CD Review

Tom Michael - Written In The Stars

1. It Might Be You   2. Something's Coming / There's Gotta be Something Better Than This

3. How Deep Is The Ocean  4. Lost In The Stars / Written In The Stars

5. I Can't Be Bothered Now / I Hear Music  6. Home To Myself

7. The Summer Knows / Autumn Leaves  8. Wonder Why / Like Someone In Love

9. This Nearly Was Mine  10. Two For The Road 11. How Can I Be Sure 12. Dialogue

13. Better Than I  14. It's Time

Tom Michael has not disappointed with this follow-up to his first highly commended album, ‘Sailing On’, infusing another mix of standards and contemporary cabaret favourites with his perceptive and personable interpretations.

Tom has springtime in his voice and the delicate way in which, like an April breeze, he uses this sound to animate the lyrics of each song, will lift the spirits of any listener who knows about love, loss and longing. For this is not the springtime of a first, callow youth, rather it is the spring that has survived yet another winter, knows what it is like to live through dark days and emerge into the sunlight.

A fanciful analogy? Judge for yourself when you hear the singer illuminate the Bergmans' ‘It Might Be You’, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ‘This Nearly Was Mine’ (rapidly becoming a Tom Michael trademark song) and John Bucchino’s ‘Better Than I’, all songs sung from the point of view of emerging from the frustrations of the past into realisation of present reality. The singer’s innate vocal blend of optimism tempered by experience succeeds in creating in a studio recording that sense of genuineness and authenticity so important in live cabaret performance.

Cabaret also requires intimacy and throughout this album, Tom Michael’s deft handling of his material, honed, no doubt, through hours of practising to ‘sing’ less and say more, lead to a finished product that speaks directly to the audience. In crescendo, the performer stays in control, never over-stating the message, always allowing the meaning to emerge, rather than pushing it to the fore. Tom Michael is a master craftsman of the intimate ballad, a worthy successor to the great balladeers of the past and one who knows how to put his own spin on a composition such as Irving Berlin’s ‘How Deep Is The Ocean?’ yet remain true to the integrity of the original.

During the album Tom is joined on vocals by his Musical Director Beckie Menzie. This is a delicious vocal pairing and one which holds surprises too, for whilst the sweet plangency of their harmonisation in an interesting medley of Weill’s ‘Lost in the Stars’ and Tim Rice and Elton John’s ‘It Was Written in the Stars’ might be just what one might expect, their urgent interpretation of ‘How Can I Be Sure?’ is steely, almost lacerating in comparison.

Credit too must go to the musicians under Ms Menzie’s direction. This album oozes class, from the opening saxophone solo and then on through its consistent, unashamedly acoustic, series of understated accompaniments. The medley of Bernstein’s ‘Something’s Coming’ and Dorothy Fields and Cy Coleman’s ‘There’s Got To Be Something Better Than This’ is just one exciting example of the musicianship on display throughout the CD, especially at the point where the singer performs the lyrics of the latter song over the accompaniment to the former.

Those who love to hear quality songs sung well will love this album. Spring is here. Vive le Printemps!

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