GrooveShorts

Tom Michael

Written in the Stars

A Houston native and openly gay, Tom Michael has followed up his critically praised 1999 CD Sailing On with Written in the Stars, a sterling collection of pop songs, classic standards, movie gems, and Broadway favorites. Among the material covered on the winning collection are the classics of Rodgers & Hammerstein, the Gershwins, Berlin, Sondheim, and Bernstein, along with more contemporary works by Elton John, Tim Rice, Carol Bayer Sager, Melissa Manchester, and Tom Snow. From LML Music (www.lmlmusic.com). More info: www.tommichael.net. -Troy Carrington

Ethel Merman

The Ethel Merman Disco Album

The Ethel Merman Disco Album, complete with a festive disco beat and a cooing back-up chorus, was an instant camp classic when it was released by A&M Records in 1979. Looking to capitalize on the decade's explosive dance craze, the label had Merman, the reigning queen of Broadway, rerecord the show tunes she made famous-including "There's No Business Like Show Business," "Everything's Coming Up Roses," and "Alexander's Ragtime Band." A&M personnel reportedly wore T-shirts emblazoned with "Ethel Boogies," Donna Summer, the label's reigning star, told Ethel, "If I'm the 'Queen of Disco,' you're the 'Disco Diva'." The album was released to much controversy and fanfare, including Merman shaking her stuff on late-night TV. Unfortunately, in coincided with the end of disco era and quickly went out of print, immediately achieving cult status. Now, Fynsworth Alley has finally dug out the infamous recording for us to experience once again, to take its rightful place in dance clubs and stereo systems throughout the world. The CD includes a previously unreleased bonus track, "They Say It's Wonderful." From Fynsworth Alley (www.fynsworthalley.com). -TC

Erasure

Other People's Songs

Leave it to Erasure (openly gay Andy Bell and longtime musical companion Vince Clarke) to title their new CD, well, exactly what it is-other people's songs. It's nothing new for Erasure to cover other people's songs. They've included non-original material on several albums and even released an entire EP of ABBA songs, ABBA-esque, in 1992. Other People's Songs is, however, a bit more significant, combining a bit of cheek with some iconoclasm, a true fascination with the mechanics of songwriting and a pure, fan-based love of pop. Other People's Songs includes the Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" and "Ebb Tide," Buddy Holly's "True Love Ways" and "Everyday," Elvis's "Can't Help Falling in Love," Buggles/Trevor Horn's "Video Killed the Radio Star," Peter Gabriel's "Solsbury Hill," and Walker Brothers' "Walking in the Rain," among others. From Mute (www.mute.com). -Blase DiStefano

Soundtrack

Chicago

Directed by Rob Marshall (Annie) and adapted for the screen by openly gay Bill Condon (Gods and Monsters), Chicago is the tale of two female stars, Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger), both getting headlines for murder. The lawyer, Billy Flynn, is played by Richard Gere. But when listening to the CD, the major character in Chicago is the music itself. Written by Jeff Kander and Fred Ebb (Cabaret), each song is performed by the film's actors, including tracks by Zeta-Jones, Zellweger, Gere, and Queen Latifah (playing the prison matron "Mama"). The soundtrack features "I Move On," a new song written for the film; it serves as the movie's end-title theme and will be offered to the Academy for Oscar consideration. The songs swell like those in a Broadway show, and that's a good thing. If you like musicals, Chicago won't disappoint you, except for a couple of the extra tracks "inspired by the film": Anastacia's "Love Is a Crime" and Queen Latifah's hip-hop "Cell Block Tango." Though both tunes are tiptop, they serve only as a jolt when listening to the rest of the CD. FYI: Chicago recently won a Golden Globe for Best Picture (Musical or Comedy); Zellweger and Gere also received Globes for their performances. From Epic Records/Sony Music Soundtrax (www.chicagosoundtrack.com). -BD

Original Broadway Cast Recording

La Boheme

Baz Luhrmann (Romeo & Juliet, Moulin Rouge, Strictly Ballroom) intended to bring something new and different to the theatrical production of Puccini's beloved opera, La Boheme. Set in the 1950s, the production is true to the original. The album's producer, David Frost, who has produced works for opera luminaries, says, "The score bears the original orchestration; it's sung in Italian and the performers are opera singers." On DreamWorks Records (www.dreamworksrecords.com). More info: www.bazmark.com, www.bohemeonbroadway.com, or www.flylifemusic.com. -Andrea Rodricks

