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Show oooo n by Megan ipress me even before I U Vlsiistened to his new album. How, you ask? I'll tell you. The press kit for Happy People is awe some because instead of just trying to sell you on the album, it talks about the musician's life and the artistry behind some cf the songs. If you end up buying this album, try to get the press kit, you'll learn even more. Kenny Garrett plays jazz on his instrument, the alto sax, and he's recorded with jazz legends like Art Blakey, Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis, That, in itself, is pretty amazing, but there's more. Garrett can also boast cf recording with big name musicians like Sting, Feter Gabriel and Bruce Springsteen, as well as rapper GURU. In 1978 Garrett filled a slot on Duke Ellington's orchestra when Duke's son Mercer was running it Do I really need to say anything else? While Garrett has played with some huge musicians, his style strays from that of his predecessors, although he maintains the jazz tradition in Ms own way. The title track of Hippy People really grooves. It's an exceptional combination of a scatting female voice layered over a steady drum beat and bass, and the chorus really has an uplifting feel to it. Tango in 6" comes inspired from Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond's rhythmic experiments, plus it has a vibraphone solo and it's really hard to go wrong with the vibes. The only track that seems out of place with the rest of the album was "Ain't Nothing but the Blues " It doesn't have a blues f eel and the horn parts didn't fit Dut'Song 8" really swings and it takes off from another jazz tune entitled "Cherokee" "Asian Medley" demonstrates Garrett's enthusiasm of different Asian cultures, as well as Asian musical styles. In the last song cf the album he incorporates the traditional Japanese song V walls." Then of the Garrett is an exceptional alio sax player, but his collaboration with the rest cf his band really makes his seventh album jazz. Recorded during the week cf Sept. n, Garrett and his crew managed to create some really beautiful and artistic music during a time of great turmoil and tragedy. ty DAMN FINE SWELL ntm rfSsai MEDIOCRE OOOOO OOOO OOO OO O UGLY "Do-Re-M- i" act that I remembered almost from the first time saw "Phantom" because it struck me as being exceptionally pathetic: "Erik! You are my son. Did you know you are my son?" "Yes, I know I'm your son. I have known for some time." I kid you not. But I'm not being entirely fair. m word-for-wor- CLASSIC ff song from "The Sound of Music," which I'll let slide because even Andrew Lloyd Webber ripped off the tune "Come to Me, Bend to Me" from Lerner and Lowe's "Brigadoon" for his "Phantom of the Opera" Oh, and here's a little ditty from the second "Sakura.1 loWSrei-mag.co- there was the rip-o- My greatest frustration with "Phantom" is not a complete disaster; far from it. Ron Bohmer as the Phantom and Sandra Joseph as his protege, Christine, are very talented singers and actors who managed to extract every morsel of good taste from this show and work it for all its worth. "Phantom" may be campy and clumsy, but Bohmer and Joseph certainly are not. Other standouts include Victoria Mallory as the untalented diva Carlotta and Max Robinson as her doting husband, PTC's the first time I saw Arthur Kopit and Maury Yeston's musical "Phantom" was last summer in Tigard, Ore., performed by the Broadway Rose Theater Company. I hated it. I thought "Phantom" was the most embarrassingly campy musical ever written. The lyrics were atrocious, and the melodies would have been entirely forgettable if they hadn't been so damn annoying. Still, when I took the assignment to review Pioneer Theatre Company's production of "Phantom," I resolved to approach the show with as open a mind as possible. After all, the Broadway Rose Theater Company did not have the high quality performers that PTC possesses, so maybe the material I saw as in would more entertainbe Oregon ing here in Salt Lake City. I was wrong. "Phantom" is worse than I remembered, because it is now painfully obvious that talented performers and sumptuous sets cannot save this musical disaster. Consider this gem of a lyric from the first act:"Paree Paris is a tomb. Paree is a room, with four Tenny Garrett managed to top-quali- Matthes I d Alain Cholet. Mallory is subtle, clever and conniving in a role that is tempting to play "Phantom," though, was the audience's reaction to the show opening night. Every time the couple sitting in front of me started getting cuddly during the mushy parts I wanted to vomit. As for the standing ovation, I'm sorry, but I'm not ass of hauling my the seat unless ALL aspects of the show come as close to perfection as humanly-possible- . The cast and hard-workin- g V 4i. 1 ! over-the-to- and Robinson is his usual charming self, managt t I ing to make a i role out starring 1 1 X. .. i - L. Mm., Mini of what would il Sandra Josef as Christine and Ron Bohmer as the otherwise be considered a bit phantom make the uninspired music more palatable. part. I do have a bone to pick with crew of "Phantom" managed to do a great many things with the weak Rich Cole Casting, though. Why, since this production of "Phantom" material they were given, but I don't think even a film spectacular contains several classical ballet directed by Steven Spielberg and sequences, weren't dancers who cast headed by with a are strong in classical ballet hired? Tom Hanks could change my opinThe dancers I saw certainly were ion about "Phantom." It is a pathettrained dancers, but it was obvious ic excuse for a musical, relying on that classical ballet was not their visual spectacle rather than musistrongest dance style. FYI PTC: just cal substance to entertain its audiup the hill is the University of ence. It is the "Waterworld," 'The Utah's Ballet Department, a buildwith Postman," the "Ishtar" of musical extremely ing overflowing talented ballet dancers, many of theater. PTC's "Phantom." book by Arthur them also singers, who would have been happy to give the ballet secKopit, music and lyrics by Niamey tions of "Phantom" plenty of Yeston, based on the novel The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston authenticity. is looks decided who it that Also, Leroux, at Pioneer Memorial 6. For tickclasto Theatre March dancers have good perform ets call sical ballet and sing show tunes meganred-mag.cosimultaneously? i V. :? star-studde- d 20-Apr- il $81-6961- .. n nn U uu jUdance Salt Lake's ! Jeanne days!!! April 2 Wagner Jewish Community Center 14-2- STUDENTS: jUdatRT 1 if : i U and at: 25 movies in 8 I'i X' - S S H Jewish Film Festival Screenings at: The I.J. St ' U The Eccles Broadcast Center on the University cf Utah Campus i i i available for h no i.itc credit fee. Register for the course a Kilrn Studies 3790 sec 1, Hebrew 4000 or Middle Ean Studies 48M0 sec 3 one-hou- r iRi-tratio- t " K - I I n For more information on titles, times, or for course information click www.hurn.utah.cdu'mec mcccvcnts html then jUdance, call Harris at or Debbie at Darci at 581-529- rjmwrmt Frcter.-Mio- f hiirr.i--r- i Utah: Via': IMK1T l"mRnirr., Kil-7. k.h'.'nnr W.ii'iv r J. wish Cimmunii 1, 581-009- 8 581-927- SihtIm -- IS3.91 ASUt.. Hillr!. L'nitrrf .Irwnh of l.'!.th HED Magazine march 28, 2002 R5 |