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Category Archives: Sound Blog

JRB SINGS SONDHEIM

Written on November 21, 2010 at 11:25 pm, by

(Well, not exactly.) This year has been a non-stop celebration of Stephen Sondheim’s 80th birthday, and if you’re like me, the only shame is that it isn’t like that every year. As it is, I’m still luxuriating in the events from Steve’s 75th birthday, and I got to participate in one of those events inRead More »

SOUND BLOG #15: GETTING OUTTAKES

Written on July 21, 2010 at 9:50 pm, by

In the best improvisation, it’s the soloist’s job to navigate the maze between the beginning and the end, with nothing but the most rudimentary map. I’m always amazed to hear improvisers like Fred Hersch, who can find impossibly elegant but unexpected routes through that maze. Thelonious Monk, on the other hand, gives the joyful senseRead More »

SOUND BLOG #14: FUDDY MEERS

Written on February 21, 2010 at 12:09 pm, by

As a followup to my previous sound blog, which was about an ill-fated collaboration with David Lindsay-Abaire, today I’ll focus on one of my collaborations with David that worked out very well indeed. After the original production of Parade closed in New York, I was in parlous financial straits and needed to get out ofRead More »

SOUND BLOG #13: [TITLE WITHHELD ON ADVICE OF COUNSEL]

Written on October 26, 2009 at 4:35 pm, by

In the summer of 2002, I had a meeting with a producer about writing the score for a new musical based on a beloved cartoon character from the 1930’s. In a dénouement that will be no surprise to regular readers of this blog, it didn’t work out as expected. The original rights-holder of this cartoonRead More »

SOUND BLOG #12: THE LOST MUSICAL, Part 3

Written on January 11, 2009 at 8:57 pm, by

[Part 1 can be read here, and Part 2 can be read here. You’re in for a long night.] I was in Philadelphia in May 1996, doing the very first reading of Parade. Every night was spent arranging and rewriting material, and all day was spent rehearsing with Hal and the cast. It was exhilaratingRead More »