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Much as Mandy Patinkin did with his 1995 album,
Oscar & Steve, Anne Kerry Ford pairs two important musical-theater craftsmen--indeed, probably the most influential of the first half of the 20th century and the most influential of the second half,
Oscar Hammerstein II and
Stephen Sondheim. And of course the former's role as mentor to the latter is well documented. Ford collects songs Hammerstein wrote with
Jerome Kern and
Richard Rodgers, and all but one ("Something's Coming") Sondheim wrote by himself, with an emphasis on lyrical and introspective selections that Ford delivers with sensitivity and beauty. The primary accompaniment is piano, and pianist-arranger
John Boswell provides tasteful and sometimes fascinating settings, such as his use of the piano figures for "Losing My Mind" as backing for Kern-Hammerstein's rarely heard "All Through the Day." Other support includes some beautiful lines by cellist Gianna Abondolo and Ford's husband, jazz-blues guitarist
Robben Ford. A fine album.
--David Horiuchi
Product Description
Anne Kerry Ford presents fresh, passionate re-interpretations of some of the greatest songs ever written for the theater by Stephen Sondheim and his mentor Oscar Hammerstein. With arrangements by acclaimed composer/pianist, John Boswell, who also co-produced this recording with with world renowned guitarist and four-time Grammy nominee, Robben Ford.
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