blues2broadway - Tumblr blog

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I promise to go back to curating what I actually put on this site now that it seems I would have a tad more time on my hands, but for tonight, here's another random: Bob Gunton with Debbie Gravitte and Betsy Joslyn singing God-Why-Don't-You-Love-Me Blues from Follies to a jazz band - just because jazz and Sondheim makes me happy.

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The new Tumblr activity chart is depressing. I was looking for cheerer-upper's and Gershwin is usually my go-to composer. Usually. Here's Judy Kaye singing I Got Rhythm. That woman has more than rhythm, damn these talented people.

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I lied. Here we go, Starting with Anthony Warlow’s latest album. I am a sucker for any cover off La Cage Aux Folles because I adore that musical, and I do love Warlow - for whom I could actually re-watch Annie.

Edit: what I meant to say: latest Warlow album on my iTunes, instea of latest album! Posts not to be put up at 2 am *cries* thanks for pointing out!!

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I am still alive. Regular programming to resume next Monday! Suffice to say,  the good Lord Almighty has been very kind but I am in process of quickly returning to the embrace of subsidised and readily accessible healthcare, which requires yet another round of relocation.

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which version of Anthem do you prefer? :)

Late reply! Hmmm... I am hard pressed for an answer, mostly because the 1983 version was raw and he was less given to vocal theatrics then, making it a tad more heartfelt, while the 2013 version was a study of vocal mastery, with fantasic power. I lean towards the latter only because I heard that one live! :D

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... and so I have been away again in my longest absence from the Internet since I discovered ADSL. Let me begin by saying that the scariest thing to ever happen to a former military woman with a colourful medical history in the middle of a road trip through the underdeveloped world is discovering that she might well be pregnant (forget 'might'; I am pretty damm sure I am) and not being anywhere near a medical service in a language she could speak. That and knowing that if she should inform her husband now, he would be freaking out even more an entire continent away. Her solution is to pay an exorbitant amount for Internet, just so she can make an appointment a week away in Prague and hope that her body can take the abuse till then. Then finding her way onto her blog to listen to her (very well selected) music with said Internet and vent to a group of relative and, best of all, 'invisible' strangers - because if she tells anyone in RL now, she would have to expend too much effort to placate friends and family with tender nerves and she is having a big enough headache rationalising through her own fears as it is. In case you are wondering why this place dried up. God willing, I'll be going to Ruthie Henshall concert in the middle of Suffolk at the end of the month and I should have a recording then for you.

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AND... this is him singing the same song 27 years ago. 

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Tonight's "Let's Compare!" (if Tumblr allows): Colm Wilkinson singing Anthem from Chess in 2013. 

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Colm Wilkinson's cover of the Beatles' She's Leaving Home, Live at Lyceum Theatre, 24 Jun 13. 

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Colm Wilkinson's First of May, Live at Lyceum Theatre, 24 Jun 13. 

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Here's Colm's very moving cover of Danny Boy. Someone asked for the non-musical numbers first, so that's coming up.  Having caught Colm Wilkinson, Patti Lupone, Lea Salonga and Judy Kuhn in action within the last couple of months, I decided to hunt down my first Les Miserables cast. Lo and behold, where does Ruthie Henshall decide to hold a concert at a time that would not clash with my semi-work schedule in Europe? A tiny town in the middle of Suffolk. ORZ. Guess I am off to the seaside come July. 

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This is another open announcement, notice again... only because I have gotten a few requests for both Patti and Colm: I don't trade. Mostly because I feel bad about using audios, which I did obtain purely for documentary purposes, to get something tangible. (I fully believe that audios should be shared so that folks who are geographically disadvantaged can share in the love.) I will eventually share, so if you watch this space they will come. I only hold on and share at key milestones because (selfishly) I only have that many audios and I can thank followers that often. :P

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Can you post more audio from the Pippin revival cast, especially the Finale? Thank you!

I am ridiculously behind on my Ask's- sorry I am this late. I'll look for that Pippin audio and post this- but I think if you look under my 'welcome!' tag, I have provided a link to the full audio on before. I should housekeep my site and tag all my audio download links for easy navigation. ... only reason why no audio tonight- I am forced on bed rest, so I can't sit at my computer. It's easier texting on my mobile phone, hence taking chance to finally answer asks.

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I do have the rest of the Colm Wilkinson's audio but I am back on the road today and can only put more up tonight. His set list hasn't changed in the past couple of years, so nothing new last night- BUT still he was phenomenal. He did dust off Anthem for Tim Rice, who was in the audience. His covers of She's Leaving Home (Beatles) and Bee Gees' Massachusetts were unbelievable, and he was deliciously camp with Man from La Mancha. Other songs include: This is The Moment (Jekyll and Hyde), Got My Mojo Back (rock n roll), Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen), Danny Boy (sweeeeeet). Any request from this?

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Wilkinson does not disappoint. Here, he starts the night concert with a ridiculous Music of the Night. He may have more powerful lungs at 69 than he did 28 years ago. 

I must say... Alfie Boe is remarkably like Wilkinson in his concert style.

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... Now see, I am obviously all for recording so long as no pecuniary or even tangible benefit is made from it- I would have missed hearing Garland at Garden State if some techno expert of his time did not audio- but if you are recording, it probably is not the wisest thing to use your backlit phone and place it on your lap like a bloody beacon. It is distracting for others and rather rude. Discretion, dude, is key. Also, I am all for love and sharing love for theatre with significant others- but honestly, sharing your thoughts at every song, even in dramatic whispers, is rude too. Honey, yes he is awesome and yep I know it takes vocal chops to sing This Is The Moment - now let me soak in his awesomeness WITHOUT your commentary. I (re)discover a new pet peeve with each theatre outing.

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In the midst of yet another health scare (thank God for NHS), I am resisting my meds in favour of prime seats to watch the man who started it all for me: Colm Wilkinson. 18 years ago, an indulgent music teacher - who played in the orchestra- brought me to my first musical performance at the Royal Albert Hall after I waxed lyrical about Gershwins and Porter and mourned the lack of good lyrics in songs now.

You can guess what performance that was, but that was probably why I love musical theatre today. This man did a lot to snatch the carpet from under my feet and I can’t wait- CAN’T- to watch him again. Even though he is STILL in a bluegrass, folk rock roll.