Dress Of Dawn

Get Fancy Magazine February 2001 Volume 2 Issue 1
by Melyssa A. Harmon
... pegging Joan's style is almost impossible. Start to finish, this cd is entrancing, enchanting soundscape thus the amazing appeal.

Product Description
In the songwriting tradition of Laura Nyro, early Elton John, Carol King.......pianist, composer, vocalist Joan Bujacich gives her audience a very eclectic CD of original music with "Dress of Dawn".

Joan's fine piano playing is heard throughout the recording and the rhythm section (drums,bass & guitars) are joined on many tracks by cello, violin, percussion, trumpet,and a full boogie down horn section on "Step Out Of The Blue".(You really get your money's worth!)

This CD ranges in diversity from the title cut "Dress of Dawn", where there is a more complex harmonic background in a chamber/pop style, to the more whimsical simplicity of "Lovely Face". Joan's vocal style has been compared to K.D. Lang on the easy listening tune "Don't Say a Word" to Kate Bush on the fun pop tune "Lovely Face". Wonderful performances by New York's finest musicians add to the beauty of this recording. "Let It Dance" has a haunting instrumental in a Brazilian Jazz Style with flugel horn played by Ken Fradley before the sultry vocal begins. Though the styles of songs are diverse Joan's signature is evident throughout the writing. This CD is for the more musical and adventurous listener. There is a lot to listen to and it gets better with each play, like fine wine.

John Hammel WNTI- "Diverse , eclectic, employing different vocal techniques/personas from Kate Bush to Joni Mitchell with beautiful melodies in the tradition of Brian Wilson........... ...........powerful horn work, zen like lyrics leaving a lot to the listener's imagination"

Mark Blaustein WVRM- "Terrific.... reminiscent of Sondheim....Beautiful"

Dress Of Dawn

Dress Of Dawn,Joan Bujacich,Joan Bujacich,Intiguing and haunting arrangements, featuring piano and jazz like vocals in contemporary light rock grooves.

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Average customer rating: No Regrets, No Mistakes Superb Sophmore Set By far her best effort yet A Fine Rehearsal Very Cool sophmore effort

Dress Rehearsal Carolyn Dawn Johnson Manufacturer: Sony / Bmg Import ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Country | Styles | Music General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Country | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Room With a View Katrina Elam Love & Negotiation Complete Where I Belong ASIN: B0001VOHFC Release Date: 2007-01-08

Tracks:

1. Dress Rehearsal
2. He's Mine
3. Simple Life
4. Die Of A Broken Heart
5. We Talked
6. God Dosen't Make Mistakes
7. Squeezin' The Love Outta You
8. Head Over High Heels
9. My Little Secret
10. Just Another Plane
11. Life As We Know It
12. I'll Let You Go

Amazon.com

Carolyn Dawn Johnson's sophomore effort proves just what the young Canadian learned the first time out. Where her debut, Room with a View, spawned the pop-ish hit records "Complicated" and "I Don't Want You to Go," it was an uneven effort that too obviously revealed her tentativeness as she made her way from songwriter to artist. Dress Rehearsal, on the other hand, presents a far more mature performer and artful writer. Johnson still maintains what made her special in the first place--her Everywoman approach to life, love, and the pursuit of romantic (now wedded) bliss. As "Simple Life" and "God Doesn't Make Mistakes" show, she's just as insecure as the rest of us, if only more poetic. Thankfully, über-producer Dan Huff restrains himself here, managing to incorporate hyperventilating rock guitar and aggressive percussion without losing a modern country feel, though Johnson might do well to loosen up even more on her beguiling rhythm numbers, particularly "My Little Secret," which reprises the barely contained lust of "Complicated." A pretty face and a winsome personality go a long way, but who wouldn't like to know more about the animal side of those hidden desires? --Alanna Nash

Customer Reviews:

No Regrets, No Mistakes.......2007-03-23

As the title track exclaims: "Life doesn't wait for us to get it right..I'm going to do my best to make the most of it, avoid regrets..." This multiple award winner from Canada showcases her well-known songwriting ability and excellent voice in this CD, which was co-produced by her as well. I understand her unifying theme to be "enjoy life while you've still got it," and this disk does that well. She didn't write the single "Simple Life," as others have observed, but it fits the overall theme perfectly. "He's Mine" is passionate, a strong song that sounds like a hit. The title track has clever lyrics and would have been a good single also. I look for life-changing songs, and this CD delivers. "We Talked," "God Doesn't Make Mistakes," and "I'll Let You Go" are tender and heartfelt, songs that will affect you.

