Award-winning
Jamie deRoy
, an active performer in variety shows,
musical comedy
, and on TV in the New York City area, has released her second album paying homage to the joys, hopes, and tribulations (mostly joys) of growing up.
DeRoy
appears on only one track, leaving the performing to "friends" who work with her on TV. Childhood pictures of the friends, along with vignettes from their early youth, are in the liner notes. The tunes run the gamut from children's songs like
"The House at Pooh Corner"
and
"Daddy's Girl"
to
Tin Pan Alley
tunes like
"Pure Imagination"
to musical adaptations of
nursery tales
such as
"Wynken, Blynken & Nod."
The common thread is that they can be related to childhood events or phases. The performances and arrangements are light, gentle, and airy. There is nothing heavy on this album, including the voices of the singers. Soloists and groups sing in that nursery rhyme manner, which is designed not to alarm, but be pleasant to the ears of younger listeners who will be a major audience for this album. Some of the cuter performances include
"The Ugly Duckling"
"Come on Snow,"
sung by
Faith Prince
Craig Carnelia
, respectively. In addition to members of the younger set, this album may appeal to devotees of the art of
cabaret
. ~ Dave Nathan