There doesn't seem to be a week goes by without another release from Broadway Records. Not that I'm complaining - far from it - and it's even more pleasing when a release in their 'series' of Live From 54 Below recordings. This time, it's the excellent Christiane Noll, recorded live in her Gifts cabaret show from the iconic venue.

If you have read my previous reviews in this series (Patti LuPone and Norbert Leo Butz) you will know that 54 Below is on 54th Street in New York, and is a dining club in the best traditions of Times Square. We are lucky that these evenings are being recorded (I understand that more are to be released), and that they feature such quality acts.

Gifts features a very chronological review of Noll's life, and quite a busy one it's been. Noll first came to my attention for her first Broadway role, as Emma in Wildhorn's Jekyll & Hyde in 1997 - the first Broadway musical I saw. Having done a lot of work on the road, Noll has more recently been seen on Broadway as Mother in the 2010 Broadway revival of Ragtime, another performance that I saw, and one that earned her a Tony Nomination, having already won the Helen Hayes award for the role out of town. She was also part of the excellent score / poor show Chaplin: The Musical that I also reviewed recently.

The recording features some great anecdotes, from her childhood, growing up, through to her audition process for her first shows. We are treated to songs from Annie, Jekyll & Hyde and The Sound of Music, as well as some fun numbers, such as 'The Museum Song'. Noll is accompanied nicely on the piano by Musical Director Ross Patterson, and although it works extremely well on some numbers, it would have been nice to have it augmented on occasions, such as the well-executed 'How Lucky Can You Get - Get Happy' medley.

Noll plays it pretty safe on the choice of numbers, but that doesn't mean this isn't an extremely listenable album. There are some standout numbers - 'Waiting for Life' from Once On This Island, and 'Back To Before' from Ragtime being my favourites, although her renditions of 'I Want It All' and 'In His Eyes' are also worthy of a mention. The chat is endearing, and give the album format. Noll delivers all of the set with great skill, and it begs the question of why we haven't heard more of her, certainly in the UK.

Hopefully, this will change, because the world needs to hear more of this wonderful Broadway talent. And Broadway records need to continue releasing more from 54 Below.

9

Ian Gude