I've made it no secret in the past - I am a big fan of new-composer collections of songs, and I'm also a huge supporter of Broadway Records, who continue to put out some of the best new releases for Theatre-related listeners like myself. So I was pretty excited to receive their latest release - Where the Sky Ends: The Songs of Michael Mott

Hailing from Upstate New York, Mott has lived and worked in New York City for the past seven years. His original musicals, Faustus and Mob Wife, have received several industry readings, including a 29 hour AEA reading of Mob Wife produced by Tony Award® winning Broadway producer, Carolyn Miller. An electrifying performer, Mott has played to sold out crowds in concerts throughout Manhattan and across the country. He is currently a composer in residence at the prestigious BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop where he is developing a brand new original musical, The Hellfire Club.

Where The Sky Ends features performances by some of Broadway, film and television’s most recognized talents. Singers include Drama Desk Award winner Sierra Boggess (The Phantom of the Opera and The Little Mermaid), Bryan Terrell Clark (Motown and Tyler Perry's House of Payne on TBS), Ben Fankhauser (Newsies), Justin Guarini (runner-up on the debut season of FOX's American Idol, Wicked), Tony Award nominee Jeremy Jordan (NBC's Smash, Newsies), Zachary Levi (NBC's Chuck, Disney's Tangled and First Date), Tony Award nominee Orfeh (solo pop/ R&B artist, Legally Blonde), Tony Award nominee, Laura Osnes (Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Bonnie & Clyde), Jacqueline Petroccia (Carousel, Sweeney Todd) and Tony Award® nominee Josh Young (Jesus Christ Superstar). Certainly an impressive 'cast' list for this album.

The album's production is up to Broadway Records usual high standard, and the arrangements are done by one of my favourite arrangers and orchestrators, Kim Scharnberg, who was responsible (amongst many other things) for the original Jekyll & Hyde orchestrations for Frank Wildhorn's masterpiece.

The material itself, for me, is mixed. You will find something you love here, something you don't like, and much that is ok - well, I certainly did. The album's strongest tracks are its first three, and the last, which is sung by Mott himself. The opener is certainly a grabber, and makes you want to listen more, aided much by Sharnberg's great orchestration, as is the second number, which could have graced any Sinatra recording. Sierra Boggess eats up 'The Devil' with much ease, and it's probably my favourite track on the album. 'Sky', sung by Mott, is another great track - there's always something appealing about songwriters singing their own material.

The rest, for me, were 'also rans' - and at times, such as with Laura Osnes and Jeremy Jordan, I felt their amazing talents needed better material. Still, an enjoyable listen, and I certainly think Mott is one to watch out for in future.

7

Ian Gude