Wonderful Town

Leonard Bernstein created three masterworks for Broadway that were set in New York City. WEST SIDE STORY, ON THE TOWN and WONDERFUL TOWN. This first complete recording of WONDERFUL TOWN joins the already acclaimed first complete recordings from JAY of WEST SIDE STORY (CDJAY2 1261) and ON THE TOWN (CDJAY2 1231).Like the other masterworks, WONDERFUL TOWN is brimmed full with the joys and vigours of Bernstein's youth, it being the first Broadway musical that Bernstein wrote when he was just a young man in his twenties. Hit and fun songs are in great evidence and the song OHIO is recognised as the great anthem to middle America. His obvious wacky sense of humour and love of jazz are perfectly captured by such songs as THE WRONG NOTE RAG and SWING. Beautiful songs are not forgotten either as demonstrated by IT'S LOVE and A LITTLE BIT IN LOVE. OHIO, IT'S LOVE and A LITTLE BIT IN LOVE have been extensively recorded by practically every recording artists since the 50s.Three of Broadway greatest talents have been cast for this All Star Cast recording: REBECCA LUKER (currently appearing on Broadway in THE SOUND OF MUSIC), KAREN MASON (Norma on Broadway in SUNSET BOULEVARD) and RON RAINES (Alan Spaulding in TV's GUIDING LIGHT) as well as other featured stars from Broadway, GREGG EDELMAN (Tony norminated for 1776) and DON STEPHENSON (current star of TITANIC).The recording is made with JAY's award winning team, conductor JOHN OWEN EDWARDS (currently enjoying great acclaim musical directing the Royal National Theatre's smash hit production of OKLAHOMA!), the wonderful National Symphony Orchestra and producer John Yap. As with all the other JAY Original Masterworks series, this was recorded at the famed Abbey Road Studios in London.