We are really being spoiled at the moment by Broadway Records, with their seemingly never-ending catalog of cabaret releases. I have reviewed several of their series Live From 54 Below over the past months, and this time it's the turn of a recording from slightly warmer climes - Total Faith - Faith Prince Live From The Royal Room at The Colony (in Florida if you don't know).

Prince will be well known to many Broadway fans. She won the Tony award for her portrayal of Miss Adelaide in the 1992 revival of Guys and Dolls on Broadway, and received Tony nominations for her performances in Bells Are Ringing and A Catered Affair. She started her Broadway career as Ellen Greene's replacement in The Little Shop of Horrors, and songs from these shows are featured on this recording.

It's certainly a well thought out recording, with a good selection of varied music, and songs you don't expect to hear. It's always good to hear new ideas, especially when they are as well executed as they are here. The performances are backed by a duo of piano and bass, and here's my first criticism. These songs cry out for a bigger band, and whilst I understand that the recording is true to the live evenings entertainment, it would have been good to augment the sound for the recording. The chat was natural, interesting, and unforced.

Highlights are many. It was great to hear songs from A Catered Affair which is a wonderful score, and Starting Here, Starting Now - and they were possibly my favourites. The other highlight was the wonderful Carol Hall number 'Tattooed Boy from Memphis'. I also enjoyed her rendition of numbers from Little Shop of Horrors, but here is my second (and last) criticism If you are going to pick numbers that are duets, then have a guest with you. Don't give the other part to your pianist to sing, who can hardly hold a tune. Nuff said.

All in all a great recording of an enjoyable evening.

9

Ian Gude