quality. Even better, it's a fabulous mix of toe tappers and heart tugging tunes.

Kate's voice is clear as a bell; at times she's belting, while other times she's honestly singing from her heart. She's captured the art of singing a song - there's acting there and the point of each song comes across beautifully. In "Moments Like This" and "Paris is a Lonely Town", I can just see her standing before a big band in a 1940s night club. The uptempo songs are reminiscent of big band swing days and they make me want to get up and dance.

"That Something Extra Special" from the flop musical "Darling of the Day" is simply gorgeous. Any fan of "Finian's Rainbow" will be happy to have this definitive recording of "How Are Things In Glocca Morra?" before the revival cast album is even recorded.

There's no pandering to the contemporary popular. It's a lovely mix of timeless tunes by Yip Harburg and Burton Lane that are nothing less than classics, even if some are little known. But make no mistake, these tunes aren't old fashioned. Kate has infused youth into them. There's nothing about Kate that's old fashioned, just timeless and classic.

"Let's See What Happens" has been at the top of my rotation ever since receiving this gem. It's sublime in every way.

Wow, what a way to make a solo debut! I completely agree with my fellow Amazon reviewer, Sarah B. Roberts. This collection of songs from Broadway rising star Kate Baldwin is sublime. Her clear-as-a-bell soprano ranges from bright and sweet to rich and luscious as she deftly returns us to the music of Burton Lane and Yip Harburg. The arrangements are beautiful - not over-blown or over-produced like we so often get with recordings that draw from the Great American Songbook - and serve to complement Kate's exquisite phrasing and versatility. From the big-band swing of "Come Back To Me," to her comedic chops in "I Like the Likes of You," to the great sensual, bluesy torch song "Paris Is a Lonely Town," to her heart-achingly lovely "The World Is My Arms," Kate Baldwin is a delight and I can't wait to hear what her next solo endeavor will bring us.

Kate Baldwin has a lovely soothing voice in this relaxing old fashioned album. The songs are perfectly toe tapping and render memories and nostalgia of days past (even for this 20 something). Though Baldwin skips most of the well known tunes she would be perfectly capable of making her mark on, the songs on this album stand out as classics in their own right and Baldwin makes her fine (and sometimes definitive) mark on them.

Kate Baldwin has a tremendous command of her repertoire; just one listen to this album proves it! She has excellent diction; her beautiful soprano voice is as clear as a bell. Her sophisticated sense of timing and her phrasing enhance everything she sings, too. Wow, how Kate has talent! Jonathan Tunick and His Broadway Moonlighters also perform wonderfully. Indeed, there isn't a bad track in the lot here as Kate chooses a few songs by Burton Lane and E.Y. "Yip" Harburg (among others) to pay tribute to them; we hear so clearly how Kate puts her own stamp on all of these numbers to have them come out sounding better than ever before. In addition, the quality of the sound on this CD is nothing less than excellent.

"That Extra Something Special" provides an auspicious beginning to the album even if it does come from a Broadway flop musical entitled ""Darling of the Day;" Kate sings with panache and she never lets go of a single superfluous note! "How About You?" sparkles and shines in Kate's more than capable hands; and that fine musical arrangement complements Kate's vocals. "Moments Like This" slows down the pace a bit but it's every bit as enjoyable; Kate really opens up and delivers this with true passion, heart and soul. I'm very impressed!

"Come Back to Me" gets the royal treatment from Kate; the big band/swing arrangement is faultless and that's grand. "Here's to Your Illusions" showcases Kate's lovely voice particularly well and she does "Have Feet, Will Dance" with lots of positive energy. I love it! "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?" stuns me with its beauty. Wisely, the musicians never try to steal the spotlight from Kate; she remains squarely front and center which is right where she belongs! "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?" may have a complex melody; but that's no problem for Kate Baldwin. She handles the tune without the slightest flaw; excellent! "Poor You" makes great use of the piano and more as Kate sings this; and Kate's exquisite rendition of the bluesy "Paris Is a Lonely Town" became my favorite the very first time I ever heard it.

