GrooveOut Shorts

by Troy Carrington, Suzie Lynde, Andrea Rodricks, and Lance Walker

Cyndi Lauper

At Last

Before there were countless celebrations of women who rock and high-profile festivals for riot girls, there came a woman who rocked like no other, a confessed unusual girl who was a true riot. One of the top-selling female artists, Cyndi Lauper has sold over 25 million albums. At last, Epic Records has released her eighth album, At Last. Her remarkable voice and talent is let loose on classic standards; however, never one to stay within the lines, Lauper’s new renditions are anything but covers—she brings her own inimitable style and bite to these songs. One of Lauper’s gifts has always been her ability to drive emotions right through us. Legendary producer Russell Titleman obviously understands this, creating a wide platform that is at times as heartfelt and heartbroken as it is wonderfully quirky. The album includes “Stay,” “Walk on By,” “Unchained Melody,” “Till You Come Back to Me,” and “Makin’ Whoopee.” At Last will floor you with emotion and vocal range. This ain’t no “She Bop.” From Epic Records (www.epicrecords.com). More info: www.cyndilauper.com. —Suzie Lynde

Original Broadway Cast Recording

Avenue Q

Featuring memorable show-stopping numbers such as “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist,” “If You Were Gay,” and “The Internet Is for Porn,” Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx (music and lyrics) and Jason Moore (director) have fashioned a Broadway musical for the new millennium. Avenue Q is set on a street in New York City where young people fresh out of college deal with thorny issues such as romance, racism, dating, sex, maxed-out credit cards, finding an apartment, finding a job, and finding themselves. From Victor (www.victor-music.com). —Troy Carrington

Sarah McLachlan

Afterglow

Even if this entire record were a wash, it would be worth it for the song “Drifting.” I can’t say McLachlan is revisiting anything on this record or even breaking new ground with it, but it matters not. Afterglow is another solid collection of drippingly beautiful compositions for this Canadian lass, her first effort in six years and her first foray back into the public eye since the death of her mother and the birth of her daughter. The polar opposite elements of the emotions that went with those changes in her life are reflected in these 10 tracks, which come from the melancholy school of folkish-pop songs kept awake by jingling tambourines and rich, involved assistance by a wealthy contingent of supporting musicians. From Arista Records (www.arista.com). —Lance Walker

Mary Chapin Carpenter

The Essential

Folk-influenced country singer/songwriter Mary Chapin continues to evolve as an artist. She has gained a reputation as a talented crossover artist and has built a successful career by defying the odds. Though she's one of country's finest performers, Carpenter’s folk-rock roots have always made her something of an anomaly. Her style is a combination of country, folk, rock, and blues. Her latest release is a collection of 16 of her best songs. From Columbia/Legacy (www.legacyrecordings.com). More info: www.marychapincarpenter.com. —Andrea Rodricks

Deborah Gibson

Colored Lights

Colored Lights: The Broadway Album is a new CD bridging the gap between two of Gibson’s successful careers: stage actress and recording artist. This collection features songs from shows in which she has starred—including Gypsy (“Let Me Entertain You”), Funny Girl (“I’m the Greatest Star”), Les Miserables (“On My Own”), and Cabaret (“Maybe This Time”)—in addition to newer productions such as Wild Party (“Raise the Roof”), The Boy from Oz (“I’d Rather Leave While I’m in Love”), and Elegies: A Song Cycle (“Anytime I Am There”). Also included is “Sex,” an original composition from Gibson from her upcoming musical Skirts. From Fynsworth Alley (www.fynsworthalley.com). —SL

Leslie Uggams

On My Way to You

On My Way to You: The Songs of Alan & Marilyn Bergman is an exploration of one of the most celebrated lyric-writing teams in popular music from one of the pop and theater world’s most distinctive vocalists, Leslie Uggams. This smooth and sensual recording includes music by Michel Legrand (“The Summer Knows”), Johnny Mandel (“Where Do You Start?”), Sergio Mendes (“So Many Stars”), John Williams (“Moonlight”), Ivan Lins and Victor Martins (“The Island”), and Dave Grusin (“Love Like Ours”). Uggams is currently starring in Thoroughly Modern Millie on Broadway. From Fynsworth Alley (www.fynsworthalley.com). —TC