Brent Barrett

The Alan Jay Lerner Album

The Alan Jay Lerner Album celebrates one of Broadway and Hollywood's most popular lyricists, who collaborated with composers such as Frederick Loewe (My Fair Lady, Gigi, Paint Your Wagon) and Burton Lane (On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, Royal Wedding) to create some of the most beloved musical works of our time. Barrett, star of Annie Get Your Gun on Broadway and Kiss Me, Kate in London, performs hits from these scores, as well as lesser-known songs from Love Life, Coco, and Lolita, My Love. There's a special duet with Lauren Bacall from The Day Before Spring and Gigi. From Fynsworth Alley (www.fynsworthalley.com). FYI: Barrett played one of the soap actors in the film Longtime Companion. -TC

The Fred Hersch Trio

Live at the Village Vanguard

Jazz pianist and composer Fred Hersch along with Drew Gress on bass and Nasheet Waits on drums bring sublime sounds to Live at the Village Vanguard. Fred Hersch has been widely recognized for his ability to re-invent the standard jazz repertoire. More than most, this classic jazz piano trio moves as one. In recent years, he has become a visible and passionate spokesman and fundraiser for AIDS research and relief agencies. Through his concerts and recordings he raises much-needed funds for AIDS services and education for Classical Action: Performing Arts Against AIDS. From Palmetto Records (www.palmetto-records.com). More info: www.fredhersch.com or www.classicalaction.org. -AR

Piotr Anderszewski

Bach Partitas 1,3,6

The term "partite" dates back to the baroque era and refers to a suite of dance music pieces. In the early 18th century, Johann Sebastian Bach developed several of these pieces as he served the final chapter of his career as the Cantor for St Thomas's music school in Liepzig. It was a tiresome period for the composer in his throng of duties at the school, but he still managed to find time to write this, some of his most acclaimed work. Nearly three centuries later, young European composer Piotr Anderszewski has elected to take on the challenge of recording these partitas. It is a significant feat, because along with the intensity of the suites comes a storied tale of the difficulty in performing them. It had always been said that any pianist who mastered these pieces would easily find themselves among the greats. It appears as if this disc is ample proof that someone has. From Virgin Classics (www.virginclassics.com). -Lance Walker

Nigel Kennedy

Nigel Kennedy's Greatest Hits

A classical music pop star with an uninhibited persona, violinist Nigel Kennedy is famous for stretching the boundaries of classical music. He has been portrayed as the "wild man" of classical music. Kennedy's genre-defying music has a distinct sound. The music on this CD captures a wide range of Kennedy's recordings. As a bonus, Kennedy's Greatest Hits CD includes two previously unreleased tracks both composed by J.S. Bach. From EMI Records Ltd. (www.emiclassics.com). More info: www.nigelkennedy.com or www.angelrecords.com. -AR

Europa Galante . Fabio Biondi

Vivaldi: Concerti per Mandolini

Europa Galante is an ensemble of musicians led by Italian soloist and music director Fabio Biondi. He has garnered worldwide acclaim for his work, that which includes recordings of composers such as Boccherini, Bach, and Schubert, as well as many lesser-known Italian composers. This is his fifth foray into Vivaldi's material, and the results of the hard work he has engineered with Europe Galante is a gorgeous disc even the pickiest classical music fan will appreciate. Concerti per Mandolini serves as a flawless light mood-setter for both the classiest and the most humble settings. It is unabashed in its intensity but is all the same fitting as a wash of colorful background music. From Virgin Classics (www.virginclassics.com). -LW

Emmanuel Pahud

Telemann Flute Concertos

World-renowned flutist Emmanuel Pahud is one of today's most exciting and outstanding musicians; he is committed to stretching the flute's capabilities thus creating a unique sound. The Berliner Barock Solisten, whose members are current and former members of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, joins Pahud on his latest CD, Telemann Flute Concertos, a compilation of unknown flute concertos by Georg Philipp Telemann. From EMI Records Ltd. (www.emiclassics.com). More info: www.berlinerbarocksolisten.com or www.angelrecords.com. -AR