Cabaret Scenes CD Review

Life has always been a cabaret for Jamie deRoy. This is most evident on her brand new collection of personal favorites, Wish on the Moon (Harbinger Records.) Ask anybody who knows her. This multi-tasking glitzy lady has been wishing on that moon a long time. And, she has a lot to say. Surely, she was stung by the show biz bug at birth. That sting is still swelling as fast as the capricious quips. The singer/comic is involved in everything from cabaret, comedy, films and her long-running cable show, to record and Broadway producing, just for starters. Few people have worn as many hats as Jamie deRoy. But her first love is still cabaret, the milieu she always comes back to. So, it makes perfect sense that she release an album of her favorite songs and parodies. Of the twelve tracks, half are new, half previously released. All in all, it makes for an easy listen from a pro who knows her strengths and has a way with warm, warped and warbled words with a splash of melancholia. It’s her most personal album and reveals a lot about this silver-foxy, one-of-a-kind dame.

On one of the album’s best cuts, she croons Julie Gold’s tender “The House on Maple Hill.” Sung with heartfelt pining, the song strikes a personal chord, making it a standout. The same can be said for her own simple and sincere “Daddy’s Girl,” where she gets a credit for words and music (along with Lanny Myers and Jane R. Snyder). This poignant ode not only reflects affection for her father, but for homespun family values. But on riotous cuts like David Buskin’s hysterical tsuris, “Jews Don’t Camp” and Barry Kleinbort’s riotous parody on aging, “Sixty Going on Seventy” (Rodgers & Hammerstein), she pulls out the stops on two ridiculously funny songs that laugh at the absurdities of life. Larry Gatlin’s heart-tugging hit, “I’ve Done Enough Dyin’ Today,” is a surprise country ditty that deRoy pulls off with flair.

To her credit, deRoy has never tried to pass herself off as a very serious singer, opting instead to go for jugular zingers on the comedy trail. And, like on American Idol, there are a few pitchy moments here. However, in spite of overcoming serious throat surgery years ago, she sings with confidence and heart, proving she can nail a song and hit her mark.

Assorted previous CDs by deRoy have been compilations where she has generously promoted many of cabaret’s finest talents over the years, with Jamie contributing one or two solos or duets. Few people have supported cabaret the way deRoy has through her ongoing series of shows, Jamie deRoy & friends, which is celebrating its twentieth anniversary. And, cabaret has benefited from her own philanthropic endeavors and support as well.

She has had the good fortune to surround herself with top-notch collaborators and teams who have enhanced her CDs and put together many fun-filled evenings and various projects, starting with longtime multi-award award winning artistic director Barry Kleinbort. On Wish on the Moon, producers Lanny Meyers and Paul Rolnick have deftly turned out a classy product that also includes deRoy dueting with multi-award winning singers Scott Coulter and Lennie Watts separately. Not enough can be said about the great arrangements and musicians here.

In additon to those previously mentioned, the impressive lineup of songwriters also includes Alan & Marilyn Bergman, Michel Legrand, Larry Gatlin, Shelly Markham (who wrote the music for terrific title cut), Barry Manilow, Marty Panzer and Kenny Loggins. With such an illustrious team on board, she can’t miss making the album a winner.

John Hoglund
Cabaret Scenes
June 2011
www.cabaretscenes.org



	Jamie deRoy Wish on the Moon Harbinger Records
Life has always been a cabaret for Jamie deRoy. This is most evident on her brand new collection of personal favorites, Wish on the Moon (Harbinger Records.) Ask anybody who knows her. This multi-tasking glitzy lady has been wishing on that moon a long time. And, she has a lot to say. Surely, she was stung by the show biz bug at birth. That sting is still swelling as fast as the capricious quips. The singer/comic is involved in everything from cabaret, comedy, films and her long-running cable show, to record and Broadway producing, just for starters. Few people have worn as many hats as Jamie deRoy. But her first love is still cabaret, the milieu she always comes back to. So, it makes perfect sense that she release an album of her favorite songs and parodies. Of the twelve tracks, half are new, half previously released. All in all, it makes for an easy listen from a pro who knows her strengths and has a way with warm, warped and warbled words with a splash of melancholia. It’s her most personal album and reveals a lot about this silver-foxy, one-of-a-kind dame. On one of the album’s best cuts, she croons Julie Gold’s tender “The House on Maple Hill.” Sung with heartfelt pining, the song strikes a personal chord, making it a standout. The same can be said for her own simple and sincere “Daddy’s Girl,” where she gets a credit for words and music (along with Lanny Myers and Jane R. Snyder). This poignant ode not only reflects affection for her father, but for homespun family values. But on riotous cuts like David Buskin’s hysterical tsuris, “Jews Don’t Camp” and Barry Kleinbort’s riotous parody on aging, “Sixty Going on Seventy” (Rodgers & Hammerstein), she pulls out the stops on two ridiculously funny songs that laugh at the absurdities of life. Larry Gatlin’s heart-tugging hit, “I’ve Done Enough Dyin’ Today,” is a surprise country ditty that deRoy pulls off with flair. To her credit, deRoy has never tried to pass herself off as a very serious singer, opting instead to go for jugular zingers on the comedy trail. And, like on American Idol, there are a few pitchy moments here. However, in spite of overcoming serious throat surgery years ago, she sings with confidence and heart, proving she can nail a song and hit her mark. Assorted previous CDs by deRoy have been compilations where she has generously promoted many of cabaret’s finest talents over the years, with Jamie contributing one or two solos or duets. Few people have supported cabaret the way deRoy has through her ongoing series of shows, Jamie deRoy & friends, which is celebrating its twentieth anniversary. And, cabaret has benefited from her own philanthropic endeavors and support as well. She has had the good fortune to surround herself with top-notch collaborators and teams who have enhanced her CDs and put together many fun-filled evenings and various projects, starting with longtime multi-award award winning artistic director Barry Kleinbort. On Wish on the Moon, producers Lanny Meyers and Paul Rolnick have deftly turned out a classy product that also includes deRoy dueting with multi-award winning singers Scott Coulter and Lennie Watts separately. Not enough can be said about the great arrangements and musicians here. In additon to those previously mentioned, the impressive lineup of songwriters also includes Alan & Marilyn Bergman, Michel Legrand, Larry Gatlin, Shelly Markham (who wrote the music for terrific title cut), Barry Manilow, Marty Panzer and Kenny Loggins. With such an illustrious team on board, she can’t miss making the album a winner. John Hoglund Cabaret Scenes June 2011 www.cabaretscenes.org