Broadway Classics
Good ole Judy Blue Eyes has been with us musically almost as long asArethaandBarbra, though with less regularity and luster. A few years prior to this 1999 recording, she obviously went through some sort of vocal crisis and sounded like hell for a while. But she appears, at least on the basis of this release, to have gone through vocal rehab and come out ahead. It's nice to have her back.To be sure, there are some problems: On "I Can't Get Started," her pitch varies wildly at times, and elsewhere her pure, white, vibratoless, boyish tone can make you a little crazy--take the words "face" and "begin" on "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face" for example. In addition, she sounds purposefully detached to a point of catatonia a lot--but, heavens, she makes pretty sounds! She actually sings "Don't Cry for Me..." and makes you not want to throw something, and "Embraceable You" and "My Funny Valentine" are gorgeous. "Younger Than Springtime" is dull, dull, dull, but her famous "Send in the Clowns" is better and better. Jonathan Tunick's arrangements are properly wispy--lots of harp for this soft, sweet singing. Did you like Willie Nelson'sStardustalbum? Then you'll like this too.--Robert Levine