Customer Reviews

Windflowers: The Songs of Jerome Moross

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

 

 

I saw the cabaret show at which these songs were first performed, and it's just as pleasing on disc. Actually, in some ways it's better, because here, the five singers are backed by a small chamber group, which adds immeasurably. (The strings sound amazingly lush in a couple of tracks.) The performers are just as winning as I remembered, particularly Alice Ripley, whose soprano really soars in "Windflowers," and who brings a kittenish quality to "I've Even Been in Love." "Beer and Flowers" could have been written for Richard Muenz's voice, and the same can be said for Jessica Molaskey on "Lazy Afternoon" and Philip Chaffin on "Ridin' on the Breeze." Maybe it's not a compliment anymore to say that these songs are in the best Rodgers & Hammerstein tradition, but that's what they are. If I have any reservations, it's that the two songs from Gentlemen, Be Seated seem a bit blander than everything else, but it's a minor quibble. Overall, it's a most enjoyable listen.

This recording of 18 mostly neglected gems simply shimmers. Ranging in style from Alice Ripley's heartbreakingly beautiful "Windflowers" to the gently swinging duet of Richard Muenz and Jessica Molaskey on "Oh Baby, Gee Baby," this is a thoughtfully arranged, beautifully produced bouquet of wonderful songs.

Jerome Moross was a Sondheim predecessor who did not receive the credit he deserved. The quality of the songs are to be sure, uneven. But the best are very good indeed. If you are interested in the history of the american musical theatre this deserves a listen