Posted on September 26, 2010 at 3:34 am
I have never felt so lucky or had so much fun in my entire career as I did with this awesome band and the unbelievable Anika Noni Rose in London this week. Two sold-out shows at the Garrick Theatre (which is where I saw my first show in the West End ever, 15 years ago!) with a magnificently enthusiastic audience, all singing along and getting on their feet. When I was a kid and dreamed about being a rock star, I imagined it would feel exactly like this. I can’t thank Neil Eckersley and Paul Spicer enough for bringing us over, providing us with a great crew, and getting the house filled. And a million thank yous to Alastair Lindsey-Renton, who looked after all of us so marvelously and made sure that every detail was taken care of. Rule Britannia!
I am having the best time collaborating with Anika Noni Rose, a wonderful actress and a consummate musician, as sensitive and brave and gifted as anyone I’ve ever worked with. I hope we’ll be doing shows together for a long time; I am blessed to have such an extraordinary partner.
(There’s some irony in the fact that I made my West End debut as a performer before any of my shows have been performed on a West End stage, but what the Hell, we had a good party anyway!)
ACT ONE
Low Morals and High Prices (excerpt from Trumpet of the Swan)
No Way Now
I Could Be In Love With Someone Like You (Wearing Someone Else’s Clothes)
Stars and the Moon (Songs for a New World)
Anika Noni Rose
One More Thing Than I Can Handle
Anika Noni Rose
King of the World (Songs for a New World)
Christmas Lullaby (Songs for a New World)
Anika Noni Rose
I Can Do Better Than That (The Last Five Years)
Anika Noni Rose
Being A Geek (“13”)
There With You
ACT TWO
Nothing In Common (Wearing Someone Else’s Clothes)
When You Say Vegas (Honeymoon In Vegas)
Still Hurting (The Last Five Years)
Anika Noni Rose
I’d Give It All For You (Songs for a New World)
JRB & Anika Noni Rose
The Old Red Hills of Home (Parade)
All Things In Time
Anika Noni Rose
Caravan of Angels
Brand New You (“13”)
JRB & Anika Noni Rose
Moving Too Fast (The Last Five Years)
Encore: Someone To Fall Back On
Piano: Jason Robert Brown
Electric & Acoustic Guitar: Gary Sieger
Electric & Fretless Bass: Randy Landau
Drums: Chuck Sabo
Trumpet: Simon Gardner
Trombone: Pete Beachill
Alto & Tenor Sax: Roger Wilson
Flute, Tenor & Baritone Sax: Phil Todd
Musical contractor: Maurice Cambridge, Accord Music Ltd.
And now, finally, back home! Let’s hear it for the Rainbow Tour, it’s been an incredible success!
10 comments
Great to know you enjoyed the London shows as much as your fans! London fans can get another dose by going to see the Tower Theatre Company production of The Last Five Years at the Courtyard Theatre, Shoreditch, at 7.45pm from 28 Sept to 3 Oct. Tickets at http://www.towertheatre.org.uk/boxo.htm
“When I was a kid and dreamed about being a rock star”
Dude, just be a rock star already!
Honest question – why didn’t you? You clearly have the gift.
Thank you for another night I’ll never forget.
[FROM JRB: Oh, not an interesting story. The end result is that I think I ended up with the best of all worlds. Thanks for coming to the show!]
We traveled down for the Friday night show. It was outstanding. “Her majesty’s brass” was phenomenal. It was amazing to me that not only are you an excellent musician, but also a fantastic performer. A special bonus was spotting Dame Helen Mirren just a few seats down our row!
It was a truly fantastic evening. Come back soon!
[FROM JRB: So glad you came! I suspect that you’re mistaken about Helen Mirren, however – I believe the woman you saw was our dazzling patroness, Hillary Williams, who’s both generous and beautiful, as well as possessed of extraordinary taste!]
Absolutely the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen… and I’ve seen neurosurgery… I doubt anything else in life can top “Moving Too Fast” with brass and drums. Your patience in letting everyone have a photo taken with you afterwards was very much appreciated.
Dude. Phenom. The MT students behind me had multiple seizures and an usher sat with me for your encore and she bit back tears the whole song. Of course, I was too cool for school and waited till I got home to blub onto my iPod. Come again. Soon. Laterz. x
Thank you so much for bringing such an exhillirating, emotional, electric and simply pheonomenal show to the UK. Your music has inspired me so much and seeing you live was thrilling and life changing!! Looking forward to seeing you next time, please come back soon!!!!
p.s. the new song “There With You” was brilliant!!
Hello Jason, You probably don’t remember me but I am friends with Graham Philips and was there hanging with you at the Oceana party in Laguna Beach. Anyways, I am so in love with Wearing Someone Else’s Clothes and have decided to sing Someone to fall back on and Grow old with me for my college auditions and i have been looking all over for an instrumental version of either song and can’t find anything. Is there anyway you could help me out with that? Thank you so much for your time and hopefully will see you sometime in the future!
Brad Barnes
[FROM JRB: Hey Brad: We’re actually working right now on an accompaniment CD of my songs – I’ll post an update on this blog when I know more details!]
Really sorry I was unable to get to see the performances in London but was gigging in sunny Wales. By all accounts it was brilliant, and I am so glad that such a gifted person was afforded the respect he deserves. Love listening to your work now and in the future,
CHEERS
I saw you in London, and it was the best concert experience I have ever had! It was a fantastic night, with amazing music, and I never wanted it to end. When are you coming back? I can’t wait!
(Even my boyfriend, who is not at all a fan of musicals, loved your concert, and wants to see you again!)
And, is a recording of “When you say Vegas” available anywhere?
Thanks again, for a night I will remember for years to come.
Monica
[FROM JRB: Thanks so much for coming to the show, Monica! There’s not a commercial recording of “When You Say Vegas,” but you can see me performing it on YouTube right here.]
I was at the concert for the first performance, my 21st birthday gift to myself, with my Mother who was not familiar with your work at all. My Mother was so impressed, and wants to go see you at Birdland – but she was nowhere near as impressed as I was! The concert was so fun and even better than I expected it to be! Your showmanship is amazing. And when you finally got to “Someone to Fall Back On” as the encore, I cried. It’s my favorite song ever and was amazing live.
Thank you for such an amazing night! I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday present than seeing you perform in London!
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