Cabaret Scenes CD Review

Chapter by chapter – Page by Page. Instead of writing down his biography, Ken Page's one-man show presents his spoken story with the pop and show tunes of his life. He brings that show to the cabaret stage, and now, LML Music presents Ken Page's act, Page by Page, on a double disc CD displaying Page's full theatricality, no holds barred.

Ken Page's molasses rich baritone has been heard in films, like All Dogs Go to Heaven and Dreamgirls, as well as that evil Oogie Boogie in The Nightmare Before Christmas. He appeared on television's Touched by an Angel. On Broadway, Page performed in The Wiz, played Old Deuteronomy in Cats, and Nicely Nicely Johnson in the all-black revival of Guys and Dolls. He earned a Drama Desk Award for his role in the Fats Waller musical revue, Ain't Misbehavin'. Ken Page continues performing on large and small stages around the country.

In Page by Page, he adds more than characterization. Backed by an eleven-piece band conducted by pianist Daryl Archibald, Page invites us into his life with warmth and ebullience. He has a voice that is resonant and textured with emotional grit. After the overture, Page exhibits an upbeat, exuberant personality with, "Feeling Good" and J. P. Ward's, "Page by Page." Through music and narration, Page looks back through the years, sharing heartaches, yearnings, joys and passion. He begins with his childhood in St. Louis, Missouri where rhythm and blues like "C.C. Ryder," filled his home and the city streets. "Sidewalk Tree," a tune of youthful ambition, and "Just Being Us" relate the teenager's life in St. Louis with animation and detail. Those were the days of the Afro, the Vietnam War, the assassinations of heroes. In high school, Page was introduced to musical theatre and once came face-to-face with a "real star", Pearl Bailey, then appearing in the black version of Hello, Dolly. He was active in musical theatre and played Tevye in the senior play, Fiddler on the Roof. All played a part in the progress of his life, and songs like A Chorus Line's "Who Am I, Anyway" reflect his conflicts as a young performer,

Page left St. Louis and moved to New York and later to Europe. His big break came with the all-black revival of Guys and Dolls, and a high point here is his full throttle rendition of, "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat." Also notable is an exhilarating "300 pounds of Heavenly Joy." "Your Feet's Too Big," swells with humor and swing, and Page brings out the earthy sensuality of "Memory" (Cats). The second disc contains songs as eclectic as disco's Disco Heat," a knock-out medley from Fats Waller's Ain't Misbehavin', and "J'Ai Deux Amours."

Page's enthusiastic delivery and great warmth help drive both story and song. Creating Page by Page, he said, was, "a wonderful journey of remembrance and discovery." Narrative, however, is usually more effective when it is seen live from the audience than from listening to a CD. The fun in Ken Page's CD is due as much to his down-home honesty as to his considerable talent. His grandmother used to tell him, "No fool, no fun," and luckily, Page followed her advice, and his own heart.

Elizabeth Ahlfors
Cabaret Scenes
September 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org



	Ken Page Page by Page LML Music
Chapter by chapter – Page by Page. Instead of writing down his biography, Ken Page's one-man show presents his spoken story with the pop and show tunes of his life. He brings that show to the cabaret stage, and now, LML Music presents Ken Page's act, Page by Page, on a double disc CD displaying Page's full theatricality, no holds barred. Ken Page's molasses rich baritone has been heard in films, like All Dogs Go to Heaven and Dreamgirls, as well as that evil Oogie Boogie in The Nightmare Before Christmas. He appeared on television's Touched by an Angel. On Broadway, Page performed in The Wiz, played Old Deuteronomy in Cats, and Nicely Nicely Johnson in the all-black revival of Guys and Dolls. He earned a Drama Desk Award for his role in the Fats Waller musical revue, Ain't Misbehavin'. Ken Page continues performing on large and small stages around the country. In Page by Page, he adds more than characterization. Backed by an eleven-piece band conducted by pianist Daryl Archibald, Page invites us into his life with warmth and ebullience. He has a voice that is resonant and textured with emotional grit. After the overture, Page exhibits an upbeat, exuberant personality with, "Feeling Good" and J. P. Ward's, "Page by Page." Through music and narration, Page looks back through the years, sharing heartaches, yearnings, joys and passion. He begins with his childhood in St. Louis, Missouri where rhythm and blues like "C.C. Ryder," filled his home and the city streets. "Sidewalk Tree," a tune of youthful ambition, and "Just Being Us" relate the teenager's life in St. Louis with animation and detail. Those were the days of the Afro, the Vietnam War, the assassinations of heroes. In high school, Page was introduced to musical theatre and once came face-to-face with a "real star", Pearl Bailey, then appearing in the black version of Hello, Dolly. He was active in musical theatre and played Tevye in the senior play, Fiddler on the Roof. All played a part in the progress of his life, and songs like A Chorus Line's "Who Am I, Anyway" reflect his conflicts as a young performer, Page left St. Louis and moved to New York and later to Europe. His big break came with the all-black revival of Guys and Dolls, and a high point here is his full throttle rendition of, "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat." Also notable is an exhilarating "300 pounds of Heavenly Joy." "Your Feet's Too Big," swells with humor and swing, and Page brings out the earthy sensuality of "Memory" (Cats). The second disc contains songs as eclectic as disco's Disco Heat," a knock-out medley from Fats Waller's Ain't Misbehavin', and "J'Ai Deux Amours." Page's enthusiastic delivery and great warmth help drive both story and song. Creating Page by Page, he said, was, "a wonderful journey of remembrance and discovery." Narrative, however, is usually more effective when it is seen live from the audience than from listening to a CD. The fun in Ken Page's CD is due as much to his down-home honesty as to his considerable talent. His grandmother used to tell him, "No fool, no fun," and luckily, Page followed her advice, and his own heart. Elizabeth Ahlfors Cabaret Scenes September 2008 www.cabaretscenes.org