Victor Trent Cook, the Tony Award-nominated actor from Smokey Joe's Cafe is one of three singers on the new disc from RCA, Three Mo' Tenors, expected in stores July 24. The African-American take on the "three tenors" phenomenon has Cook as one third of a vocal group that includes legit opera and-concert singers Rodrick Dixon and Thomas Young. The eclectic programming on the CD includes Verdi's "La Donna è Mobile," Thread and Moore's "Let the Good Times Roll," Ahrens and Flaherty's "Make Them Hear You" (from Ragtime), "The Jazz Cat"/"Minnie the Moocher," Puccini's "Nessun Dorma!," "Were You There" (traditional), "America the Beautiful," and more.
The recording was made June 12-13 before a live audience at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom. The event was taped for August broadcast on PBS.
Marion J. Caffey conceived and directed the show. Joseph Joubert directs the orchestra and provides most arrangements. A gospel ensemble and The Broadway Inspirational Voices are also heard.
— By Kenneth Jones