Rufus Does Judy At Carnegie Hall

Performer: Rufus Wainwright
Engineer: BJ Ramone; Frank Filipetti; Nick Banns; John Harris; Peter Gary; Kevin Porter; Missy Webb...
Producer: Phil Ramone...
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Personnel: Bucky Pizzarelli (guitar); Vincent Della Rocca (saxophone); John Oddo (piano); Richard Sarpola (bass guitar); James Saporito (drums). Additional personnel: Kate McGarrigle, Lorna Luft , Martha Wainwright. Rufus Wainwright has never been afraid of the extravagant gesture, so in the summer of 2006, the singer-songwriter booked a special engagement at Carnegie Hall, complete with a full orchestra and special guests, for the express purpose of recreating Judy Garland's iconic 1961 comeback album, JUDY AT CARNEGIE HALL, in its entirety. Although in both graphic design and Wainwright's choice of outfits for the concert (as seen on the DVD RUFUS! RUFUS! RUFUS! DOES JUDY! JUDY! JUDY!, available separately), care was taken to evoke the overall look and feel of Garland's original concert, Wainwright smartly avoids trying to sound like Garland. Still, his semi-operatic vocal style is a perfect vehicle for these classic pre-rock Tin Pan Alley and Broadway songs. Guests include sister Martha Wainwright, mother Kate McGarrigle, and on a lovely version of "After You've Gone," Garland's youngest daughter Lorna Luft.

Rolling Stone (p.132) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "[I]t's a relief to hear him essay the show tunes and Tin Pan Alley chestnuts of this tribute album..." Entertainment Weekly (p.131) - "His delicate upper range is nicely attuned to some of the ballads..." Mojo (Publisher) (p.98) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "The material is cabaret deluxe....The emotions go deeper than if it had been a mere vanity project..." Harp (magazine) (p.94) - "[H]is muscular voice and sharp performance skills pull off a moving tribute to what was considered Garland's finest performance." The Word (magazine) (p.105) - "He proves himself the best kind of fan: witty, erudite, affectionate and exacting..."

Although Rufus Wainwright is the son of singer-songwriters Loudon Wainwright and Kate McGarrigle, since the 1990s he has firmly established his own musical presence. Though he's an introspective troubadour, he looks back beyond the folk and rock influences of his parents to the golden age of pop songwriting � la Cole Porter and the Gershwins. His keening, diva-manqu� vocals and elegantly melodic compositions are as far from "rock" as any pop-based music can be. If he has any antecedents in the pop world, they would be similarly quirky L.A. songwriters of a previous era such as Van Dyke Parks (who co-produced Wainwright's debut album) and Randy Newman. His open homosexuality has endeared him to many in the gay community.

Shipping or Dimension weight in pounds: 0.3

Shipping Options and Policies