On this CD, CDJ sounds like a confident veteran; evidently her years of hard work in Nashville paid off. This former Music Row Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year displays not only excellent writing but emotional depth as well. She sounds best while singing about real life; emotions, joy, and pain. My one criticsm/observation is that it feels overproduced at times, much like Faith or Shania for better and worse. Thank You to Amazon for recommending this; their recommendations based on purchases or reviews are right on the money. I eagerly anticipate CDJ's new release later this year. Maybe her new label will enable her to maintain her independence. RECOMMENDED HIGHLY; you won't regret this!

Superb Sophmore Set.......2006-04-05

Carolyn Dawn Johnson's first album was good, but "Dress Rehearsal" is a delight, especially if you like your country with some pop or rock flavor. The album is good when you first listen to it, and thereafter it just continues to grow on the listener. Particularly good are "He's Mine" "Squeezin' the Love Outta You" [delivered with wonderful sass] and "Head Over High Heels" which Carolyn delivers with energy and a playful enthusiasm. Love this disc.

By far her best effort yet.......2005-04-30

Carolyn's first album was okay. To me, it lacked a certain undefinable something that relegated to "just okay" status.

But this one is great. The songs are better, the sound is better, it's just a much more enjoyable album.

Buy it if you like this kind of sound, which is a little pop and a little country and maybe a little folk (oh god! not folk!)(okay, it's not folkish, but the songs have lyrics that are better than the standard country fare, which to me leans toward "folk").

Buy it, you'll like it!

A Fine Rehearsal.......2005-04-18

Prime Cuts: We Talked, God Doesn't Make Mistakes, Just Another Plane

Being the creator of such hits such as "I'd Be Yours" (Linda Davis), "Single White Female" (Chely Wright), "When We Don't Talk" (Ilse DeLange) amongst others, Johnson has parlayed her craft to this her sophomore album "Dress Rehearsal." Save for "Simple Life," Johnson has had a hand in co-writing all of the tracks here. Collaborating with other Nashville writing elite such as Craig Wiseman, Shaye Smith, Charlie Black, Troy Verges, "Dress Rehearsal" is tailored made for radio. It's a polished pop country album offering a cornucopia of songs dealing with topics safely reprised within country music's canon.

Johnson's preference for the rustic life, a theme well explored a la Alan Jackson and Mary Chapin Carpenter, is the thesis of the lead single "Simple Life." "Simple Life" starts off well with an organic feel with some jaunty guitar work but soon gives way to become, in an ironic way, one of Johnson's busiest track. With its tepid melody and suffocating production, "Simple Life" is not my choice for the first single. Much better are "High over High Heels" and "He's Mine"-both peppy, upbeat, pop-country fares that would not be out of place in fellow Canadian vocalist Shania Twain's repertoire.

Living in the aftermath of 9/11 country music, thanks to Tim McGraw, Brad Cotter, Alan Jackson, have been proliferated with songs encouraging us to cherish life and cape diem ("seize the day"). Johnson adds her take on this tired and true theme on the title track "Dress Rehearsal." Without any shove of new insights, nevertheless, Johnson sings home a timely message, "Life doesn't wait for us to get it right... Time is irreversible, this ain't no dress rehearsal."

However, the album's most gratifying moments come when the beat tapers; Johnson's never sounded more sincere than when she sings a ballad. Caressing the lyrics with her mellifluous vocals, Johnson makes the plaintive ballad and current single "Die of a Broken Heart" an event to be experienced. Similarly touching is the therapeutic "We Talked" and the ingratiating "Just Another Plane." The latter, being a little reminiscent of Deana Carter's excellent "People Miss Trains" has a timbre of pain to it that is just moving. Dove tailing Nashville's obsession with songs with inspirational messages, "God Doesn't Make Mistakes" details a homily of self-acceptance that most of us should take to heart. With its restrained guitar backing, Johnson sensitively sings, "I'm ok the way God made me... I'm always gonna be a better me than anyone else. God doesn't make mistake." A track aplomb with relevancy and performed with sensitivity.

