The Jeff Blumenkrantz Songbook Podcast show

The Jeff Blumenkrantz Songbook Podcast

Summary: Hear live recordings of the songs from the Tony-nominated composer's new songbook.

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Podcasts:

 Recuerdo - sung by Liz Callaway and Jeff Blumenkrantz | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

Episode #8: Singing with Liz Callaway is literally a dream-come-true for me. Ever since I first heard her spectacular voice on the Baby cast recording, I have marveled at the purity and musicality of her voice. What a privilege to have her on this podcast today, singing my duet setting of the Edna St. Vincent Millay poem, "Recuerdo." Recorded 1/31/06. (Click here to see the text of the poem.) Since her Tony-nominated performace in Baby, she's maintained flourishing careers on Broadway (Miss Saigon, Cats, The Look of Love), in film (providing the singing voice for the title characters in the animated films The Swan Princess and Anastasia), and in cabaret and recordings (check out her most recent CD, The Beat Goes On, and Sibling Revelry, the terrific recording of her show with her super-talented sister, Ann Hampton Callaway). Liz's discography is incredibly impressive, and rightfully so.

 Moving Right Along - sung by Ryan Perry and Jeff Blumenkrantz | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

Episode #7: So you've been wondering why that explicit rating has been hovering over this podcast? Finally! Here it is: one of two songs in the book with dirty words in it! Parents (and prudes), be warned. Remember last week's episode with Judy Blazer as the Jewish mother whose son has just come out? Well, this week it's that son and his best friend at a gay bar. The song is "Moving Right Along" (from the abandoned project Fits and Starts), with music and lyrics by me. I'm thrilled to be joined by one of my best friends, the super-funny Ryan Perry, who inspired this song in the first place. (Yes, we went to gay bars together. No, we weren't nearly as horrible as these guys.) Ryan hasn't been acting and singing much lately (Booooo!), but those of you lucky enough to have caught him in Forever Plaid or Whorehouse Goes Public or the tours of The Full Monty and Floyd Collins will remember how fantastic he is. Recorded 1/15/06. And I'm happy to report that I have lured him back to the stage to appear in my Birdland concert on February 13th, along with former podcast guests Judy Blazer, Vicki Clark, Rebecca Luker, and Sally Wilfert. Call 212 581-3080 for reservations.

 It'll Work for You - sung by Judy Blazer | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

Episode #6: How did I get so lucky to have such talented friends?? This week, it's the remarkable Judy Blazer, who stopped by after a day of rehearsing for Michael John LaChiusa's latest, Bernarda Alba, coming soon to the Mitzi Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center. Judy lends her comic genius to "It'll Work for You," a Jewish mother's reaction to her composer son's recent coming-out. (Can you guess who might have inspired this song?) I wrote music and lyrics for this one. After the song, Judy and I chat about Bernarda Alba as well as Judy's mystery contribution to The Light in the Piazza. Recorded 1/12/06. I'm thrilled to report that Judy will be among the special guest stars appearing with me at Birdland on February 13th. In the meantime, check out Judy's tracks on these two recordings: Leonard Bernstein's New York and Hello Again. Amazing! Take a minute to browse Judy's impressive Amazon.com discography.

 I Won't Mind - sung by Victoria Clark | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

Epidose #5: Look who came over this week! Victoria Clark, "the most talented person in the world," and this year's Tony winner for her spectacular performance in my favorite new show, The Light in the Piazza, dropped by to sing "I Won't Mind," lyrics by Annie Kessler and Libby Saines, music by me. Recorded 1/6/06. Don't miss Vicki's Lincoln Center American Songbook Series Concert on February 10th! She's a magnificent concert performer, plus there's a handful of Blumenkrantz songs on the program! (And some great Jane Kelly Williams songs too!) And if you haven't seen The Light in the Piazza yet, quit stalling and go! Vicki gives a must-see performance, the whole show is wonderful, and the score features the most ravishing music I've ever heard. In my life. Ever. The end.

 I'm Free - sung by Sally Wilfert | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

Episode #4: Hooray!! Another special guest star, this time the amazing Sally Wilfert (Assassins, Tom Sawyer, King David), who sings "I'm Free," from the one-act musical, Precious Little Jewel, with lyrics (and book) by Libby Saines and music by me. Recorded 12/29/05. Look for Sally in Rob Kapilow's upcoming What Makes It Great concerts in LA and Boston, as well as The Jeff Blumenkrantz Songbook Concert live at Birdland in NYC on February 13th. For more info about Jeff, the songbook, and upcoming concerts, visit jeffblumenkrantz.com.

 Independence Day - sung by Jeff Blumenkrantz | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

Episode #3: Jeff sings "Independence Day," the songbook's sole pop song. Recorded on 12/26/05. Also, listen for Jeff's celebrity pop singer impersonation.... Happy New Year! For more info about the songbook, check out: my online music store.

 Hold My Hand - sung by Jeff Blumenkrantz | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

Episode #2: Jeff sings "Hold My Hand." Recorded on 12/13/05. (N.B. The sound quality of the original recording was unsatisfactory so I rerecorded the song on 6/24/06.) Note: there will be no new episode next week. Happy Holidays! For more info about the songbook, check out my online music store.

 Love Is Not All - sung by Rebecca Luker | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

Episode #1: For this first installment, I somehow cajoled Broadway songbird, Rebecca Luker (The Music Man, Showboat, The Sound of Music, The Secret Garden), to sing "Love Is Not All," my setting of an Edna St. Vincent Millay poem. Recorded 12/5/05.

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