The new album in
the “Live at 54 BELOW” series brings us Jarrod Spector in concert and in his
own words it “features music from artists like Billy Joel, Enrico Caruso,
Little Richard, Freddie Mercury, Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney and Bono”. Have
you noticed something? None of the artists in this list is directly linked to
the Broadway musical and, as you already know, I’m a Broadway baby.
Spector comes
from Broadway, where he debuted in LES MISERÀBLES as Gavroche and later was
cast as Frankie Vallie in JERSEY BOYS. This recording is like a showcase of his
talents in the pop/rock genre and the result is kind of mixed. Sometimes it
works – “Uchained Melody”, “Faith /
Good Vibrations”; sometimes it leaves me completely cold – “Sweet Home Chicago”,
“Maybe I’m Amazed”, “Who’s Lovin, You”; sometimes is just fun – “Good Golly
Miss Molly / Tutti Frutti”, “If I Can’t Have You”; sometimes it seems out of
place or simply strange – “Una Furtiva Lagrima / Somebody To Love”.
Finally there’s
his simple, almost childish, rendition of “When You Wish Upon a Star”, the only
time that the recording approaches the kind of music I love. And there’s the
inevitable JERSEY BOYS songs “Uptown Girl / Walk Like a Man”, that I enjoyed
listening to, and “C’mon Marianne / Beggin”.
I’m sure a lot of
people will enjoy this more than I did and are more suitable to review it than
I. But one thing is sure; Spector is at ease with all these songs and has a
good voice, although there’s nothing that distinguishes him from other pop/rock
singers.
Rate: 2 (from 1 to
10)
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