However, not all the songs work here. Being too eager to placate the support of country radio, Dann Huff's production is at times too crowded. "Life As We Know It," "Squeezin' the Love out of You," "My Little Secret" (the follow up to Johnson's breakthrough hit "Complicated") are entertaining but forgettable. Maybe, Johnson's also suffering from the second album slum: some of these melodies here are not as strong as her debut effort. Anyway, despite such criticism, there are enough songs here, especially the ballads, that warrant repeated listens to this worthy though not stellar album.

Very Cool sophmore effort.......2005-01-22

Picked up this cd on the day of release as I was very excited for it, beng a huge supporter of her first album. I enjoy this album an awful lot. The lead off single "Simple Life" is just so fun and catchy even though the writing talents of CDJ are not displayed. However another fun tune is "Squeezin The Love Outta You." This one is just a great time. As is "Head over High Heels." I love puttign these tunes on in the car. The title track is an incredibly written tune. CDJ is just a great writer and it shows.
One complaint. Her lyrics are always way above average however, some of them do not neccesarily translate to song. They may be better served as poetry than lyrics. This is nto to say there is a bad song on the album, it is just that some of the feel is not as good as it could be with these weighty lyrics.

Average customer rating: Phenomenal! Incredible Quite an enjoyable CD Don't Walk, run ...run ...run ...to your stores Where did all the decent singers go?

Bright Eyed Joy: The Songs of Ricky Ian Gordon Dawn Upshaw , Todd Ellison , Judy Blazer , Ted Sperling , Kenneth Burward-Hoy , Jesse Levy , Lawrence Feldman , and Darius de Haas Manufacturer: Nonesuch ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Similar Items: Only Heaven: A Musical Work by Ricky Ian Gordon Based on the Poetry of Langston Hughes My Life with Albertine (2003 Original Off-Broadway Cast) Dream True Finding Home - The Songs of Ricky Ian Gordon Myths And Hymns (1998 Off-Broadway Cast, Originally Saturn Returns) ASIN: B000059LY2 Release Date: 2001-04-24

Tracks:

1. Heaven
2. Poor Girl's Ruination/The Dream Keeper
3. A Contemporary
4. Run Away
5. When Sue Wears Red
6. Afternoon On a Hill
7. Love Song For Lucinda
8. Wild Swans
9. I'm Open All Night
10. Souvenir
11. New Moon
12. Resume/Wail/Frustration
13. The Red Dress
14. Dream Variations
15. Song For a Dark Girl
16. Daybreak In Alabama
17. Once I Was
18. Joy

Amazon.com

Along with Michael John LaChiusa and Adam Guettel, Ricky Ian Gordon is one of the Young Turks of New York's musical theater. Like them, Gordon shuns both the accessible pop of a David Yazbek and the bombast of a Frank Wildhorn, preferring instead to write post-Sondheimian art songs. The numbers here (with lyrics by Langston Hughes, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Dorothy Parker, James Agee) span two decades. They are marvelously interpreted by the likes of Audra McDonald, Dawn Upshaw, Darius de Haas, and Judy Blazer. Blazer ambles through "Resumé/Wail/Frustration" with delicious jazz-age wit, while Upshaw once more proves that she's a classical singer with an uncanny flair for the nonclassical repertoire. Note that anyone who's expecting anything resembling a beat is advised to look elsewhere. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

Phenomenal!.......2001-09-27

Ricky Ian Gordon is a very talented composer and poet, and the songs on "Bright Eyed Joy" display his magnificent gifts. There is not a contemporary composer who has his talent of fitting text to music, and the singers on this disc bring his compositions alive. Track 17, "Once I Was," will make you weep!

Incredible.......2001-06-02

This is an incredible CD, from the sparkling orchestrations which are chamber but in the way they are mixed everything dances out at you, to the vocal interpretations which are so innovative for a recording of this type...settings of poetry but sung by regular, albeit, extraordinary regular people (except people like Dawn Upshaw and Audra McDonald who have already established themselves as major vocal artists)so that the songs feel personal. There is about this CD an incredibly meaningful air...moving, magisterial, powerful...straight from "Heaven" to "Joy" Gordon takes us on an inexorable journey through life towards transcendence and he and his brilliant players and performers succeed...Nonesuch does it again...Superb! Kudos all around. Gordon is a REAL composer, with a deep understanding of poetry as well as a fabulous gift for writing words himself!

