Not a Day Goes By - Betty Buckley, Sondheim, Stephen
Just the Way You Look Tonight - Betty Buckley, Feilds, Dorothy
Stars and the Moon - Betty Buckley, Brown, Jason [3] Ro
Finding Home - Betty Buckley, Gordon, Ricky Ian
Answer Me My Love - Betty Buckley, Rauch, Fred
Migratory V/A Horse With Wings - Betty Buckley, Guettel, Adam
Fire and Rain - Betty Buckley, Taylor, James [Soft
Poet's Medley: Red Dress/Souvenir/Will There Really Be a Morning - Betty Buckley, Dickinson, Emily
Old Friend - Betty Buckley, Cryer, Gretchen
Send in the Clowns - Betty Buckley, Sondheim, Stephen
Close to Home - Betty Buckley, Mays, Lyle
Amazing Grace - Betty Buckley, Newton, John [Compo
While Stars and the Moon does open with Sondheim's "Not a Day Goes By," followed by Jerome Kern's classic "Just the Way You Look Tonight," acclaimed singer-actress Betty Buckley here departs from the expected format of B... more »roadway standards. She is accompanied on this live performance in 2000 at London's celebrated Donmar by a band of jazzmen, whose central voice ideally pairs Buckley with arranger-pianist Kenny Werner. Under these optimal conditions, the remarkably talented Buckley sings from inside this somewhat surprising collection of tunes, delivering them with heart, soul, and beautifully imperfect grace. The warm, craggy, emotive tones of her instrument are well preserved in the recording. "Poet's Medley" fashions the lyric from bits of Dorothy Parker, Edna St. Vincent Millay, and Emily Dickinson, and Buckley's turns on James Taylor's "Fire and Rain" and the traditional "Amazing Grace" come across as invitingly fresh. --Paige La Grone« less
While Stars and the Moon does open with Sondheim's "Not a Day Goes By," followed by Jerome Kern's classic "Just the Way You Look Tonight," acclaimed singer-actress Betty Buckley here departs from the expected format of Broadway standards. She is accompanied on this live performance in 2000 at London's celebrated Donmar by a band of jazzmen, whose central voice ideally pairs Buckley with arranger-pianist Kenny Werner. Under these optimal conditions, the remarkably talented Buckley sings from inside this somewhat surprising collection of tunes, delivering them with heart, soul, and beautifully imperfect grace. The warm, craggy, emotive tones of her instrument are well preserved in the recording. "Poet's Medley" fashions the lyric from bits of Dorothy Parker, Edna St. Vincent Millay, and Emily Dickinson, and Buckley's turns on James Taylor's "Fire and Rain" and the traditional "Amazing Grace" come across as invitingly fresh. --Paige La Grone
"Betty Buckley's newest release, "Stars and the Moon, Betty Buckley Live at The Donmar" is a CD full of great songs all beautifully performed by Betty Buckley and her trio(Kenny Werner, arrangements and piano, Jamey Haddad, percussion, and Tony Marino, bass). The CD contains music from a wide array of composers including Stephen Sondheim, Ricky Ian Gordon, Jerome Kern, and James Taylor. However, the star of the recording is Betty Buckley who is able to take each song and make it sound like her very own. Her skills as a performer come shining through on this recording which was recorded during her concerts at The Donmar Warehouse in London August 31 and September 1st, 2000. After listening to the CD for the first time I found myself feeling a "relaxed energy", which was a very good feeling. I highly recommend this recording."
A very intimate recording of Betty Buckley
Susan H | 09/09/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The first Betty Buckley CD I heard was her Carnegie Hall Concert. It was such a magnificent display of vocal and acting prowess. However, what strucked me most was her version there of "Come on, Come on" and "Everyday a little death". The simple songs with minimal instrumentation proved to be very effective and heartfelt. Then, I got her HEart to heart; and St. Bart CD. I was smitten. She is indeed a wonderful actor and singer, a rare find in today's Broadway belters. Then, I got this CD. I really have no idea of the song, "Stars and the Moon". Then I heard hers. With minimal instrumentation, she was able to put across the message. The timing and humor was preserved. I got to listen to other singers' version, but B Buckley's version is my favorite. Some would ache for the BIG buckley voice. However, I would prefer this CD. The intimacy is a fresh welcome. I really find enjoyable her version of the poem songs and Stars and the moon. I was able to watch the video of the concert, and I must say that it is a shame that her performance of Come On Come on, and the dialogues were not included in the CD.Watch the video, it is a real treat."
Betty is so very fine but
Thomas E. Larson | Helena, MT, USA | 03/19/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Live at the Donmar has some beautiful songs and while I'm not a fan of Jazz arrangements I do appreciate their quality. But I found the sound mix irritating in that the piano was most always in the foreground and Betty's voice in the background. I prefer the ensemble to be slightly in the background but at least they could have been mixed so as to be equal."
The unsung singer's singer
Glen C. Creason | Los Angeles, Ca. United States | 07/22/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have seen over a hundred performances at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts and Betty Buckley's concert there a couple of years back remains in the top five ever. What makes her a truly great singer is her dedication to making the audience understand and feel the meaning of the song. Her ego is secondary to conveying the heart and soul of the work of music and she is careful to make the band part of this delicate balance. The emotion she stirs is part of her craft which has been honed by countless performances on stage.
This album has moments of brilliance which demonstrate Ms. Buckley's artistry but above all she makes you feel right down to your soul what a songwriter wants to give his or her listeners. Show tunes are a breeze for this wonderful singer but her interpretation of the poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay, Dorothy Parker and Emily Dickinson set to music in a medley is as great as it gets in popular recordings. I wish Betty Buckley had ten more albums, I would buy them all."