JANET VILLAS: Something Wonderful

Janet Villas

Something Wonderful

© 2002 Janet Villas (659057326221)

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

SPECIAL: 20% discount if you buy more than one copy of it today!

(About MP3 downloads at CD Baby)

A mix of cabaret, jazz and show tunes in a clean, classical style.

tracks

1 Downtown
2 Much More
3 Everybody Says Don't
4 God Bless The Child
5 When Will I Be Loved
6 Bewitched
7 The Wee Small Hours
8 My Man
9 Maria
10 Not While I'm Around
11 Falling in Love
12 Something Wonderful
13 As Time Goes by
14 Can't Help Lovin Dat Man
15 Summertime
16 O Mio Babbino Caro

notes

Janet Villas, a member of the New York City Opera for 16 years, sings hits from the 60's and 70 's and Broadway shows. This CD contains material from two of her New York Cabaret shows: "But Not for Me" and I Always wanted to be a Fifth Dimension," a funny look at growing up in New Jersey with a big voice and big dreams, (and maybe even big hair...). Janet's style is a mix of 70's rock and a lot of opera lessons in the 80's.

Her clean, crisp vocals combine with creative jazz/theatre piano licks from Mike Tornick and folk/rock bassist Tony Soll.
The music is an eclectic mix of early rock, jazz, blues and even opera.
This CD is the winner of the Stonewall Pride in the Arts award for 2003!

reviews

Please log in to review this album.

  • This artist's vocals are truly "Something Wonderful"; can't stop listenining
    author: Maureen Vitalone

    Five stars; uplifting, powerful; awesome...thank you!!

  • More than aptly named, "Something Wonderful" delivers just that!
    author: Len Rogers StoneWall Society

    More than aptly named, "Something Wonderful" delivers just that! Janet Villas' crisp, clean and powerful mastery of selections is an exciting addition to the sound of today. Proves the adage that classic can be and in this case is original. Villas makes each piece her own. Whether a Broadway/showtune fan or not, Janet Villas brings each song to present day life, and you will be very happy she did. Sixteen classic songs, contemporary rock to show tunes complete Villas' "Something Wonderful". Starting with contemporary classic, "Downtown", Villas provides a fresh feel with professional prowess. The selected material weaves a musical portrait of Janet Villas' talent. A portrait which is compelling, demonstrative, and exemplary! Tongue in cheek humor with Villas' soulful rendition of "Maria" from "West Side Story" are mixed with the classic and superb delivery of "Summertime". "Janet Villas shines with her moving approach to "God Bless The Child", a classic and popular favorite. "Something Wonderful" offers not just a catalogue of expertly executed classic material. Also offered is a fresh and current take on time honored classics. Revitalizing and rejuvenating, this is not your father's Broadway. This is Villas, in form and voice! That listeners is a good thing, a very good thing.

  • "a once-in-a-lifetime thrill"
    author: Mel Buttorff

    HEY, LISTEN TO THIS........ a column of opinions by Mel Buttorff Every now and then a thrill comes into life for each individual. Each person’s thrill depends on his or her own experiences and taste. I recently had a once-in-a-lifetime thrill. Many years ago, (I won’t reveal how many, but plenty) I made the acquaintance of a young soprano with the New York City Opera. She was spending the summer in summer stock musicals, as was I. The first time I heard her open her mouth and release the vocal gold buried in her I was mesmerized. We became good friends and over the years I watched her grow into that magnificent instrument. It fits better now than it did then. I watched her in musical theatre, on the operatic stage and as she took her first tentative steps into cabaret performances. Janet Villas is her name and SOMETHING WONDERFUL is the name of her debut CD. Her choice of music for this premiere performance is perfection. It is a mix of pop standards, theatre classics, old favorites and just a little taste of operatic aria. It is the perfect mix to demonstrate her vocal versatility in the matter of styles and range. Her hearty and full-bodied soprano sound is never tentative or tenuous. She begins with Petula Clark’s opus DOWNTOWN and she builds a locomotive kind of intensity as she moves on through the heart-aching MUCH MORE from the longest running musical ever, THE FANTASTICS. Sondhiem gets her attention and loving care with her staccato belt of EVERYBODY SAYS DON’T. She parades through many others, BEWITCHED, MY MAN, SUMMERTIME and others equally delightful to the music-loving ear, Frequently, when offering one’s opinions in a format such as this, there is a strong temptation to make comparisons. I feel unequipped to do that in this case because there is no one else I can think of to compare her to. She has phrasing of the variety that the late great Peggy Lee had. Her range is comparable to Julie Andrews in her prime. Is she like either of these? No! She is individual and worthy of her own place. Her rendition of MARIA, the Bernstein/Sondhiem hallmark piece from WEST SIDE STORY is poignant and lovely. But while the reverence is still there it is not the lugubrious dirge many have made of it. It is a song of love and beauty. Her light and bouncy rendition of FALLING IN LOVE almost makes one want to skip. It makes you feel happy just listening to it. And if you want to feel passion, listen to her deal with the CD’s title song SOMETHING WONDERFUL from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s revered classic, THE KING AND I. Sports fans may recognize her voice from the many times she has rendered our National Anthem at Madison Square Garden, Shea Stadium and other venues. She is also a highly respected educator in New York City at a private school. As if all that isn’t enough she is also a highly competitive athlete competing in marathons, triathlons, and other sweat-making diversions. She is also, (and I can attest to this personally) quite an accomplished virtuoso in the kitchen. You must add this CD to your collection so that in a few years when she is a mega-star singer you can say you helped discover her. To learn more about Janet and to buy her CD just go on-line to “CDBABY.COM/JANETVILLAS. Don’t waste any time. This was a limited pressing and copies are not going be available forever.

email

Please log in to email this artist.