Customer Reviews

Sketches of Broadway

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

 

 

This is a beautiful collection of songs...truly a joy to listen to! As both a fan of Broadway tunes and Janis...I applaud and admire her version of these songs. I recently (last night in fact!) saw Janis perform live in Kalamazoo, MI and immediately bought her CD as a result. I loved "Sorry-Grateful," "My Best Beau" and "Make Someone Happy" especially though...her version of "Surrey With the Fringe on Top" was also really enjoyable...fun to see what a artist can do with a "standard" to make a song you thought you knew that much better! Oklahoma (the musical) will never be the same to me... Lots of feeling in this music and don't think you can go wrong!

This is the best album I've heard in a long time. Great singer with flawless pitch and gorgeous tone, great song selection with original and individual arrangements -- every cut is a winner. I can't imagine any fan of Broadway or jazz singers will be disappointed.

Each song is unique and sounds nothing like the others! A diverse selection of songs that are heart-felt, meaningful, jazzy and beautifully sung. "It Never Was You" by Kurt Weill will bring tears to your eyes, while others will give you a chuckle. The back up musicians are great. If you like female jazz singers and Broadway interpretations, then you MUST BUY this album!!!

"Sketches of Broadway" is not cabaret, or Streisand, or Miles Davis' Sketches of Spain, or Broadway with a capital "B", but there are beautiful echoes of all in there. What emerges is an eclectic hybrid -- a personal essay of theater songs all transposed to non-traditional settings. At its best, this album contains some of the best jazz/pop singing currently out there -- timeless, spirited and playful, and at its most indulgent (Sun in the Morning; It's a Woman's Prerogative,) it's at least commendable for its adventurous spirit. The immediate highlights are "Show Me," "Sorry/Grateful," a breathtaking "Born Too Late," "It Never Was You," "Make Someone Happy" with its Satie-like arrangement, and the delightful swaying "Surrey With a Fringe On Top" which references Laura Nyro's "Stoned Soul Picnic". It's on the latter cut that Siegel makes the most valid argument for her position as the most versatile interpreter of American contemporary songwriting around. After 3 albums in 3 years, she's on a roll.

One of my favorite broadway-jazz cds is that of Betty Buckley's Chidren will Listen. B. Buckley took a spin on some of the best broadway songs and transformed them to individual jazz story songs. However, I think many people were disappointed with that, not because the arrangement or the singer is bad, but because they did not expect Betty Buckley to perform as a cool jazz singer (which is actually wrong to expect so since her first love is really jazz and the american standards).

However, definitely, broadway affecionados will definitely like the jazzy take of Janis Siegel to the broadway songs. She will definitely be "forgiven" for doing so since she is a jazz singery anyhow.

I consider this CD good since most of the songs are totally unpredictable. I for one would never expect a jazz take on Sondheim's "The Story of Lucy and Jessie" (which is my FAVORITE track on this album). Yet, the singer was able to deliver and show the intent of the song (complexity of people). The arrangement of that song made it possible for listeners (even for those not familiar with Broadway musicals) to FOCUS on the lyrics and the story.

Another favorite of mine is Its a Woman's Prerogative. Such empowering and sexy song. The delivery and the arrangement of the song are apt.

Downside, there is a boring track that I would skip anytime: I have dreamed. The bossanova take is so obvious and predictable. It is like the arrangers got tired and lazy on thinking on how to approach the song. "I have dreamed" is like a karaoke arrangement (which is not a novelty in the Philippines, but perhaps in some countries is a novel thing). the take is simply boring.

Still, with one boring track, the CD is still good. I am glad to have purchased this CD.

This CD is boring. Yes, Janis is great, but this does not showcase her talent as the songs are lackluster and just plain boring. Buy Manhattan Transfer CDs instead.

Unlike the annoying scat and un-melodic tones of The Manhattan Transfer of recent vintage, Janis has put together another solid album of unusual stylings that are still quite musical. She does the same on this album for lesser-known Broadway songs as she did on her previous one for Saturday night lounge music and the Hammond organ. Great arrangements, so that even familiar songs sound new. And, oh, that voice!