Reba McEntire

Room to Breathe

It may have taken Reba a little while to reach the top of the country charts, but she has always remained true to her country roots. Her first single on her latest album, “I’m Gonna Take That Mountain,” features a banjo and fiddle with a quick beat that allows Reba to show off her powerful voice and her equally powerful spirit. For the up-tempo songs, Reba drew on a traditional bluegrass, country, and gospel sound. All of her songs on this disc draw you in to moments of reflection. She continues to prove her staying power with this powerful, emotional, wide-ranging album that underscores why she is still the most influential and accomplished female country singer of her generation. From MCA Nashville (www.mca-nashville.com/x.html). More info: www.reba.com. —AR

Nine Rain

Rain of Fire

The pieces on Rain of Fire wander cheerfully through styles and periods, driven by great emotion, experimentation, and a feeling of nuances. Many titles sound like soundtracks for future Tex-Mex westerns; others set the everyday madness of Mexico City to music. In the album’s satirical title song, lead singer Stephen Brown desperately laments about sharks in heaven and the sins of cloud-cuckoo land. In “Lawnmoaner,” he cites the philosophies of the Zapatistas to funk guitars and wide-screen phrases on the brass. Rain of Fire is a cross between punk and artistry, electronics, and world jazz. From Liquid 8 Records & Entertainment (www.liquid8records.com). —SL

George Bugatti

A Night for Romance

Produced by Nigel Wright (American Idol), A Night for Romance features jazz and pop standards, two original songs by George Bugatti, and “Two Shots of Happy, One Shot of Sad,” a song written by Bono of U2, originally intended for Frank Sinatra but given personally to Bugatti for this project. Bugatti and Wright met in Beverly Hills over 10 years ago and have been talking about working together ever since. Wright, who produced the Oscar-winning “You Must Love Me” for Madonna from Evita, has been trying to record Bugatti for the past few years. Bugatti, who made his debut in concert with Tony Bennett a few years earlier, says that “the time was finally Wright,” guffawed by his own bad pun. From Fynsworth Alley (www.fynsworthalley.com). More info: www.georgebugatti.com or www.nigel-wright.com. —TC

Emmanuel Pahud

Ibert / Khachaturian: Flute Concertos

Tonhalle-Orchester, Zürich conducted by David Zinman

With an exclusive EMI recording contract behind him, this is yet another remarkable performance by world-renowned flutist Emmanuel Pahud. The concerto by Khachaturian was originally written for the violin that premiere flutist Jean-Pierre Rampal had to arrange for the flute. The arrangement moves swiftly with the sound of the flute floating over the orchestra. The concerto by Ibert is a dedicated flute piece. The strikingly clear tone of the flute is well balanced with an engaging finale. Pahud’s collaboration with EMI and his immense talent promises to be one of the most significant contributions to recorded flute music today. From EMI Classics (www.emiclassics.com). —AR

DVD

Larry Douglas Embury

Sonic Bloom

A consummate musical entertainer and performer, Larry Douglas Embury has stepped out of his typical element and into the realm of surround sound and accompanying visual effects on this DVD. Developed by Marsall Yaeger, the Kaleidoplex technology creates what he calls “moving mandalas” that sync up with the music and create patterns on the screen that move along precisely with the tempo of the music, slowing down and speeding up as the music dictates. Embury’s piano and organ soundtrack sounds like some sort of otherworldly emporium jukebox, and though the entire thing moves a bit slower than one might initially think, you get pulled into it after a while and everything brings you to the screen just as the creators had planned. From SeeMusicDVD (www.seemusicdvd.com). —LW

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