Quite an enjoyable CD.......2001-05-20

Being a fan of Mr. Gordon's, I couldn't wait until this CD came out. And I was not disappointed. The music is a cross between classical art songs and standard Broadway fare. Perhaps most enjoyable are the tracks sung by Audra McDonald, some of which were previously released on her first solo album, Way Back to Paradise, but which were supplimented with some additional tracks that really suit her dramatic voice and extensive range. Two other highlights include "Afternoon on a Hill", "Souvenir", and "Once I Was", which demostrate clever writing on the part of the composer, as well as true understanding of the texts on the part of the performers...I feel that Mr. Guettel performs well on this disc. It may appear that he does not have the vocal training that others do, however, his interpretive skills as well as his clear understanding of texts and emotions make his tracks poignant, and his voice is quite pleasant. My only complaint would be that Darius De Haas was included on the disc instead of Billy Porter, who I have seen performing these songs live, and quite well. Mr. De Haas is quite adequate, I simply prefer the power and exultation that Mr. Porter displays when he sings the compositions. Overall, however, this is a wonderful inclusion to anyone's collection, especially anyone who is a fan of anyone writing new, sophisticated theatre music.

Don't Walk, run ...run ...run ...to your stores.......2001-05-08

A huge fan of Donald Katz's "Home Fires" in which Mr. Gordan and his family are the central characters in a moving biographical tribute to an American Family, I have followed the story of this talent ever since. What I have to say of this incredible cd is nothing less then INCREDIBLE. Though there are some major comparisons to the likes of Stephan Sondheim, I am sure Mr. Gordan does not mind in the lease, but in the ened, he is all his own. Do not walk to get this cd, run to get it ....run like there is a wild fire following you to your nearest cd store ....If you don't love it, if you aren't moved by every lyric and strong and chord, then all I can say is, your not a real musical theater fanatic.

Where did all the decent singers go?.......2001-05-07

It is such a tragedy that such beautiful music such as this CD is ruined by inadequate singing on behalf of the performers. There is ONE exception to this, of course, and that being Audra McDonald. Darius De Haas and Theresa McCarthy are both excellent musicians in an artistic sense, but they lack any sort of vocal substanance needed to carry off these difficult songs. Unsupported and in need of clarity are how I would describe their performances. Dawn Upshaw must posses some of the most glorious high notes ever to be heard, unfortunately, she swoops and scoops all over the place and manipultes her vowels in such a way as to distract the listener. Since when did this become acceptable? Adam Guettel is not a singer and I never understood why he insists on attempting to sing anyway. I still remember the first time I heard "Come to Jesus" with he and Audra. He paled so much in comparison... In conclusion - if you can stand the singing (which is very hard, I still can't force myself to listen to McCarthy attempt to sing track 4, or maybe 5)then this CD is excellent. Gordon tends to be very elementary in his compostions, so there are many hummable tunes due to his repititious themes. As a fan of art songs and Dawn Upshaw/Audra McDonald, I've been looking forward to this CD. If you are fans of them as well, and don't mind paying [the price] for about 4 good songs, then have a go at this CD!!

Average customer rating:

Dress Rehearsal Carolyn Dawn Johnson Manufacturer: Arista ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000E5E7P0

Product Description

12 songs - Although CD does not have "Enhanced" logo, the back says "Includes Bandlink Softward Connection for Access to Bonus CD Extras."

Average customer rating:

Dress Rehearsal Carolyn Dawn Johnson ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Country | Styles | Music Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Country | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B0007WQE88 Release Date: 2007-05-22

Tracks:

1. Dress Rehearsal
2. He's Mine
3. Simple Life
4. Die of a Broken Heart
5. We Talked
6. God Doesn't Make Mistakes
7. Squeezin' the Love Outta You
8. Head Over High Heels
9. My Little Secret
10. Just Another Plane
11. Life as We Know It
12. I'll Let You Go
13. [CD-ROM Track]

Album Description

Out of print in the U.S.! Sophomore album from the Canadian Country artist, originally released in 2004. 12 tracks including 'He's Mine', 'Simple Life' and the title track.

Average customer rating: Where Has She Been Hiding???

