On Oct. 5, Jessica Molaskey, Luba Mason and Deborah Tranelli each get a disc from the label that recently released the cast albums of Nine, Assassins and Fiddler on the Roof. The label also embraces cabaret, concert and pop performers singing a range of styles.
Of the ladies, "one effortlessly bridges the worlds of Broadway and jazz; another weaves a bewitching blend of pop, Latin, and folk; the last is a Broadway baby with her heart in traditional pop – but they’re all blessed with talent, passion, and affection for the Great American Songbook," according to the Aug. 24 PS Classics announcement.
"Make Believe" marks Jessica Molaskey's third CD with PS Classics, following her acclaimed "Pentimento" (in 2002) and "A Good Day" (in 2003). This new album, as she puts it in her liner notes, is "42nd Street meets 52nd Street," as she joins guitarist-producer-husband John Pizzarelli (plus a full complement of strings, winds, and brass) "to infuse a dozen Broadway tunes with her own jazzy style and sass," according to the announcement. Pizzarelli produces the disc.
Molaskey's musical theatre credits include A Man of No Importance and Parade for Lincoln Center Theater.
Philip Chaffin, co-founder of PS Classics, told Playbill On Line, "With Jessica, of course, 'Make Believe' is the third CD we've done with her, and it's got all the wit and imagination and intelligence that she brings to all her recordings. I don't want to speak for Jessica, but I suspect that this new album, because it bridges the worlds of Broadway and jazz that she juggles in her own life, is especially dear to her." With "Collage," Broadway vocalist Luba Mason (How to Succeed, The Capeman, Jekyll & Hyde – and The Ten Commandments in Los Angeles) "takes on pop classics from George Harrison to Neil Diamond to Van Morrison, in an exciting blend of Latin, pop, jazz, theatre, and folk." Guest vocalist Ruben Blades will be heard on the disc, which is produced by Jeffrey Lesser.
"A Lot of Livin'," the first solo CD for Deborah Tranelli, promises "a vivid mix of theatre and pop songs," with selections ranging from standards by Kern, Rodgers and Arlen to rarities by Stephen Schwartz and John Bucchino. Paul Rolnick produces. Tranelli is best-known for her 10 year stint on the hit TV series "Dallas," but also has a long career in theatres and on concert stages across the country.
"While Jessica's CD was underway, it was our good fortune to be working on solo albums with Luba and Deborah, two other ladies who bring extraordinary musicianship and intelligence to their work," Chaffin said. "It seemed natural to release all three CDs simultaneously. Jessica's veers more towards jazz, Luba's towards pop, Deborah's towards traditional pop. We're proud to have them all on our label, and we're also grateful that they let us show the range of styles and material that PS Classics embraces in celebrating popular song."
For more information, visit psclassics.com.
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Broadway and pop divas are not new to PS Classics. Other "Ladies of PS Classics" include Christine Andreas ("Here's to the Ladies"), Lauren Kennedy ("Songs of Jason Robert Brown"), Rebecca Luker ("Leaving Home") and Jane Olivor ("Safe Return").
