There’s a group of young singers so enamored with Jason Robert Brown that they’ve put a tribute show together. Their website, www.JasonRobertBrownSpeakeasy.com, bills it as “Straight up, no banter to water it down, no egos to kill your buzz. Just the good stuff without a drop of regret anywhere to be found.”

Brown’s material fuses pop rock and theatrical lyrics. His songs are known for the complexity of their harmonies and wide vocal ranges. Take four talented singers—Shaleah Adkisson, Adam Enright, Vicky Modica and Curtis Wiley—combined with a great band consisting of Kenney M. Green, Musical Director/arranger, Sharon Fischman (percussion) andh A. Michael Tilford (synthesize)r, and you’ve got quite an impressive bunch! It’s directed by Ian-Julian Williams.

This was one of the few times I was treated to “Stars and the Moon” by a male (Enright), who gave the song a new twist in monologue-sing style. From his musical The Last 5 Years, the quirky “A Summer in Ohio” (Adkisson) with the lyric, “I could get a root canal in hell/But it wouldn’t be as swell as this summer is gonna be!” makes one stand up and take notice. This is not your everyday songwriter. “Brand New You” has good lyrics, a hot rock arrangement and close harmonic structure. The ballad “I’d Give It All for You” is a touching love song.

For JRB enthusiasts, this is a show for you.

Sandi Durell
Cabaret Scenes
April 19, 2010
www.cabaretscenes.org