Ten Dollar Dress Manufacturer: Preservation Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Blues | Styles | Music ASIN: B000065OXR Release Date: 2006-03-21

Tracks:

1. Cigarette
2. You Can't Be True
3. Hey Hey
4. Rollin' Joe
5. Latex
6. Shoot the Devil
7. Take It Outside
8. Interlude
9. Abused
10. Nobody Home
11. Come-N'-Get-It
12. Movin' On
13. Purple Haze

Customer Reviews:

Where Has She Been Hiding???.......2003-09-08

I bought this CD at a blues festival after hearing it played on the sound system. It was that good. She has an unbelievable voice, and, having written all but one of the songs on the CD, is a major talent in songwriting. I also had the pleasure of seeing her do a few songs live, and, she blew everybody away. Where has she been hiding?

Average customer rating:

Dress Rehearsal ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music ASIN: B000IFSGJY Release Date: 2006-09-05

Average customer rating:

Paul Reade: Cinderella / Two Dances form The Match Girl and the Flame (ASV) Manufacturer: ASV ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Ballets & Dances | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music ASIN: B0000030YK Release Date: 1993-12-07

Tracks:

1. Cinderella: Introduction: The Kitchen
2. Cinderella: The Ugly Sisters
3. Cinderella: Cinderella
4. Cinderella: The Fairy Fire
5. Cinderella: 1 The Ember Fairies/2 Cindrella Sleep-Dances
6. Cinderella: 1 Return Of The Ugly Sisters/2 Ugly Sisters' Waltz
7. Cinderella: Cinderella Cries
8. Cinderella: The Fairy Godmother
9. Cinderella: 1 The Mice Appear/2 The Mice Dance
10. Cinderella: 1 The Lizards Appear/2 The Lizards Dance
11. Cinderella: 1 The Rat Appears/2 The Rat Dances
12. Cinderella: The Pumpkin
13. Cinderella: The Ball Dress
14. Cinderella: The Coach Journey
15. Cinderella: Mazurka
16. Cinderella: The Prince And His Friends
17. Cinderella: Tambourin
18. Cinderella: 1 Pas De Deux/2 The Clock Strikes Midnight
19. Cinderella: The Kitchen: Dawn
20. Cinderella: The Prince And The Slipper
21. Cinderella: Finale: The Wedding
22. The Match Girl And The Flame: Match Girl Solo
23. The Match Girl And The Flame: Pas De Deux

Average customer rating:

Dress Rehearsal Carolyn Dawn Johnson Manufacturer: Sony Custom Marketing Group ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000N0U12E Release Date: 2006-09-12

Average customer rating:

Dress Of Dawn Joan Bujacich Manufacturer: Joan Bujacich ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music General | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B000062VWU Release Date: 2000-06-01

Tracks:

1. Innocent To Me
2. Falling
3. Dress of Dawn
4. Lovely Face
5. Don't say A Word
6. Floyd
7. Let It Dance
8. Torch Song
9. If You Want Her
10. Another Smile Another Day
11. Step Out Of the Blue

Album Description

In the songwriting tradition of Laura Nyro, early Elton John, Carol King.......pianist, composer, vocalist Joan Bujacich gives her audience a very eclectic CD of original music with "Dress of Dawn".

Joan's fine piano playing is heard throughout the recording and the rhythm section (drums,bass & guitars) are joined on many tracks by cello, violin, percussion, trumpet,and a full boogie down horn section on "Step Out Of The Blue".(You really get your money's worth!)

This CD ranges in diversity from the title cut "Dress of Dawn", where there is a more complex harmonic background in a chamber/pop style, to the more whimsical simplicity of "Lovely Face". Joan's vocal style has been compared to K.D. Lang on the easy listening tune "Don't Say a Word" to Kate Bush on the fun pop tune "Lovely Face". Wonderful performances by New York's finest musicians add to the beauty of this recording. "Let It Dance" has a haunting instrumental in a Brazilian Jazz Style with flugel horn played by Ken Fradley before the sultry vocal begins. Though the styles of songs are diverse Joan's signature is evident throughout the writing. This CD is for the more musical and adventurous listener. There is a lot to listen to and it gets better with each play, like fine wine.

John Hammel WNTI- "Diverse , eclectic, employing different vocal techniques/personas from Kate Bush to Joni Mitchell with beautiful melodies in the tradition of Brian Wilson........... ...........powerful horn work, zen like lyrics leaving a lot to the listener's imagination"

Mark Blaustein WVRM- "Terrific.... reminiscent of Sondheim....Beautiful"

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