Still water that runs deep
05/07/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Jack Donahue ushers in a new stage of his career with his first release backed by a significant label. PS Classics would do well to sign this emerging talent to a long-term deal. Donahue puts a modern spin on timeless classics while inflecting his own unique style on some overlooked pieces by artists that might surprise the average listener.Donahue possesses the singular ability to take a song from any genre, from Leonard Cohen to Hoagy Carmichael, and make it his own. Especially satisfying to devoted fans is the artist's first recorded original composition, created in conjunction with the Grammy-award winning talent behind the New York Voices and Jane Monheit, Peter Eldridge, "Strange Weather". Listen not only to the exquisite and moving musical arrangement, but pay particular attention to the words of a writer whose lyrics tell a story that could clearly stand alone as a remarkable piece of prose poetry.What hasn't been mentioned is the superior vocal treatment of these songs, not to mention the touching musical take on the work of artists as varied as Kurt Weill and Suzanne Vega, songs that might surprise even the most musically diverse listener. Explore this release as a journey that should be taken in one sitting, the journey of an artist who has many more offerings to share with an audience who believes he has just scratched the surface of the depth of his gift. Take the time to seek out his live performances, which infuse his tragic-comic personality with his inspiration behind his work. I defy the discriminating listener to see this man live and not be moved.Connick... Bublé... take heed. Jack Donahue has just raised the bar."
The next big thing
E. C Goodstein | 05/07/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Pop, Jazz and Theatre Artist Jack Donahue Sings "Strange Weather" on PS Classics CD, In Stores May 4
By Kenneth Jones
04 May 2004 Continuing its commitment to American popular song, PS Classics, the Grammy Award-nominated label that also celebrates the heritage of Broadway, releases "Strange Weather," the new recording from pop/jazz vocalist Jack Donahue, May 4.The CD is produced by Grammy Award winner Peter Eldridge.Billed as a "jazz-inspired crooner," Donahue sings new interpretations of classic songs by Cole Porter ("Let's Do It"), Johnny Mercer & Hoagy Carmichael ("Skylark") and Harry Warren ("You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby"), mixed with works by more contemporary writers such as Suzanne Vega ("Caramel"), Kenny Rankin ("Haven't We Met"), Jay Leonhart ("Robert Frost") and Peter Eldridge ("Strange Weather," written with Donahue).His musician collaborators ont he disc include Johnny Frigo, Loston Harris, Andy Ezrin, David Finck and Ben Wittman.In addition to his singing and recording career, Donahue appeared in the world premieres of The Ballad of Little Jo at the Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago, directed by Tina Landau, and What the World Needs Now at the Old Globe Theatre, directed by Gillian Lynne.He also worked with Landau on the national tour of Adam Guettel's Floyd Collins. His work in Of Melodrama and Murder, a piece centered on the music of Kurt Weill that was performed at New York's Joyce Theater and HERE. He was featured in six musical revues at the Williamstown Theater Festival.Donahue will join Ann Hampton Callaway, John Pizzarelli & Jessica Molaskey and Natalie Douglas as "Special Guest Stars" on the upcoming recording of Fine and Dandy, featuring the music of Kay Swift, one of the major female composers of the 20th century.The disc, to be released by PS Classics Inc., the not-for profit arm of PS Classics, centers around the score to Swift's 1930 Broadway musical Fine and Dandy, but will also include bonus tracks of several "pop" tunes Swift composed during her long career, performed by leading jazz and recording artists.On it, Donahue teams with Peter Eldridge on "Whistling in the Dark," a previously unrecorded and unpublished Swift song."Jack and his music director Peter Eldridge came to us with this project, and it's been a pleasure for us every step of the way," said PS Classics co-founder Philip Chaffin. "Besides the fact that Jack has an extremely appealing voice, we also loved how they took on music that spanned nearly 75 years, gave it their own distinctive jazz-infused style, and made it all appear seamless. I think it takes real assurance to take on Johnny Mercer and Kurt Weill and Suzanne Vega, and find a style that complements them all, but they did. We were so pleased with the results that we asked them to do one of the bonus tracks on our upcoming recording of Fine and Dandy.""
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1