"I Like the Likes of You" is an upbeat number that Kate handles well; she handles difficult tempo and key modulations like a pro which verifies her talent to be extraordinarily special. "Let's See What Happens/Open Your Eyes" has Kate once again singing at her very best and "Where Have I Seen Your Face Before?" charms me whenever I hear Kate sing it. "He Wasn't You" is poignant when Kate Baldwin does it to perfection and beyond while "I Don't Think I'll End It All Today" from "Jamaica" is definitely one of my very favorite songs on the album. The percussion works very well and Kate infuses this with so much energy I could never tire of hearing her sing this! The CD ends with Kate Baldwin doing a splendid "The World Is in My Arms;" what a perfect way to end the album! Moreover, it leaves me wanting more--and I reach to press the replay button on my CD player so I can enjoy this all over again!

Kate Baldwin fans (like me!) should consider this a must-have for their collections; people who like "Finian's Rainbow" and the writers of these songs would also do well to get this album. You will not be disappointed!

When Kate Baldwin landed the lead role in the Encores! production of "Finian's Rainbow," I'm sure I wasn't the only one to say, "Who?" Unfair, of course, as New York is full of thousands of unsung, talented performers just waiting for just that kind of big break. From her work on the curiously flat cast album and, most particularly, this radiant collection of Burton Lane and Yip Harburg standards, Ms. Baldwin is well up to whatever Broadway has in store for her. This is a lovely, superbly conceived and realized CD. Ms Baldwin's voice is everything a Broadway soprano's should be: clear, clean, expressive. It's less chirpy than Chenoweth's, not as lush as O'Hara's, but pure pleasure. (She's not quite the belter that Sutton Fisher is, but that's a minor quibble.)

I felt that, on the "Finian's Rainbow" cast album, musical director Rob Berman was seriously hamstrung by the need to use the show's 1947 arrangements. Here the sky's the limit, and he and Ms. Baldwin (joined by Jonathan Tunick and His Broadway Moonlighters) make some beautiful music together. Lyricist Yip Harburg was very fortunate in his collaborators; in addition to Mr. Lane's, there are gorgeous contributions from Harold Arlen and Jule Styne. Most successful are two lovely songs from the Broadway flop "Darling of the Day," a joyous "Have Feet, Will Dance" (lyrics by Dorothy Fields), and a laugh out loud, hilarious "I Like the Likes of You" (music by Vernon Duke). And, given free rein to express themselves, Berman and Baldwin have given us a gorgeous, delicate, mysterious "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?" Heaven. And did I mention the transcendent "The World Is In My Arms" and the gleefully brash, life-affirming "I Don't Think I'll End It All Today?" Hell, the entire album is life-affirming. So, stop reading and start ordering.

I was just blown away by this cd! I only vaguely knew who Kate Baldwin was before buying this (only through the current Finian's Rainbow revival) and had never heard her sing. I thought I'd take a chance, and am so glad I did. Beautiful voice. Wonderful arrangements, Great songs. What's not to love? She seems born to sing these songs (Yip Harburg and Burton Lane-together and with other collaborators) Every song is a winner (some I've never heard before) I even liked How Are Things In Glocca Morra? (a song I've never been that crazy about) sung as a kind of plaintive waltz. My favorite cut is He Wasnt You from On a Clear Day, but every cut is just a joy to listen to. One of the best debut recordings I've heard in a very long time. Treat yourself. BUY IT!

Had the pleasure of seeing Kate Baldwin in Finian's Rainbow and thought that she had a terrific singing voice, and was a joy to look at.
A great double deal for me. Now listening to the record you loose the ability of seeing this loverly woman. One listen will be enough to to want to see her in person. Finian's Rainbow would be a good choice. The music is wonderful and she is terrific.

A delightful mix of tunes beautifully performed. Many of these songs I had never heard before! You could get up and dance or sit with a glass of wine and just enjoy Kate's artistic and delightful voice for the entire disk! There is something fresh that Kate and the orchestrations bring that is just wonderful. The only thing better would be to hear her perform these songs live!