Sondheim reviews
Two Little Words with Dame Felicity Palmer and Simon Lepper
In this hour-long recital Dame Felicity Palmer celebrates 50 years of a career that has seen her succeed in diverse genres to a degree as consistent as it has been wide-ranging. With her mezzo still steady and her diction a model, she is able to convey the varied repertoire here with admirable focus and expressivity, ideally supported by expert accompanist Simon Lepper.
Liaisons: Re-imagining Sondheim from the piano
Stripped of Jonathan Tunick’s imaginative orchestrations, Stephen Sondheim’s show songs can sometimes seem rhythmically fidgety or melodically bare when accompanied just by a naked piano in a recital or revue. But there’s nothing bare about this collection of 37 piano ‘re-imaginings’ of Sondheim’s music, instigated and superbly played (with a recording to match) by the always adventurous Anthony de Mare.
Color and Light: Jazz Sketches on Sondheim
Color and Light, a multi-artist CD, has jazz sketches by some of the greats including Nancy Wilson with Terence Blanchard taking aim at 'Anyone Can Whistle', Grover Washington, Jr swinging 'Every Day A Little Death', and Herbie Hancock teaming with Stephen Sondheim (no, it's not a misprint) in a lovely performance of 'They Ask Me Why I Believe In You' from an unproduced television special.