Reviews, Articles, Etc.
Reviews, Articles, Etc.
ARTICLES
"He may not be a rock star, but he knows how to write a musical" -- an article about Jason Robert Brown, from the Topeka Capital-Journal
"For Composer, the Songs Never Remain the Same" -- interview with JRB
"Tony Award-winning songwriter to pitch in"
-- article about JRB's visit to a Cincinnati high school that did SFANW
REVIEWS
Russ Thomas' review of the New Line Theatre's production
AMBUSH magazine's review of the True Brew Theatre's production
A New Orleans newspaper's review of
the True Brew production
Listen to the cast of the 3rd National
Les
Miserables tour singing
The
New World for the Les Miscellaneous benefit - L.A. January 17, 2000
The heart-breaking "Stars and the Moon"
from Songs was featured on AudraMcDonald'sacclaimed
debut album Way Back to Paradise.
Also on the album was "You Don't Know This Man" from Parade.
Gramophone's review of the album
The age of the blockbuster musical has all but stifled the art of revue
which, these days, tends to centre on the familiar: an evening with Sondheim,
Porter, Coward and so on. Take your pick. Any project which attempts to
bring new material to this beleaguered format has to be worth a second
listen. In 1995, Jason Robert Brown produced this vibrant collection of
songs off-Broadway, loosely linked by big themes such as arrival and departure,
seminal experiences and life choices, using New York through the ages as
a backdrop. The narrative is lost on this disc but it s still a compelling
patchwork of musical styles and emotions, delivered by a very talented
cast. There are indeed echoes of Sondheim at times, particularly in the
lyrics. But there are also good, modern rock tunes and blues numbers such
as The Steam Train , The River Won't Flow and Stars and the Moon which
has more than a hint of Joni Mitchell or Suzanne Vega. Admirers of fine
pastiche will appreciate the excellent Surubaya-Santa , a Weill-esque take
on married life as seen by Mrs Santa Claus, performed with a neurotic,
throaty Dietrich-like warble by Jessica Molaskey. It s almost too much
to take in at one sitting, but Brown is clearly a lyricist and composer
of some talent, and with so much second-rate material dominating the West
End and Broadway, it's good to see RCA giving his first success a broader
airing.