CD REVIEW: KATE BALDWIN/LET’S SEE WHAT HAPPENS

This is the first solo recording from recently anointed Broadway star Kate Baldwin of the recent, sadly departed revival of Finian’s Rainbow, and it is a treasure. All of the cuts on this album were either musically or lyrically co-created by Broadway legends Burton Lane or E. Y. ("Yip") Harburg, working with a host of other collaborators and they are gems all, illustrating what was some of the very best theatre (and film musical) writing we have ever known. The terrific orchestrations were created by a glittering assemblage of mostly well-known arrangers/conducters, among them Rob Berman and the marvelous Jonathan Tunick, with his aptly-titled “Broadway Moonlighters” orchestra. It is a tribute to Ms. Baldwin that all of these varied ingredients, which could have thrown the balance out-of-whack, gel so perfectly around her assured central presence.

And what a pleasant presence it is! She has the lilting voice of a  seasoned leading lady with just enough character actress thrown in to command the attention of her listeners and entrance them thoroughly. There really isn’t a dissapointing track in this entire collection so it’s difficult to single out any one in particular for mention. Instead, I’ll firstly list the tunes you may be more familiar with which include “Come BackTo Me” (a spectacular Tunick arrangement) and “He Wasn’t You” (both from the glorious score of On A Clear Day You Can See Forever) and, quite naturally, “How are Things in Glocca Morra” (Finian’s Rainbow, the most famous of the Lane/Harburg collaborations). Other of their joint  ventures represented here include songs from Darling of the Day (1968, the musical that landed fabulous British actress Patricia Routledge ("Keeping Up Appearances") a Tony for lead actress in a musical, as well as Ship Ahoy (1942) and the touching simplicity of “Where Have I Have Seen Your Face Before?”  Other songs here represent Lane and/or Harburg’s exquisite ventures with incredibe artists as diverse as Ralph Freed, Frank Loesser, Sammy Fain, Dorothy Fields, Harold Arlen and Vernon Duke! Good Heavens, what a treasure trove of talent! And throughout, Ms. Baldwin gives each the careful, loving treatment they so rightly deserve. What more can I say? This album is a must-have addition to your collection.