Audra Mcdonald - Way Back to Paradise
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Free Music Notes for Way Back to Paradise
Free Music Review: Audra's Brilliant Control Does it Again!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
Audra McDonald's masterful use of her voice brings one to tears as they listen to this collection of ballads. Thank the lord for creating this woman. I can't wait to see Marie Christine.Free Music Review: Audra Mcdonald has the best voice!
Hit: 5 Stars
all the songs on this cd very much compliment Audra's voice. She is AWESOME! "that's all I have to say to you!" From You Don't Know This ManFree Music Review: Audra Mcdonald is the Barbara Streisand for the Millenium
Hit: 5 Stars
This cd is the complete most fulfilling part of my collection...Her voice fills me with hope and despair all at the same time.Free Music Review: When Lord, when will Audra McDonald make her foray into opera?
Hit: 5 Stars
She could sing the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List and I'd pay full price.Free Music Review: Excellent for a First Time Recording
Hit: 4 Stars
Audra McDonald took a chance when recording "Way Back To Paradise.recording material written by today's musical theatre composers. A very very brave move for an artist releasing her very first solo album.Audra McDonald is, above all, an actress. When she has material to perform and a character to portray, chills run through your body as you listen to her voice. Singing Jason Robert Brown's "You Don't Know This Man" is especially gripping, as we hear the disdain for the one judging her husband, yet still feeling the inner turmoil at having to defend what could possibly be the truth. She captures the character immediately and the listener is drawn in right away for the entire track.
Not surprisingly, the other track that McDonald soars on is the other Brown tune, "Stars and the Moon." McDonald interprets Brown's music exceptionally well, as though it was written specifically for her voice.
Her take on Guettel's music is often well done, but I fear the particular material she is performing is very difficult to understand and less lyrical, moving more into a modern, more experimental musical theatre. While this is not necessarily a bad direction to go, it seems as though the material is better suited to a full length cast recording, and that the songs don't stand out too much on their own, which makes it difficult for any interpreter to give themselves over to the piece.
There are other great songs, like "Mistress of the Senator," and "Way Back To Paradise," both by Michael John LaChiusa, writer of the new "Marie Christine." And McDonald's take on "Come To Jesus," a song on abortion, is especially well done, with Adam Guettel (he wrote the song) singing the part of the unborn baby.
Audra McDonald is, once again, above all an actress. But she's an exceptional actress who possesses a breath taking voice. If you are interested in a different sound, but a wonderful, truly glorious musical theatre presence, I recommend Audra McDonald's "Way Back To Paradise."