JESSICA MOLASKEY - Make Believe (2004) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Veteran Broadway actress Jessica Molaskey's third CD for PS Classics is a mix of favorites from musicals and standards from the Great American Songbook, though many of these compositions have not been recorded much at all for quite some time. Backed by a band that includes husband John Pizzarelli on guitar along with her guitarist father-in-law Bucky Pizzarelli, trombonist John Mosca, tenor saxophonist Harry Allen, and a number of superb New York-based musicians, Molaskey's acting skills come across even though the listener can't see her perform these timeless tunes. She sounds young and flirty in "I Cain't Say No" (from Oklahoma!) in a superb orchestration by John Clayton, while restoring the often omitted verse. She soars in the stunning strings and piano arrangement of "Make Believe." But one of the assets of Molaskey's choice of songs is rediscovering overlooked gems like "Stepsisters' Lament," making the most of its hilarious lyrics in a rapid-fire rendition. A very welcome guest is singer Adam Guettel (Richard Rodgers' grandson) in the warm duet of Rodgers' melancholy "Glad to Be Unhappy" with a brilliant orchestration by Don Sebesky. Husband John Pizzarelli sings with his wife in the humorous interwoven medley of Jon Hendricks' bop classic "Cloudburst" and Stephen Sondheim's "Getting Married Today," a real laugh riot arranged by Jason Robert Brown. Molaskey jointly wrote the bittersweet ballad "Cradle and All" with Ricky Ian Gordon, which features another fine orchestration by Sebesky. The only thing better than listening to this outstanding CD is getting to hear Jessica Molaskey perform in person.  by Ken Dryden 
Tracklist:
1 I Cain't Say No
Arranged By – John Clayton
Orchestrated By – John Clayton
Written-By – Rodgers & Hammerstein
2 Guys And Dolls
Arranged By – John Clayton
Orchestrated By – John Clayton
Written-By – Frank Loesser
3 Make Believe
Arranged By – Larry Goldings
Orchestrated By – Don Sebesky
Written By – Hammerstein-Kern
4 Stepsisters' Lament
Arranged By, Orchestrated By – Don Sebesky
Written-By – Rodgers & Hammerstein
5 Glad To Be Happy
Arranged By, Orchestrated By – Don Sebesky
Written-By – Rodgers & Hart
6 Hey, Look Me Over, [With A Touch Of] Big Spender
Written-By – Carolyn Leigh, Cy Coleman, Dorothy Fields
7 So Many People
Written-By – Stephen Sondheim
8 Medley
Orchestrated By – Don Sebesky
8a Cloudburst
Written-By – Jon Hendricks
8b Getting Married Today
Written-By – Stephen Sondheim
9 Growing Pains
Written-By – Arthur Schwartz, Dorothy Fields
10 All That Jazz
Arranged By, Orchestrated By – John Clayton
Written-By – Kander And Ebb
11 Right As The Rain
Written-By – E.Y. Harburg, Harold Arlen
12 You're A Builder Upper
Written-By – E.Y. Harburg, Harold Arlen, Ira Gershwin
13 Cradle And All
Orchestrated By – Don Sebesky
Written-By – Jessica Molaskey, Ricky Ian Gordon
14 Goodnight My Someone
Written-By – Meredith Willson
Credits
Alto Saxophone – Andy Fusco
Baritone Saxophone – Ken Berger
Bass – Martin Pizzarelli
Cello – Clay Ruede
Drums – Tony Tedesco
Flute – Pam Sklar, Shelley Woodworth
Guitar – Bucky Pizzarelli, John Pizzarelli (tracks: 9)
Lead Vocals, Liner Notes – Jessica Molaskey
Piano – Larry Goldings (tracks: 3, 7, 11, 14), Lee Musiker, Ray Kennedy (tracks: 6, 8)
Producer – John Pizzarelli
Tenor Saxophone – Harry Allen
Trombone – John Mosca
Trumpet – "Bud" Burridge, Tony Kadleck
Viola – Conway Kuo
Violin – Antoine Silverman, Paul Woodiel
Vocals – Adam Guettel (tracks: 5), John Pizzarelli (tracks: 8)