Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
It seems impossible these days to think of Kerry Ellis as anything but an established performer of great quality. A vocalist whose voice can send shivers the spine and whose work, especially in recent times with Queen’s Brian May, has been nothing but jaw-droppingly good. On the back of all that it is of no surprise that Kerry Ellis has returned once more to the world of theatre for an album of show tunes and highly thought of songs for her fourth album and strikingly eponymously titled
Kerry Ellis has worked in some of the finest production of the last 20 years, all of which have captured the magic that resides in her voice. From We Will Rock You, Miss Saigon, Wicked to Les Misérables, this undoubted talented woman has more than earned her spurs, her work with Brian May has made sure those same spurs are worn with pride and in her new album, that same voice, that same driving passion, sits generously at the heart of the songs on offer.
Taking songs that have been written by some of the very best in the theatre world, Ms. Ellis uses her incredible vocals to show exactly what theatre goers have been missing for a while as she has toured with Brian May.
Tracks such as Lerner and Loewe’s I Could Have Danced All Night, the superb Take That Look Off Your Face from Tell Me On A Sunday by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black, a fantastic version of I Dreamed A Dream from perhaps arguably her finest stage performance in the musical Les Misérables and Burt Bacharach’s Alfie, all combine to make this self-titled album something to behold. The strength of Ms. Ellis’ character flows through each song and the scent of the theatre hangs in the air as if a company of actors had made themselves available to perform nightly in your front room.
With Ms. Ellis returning to the stage for a short time ahead of touring with this album, fans of the female vocalist will have plenty to savour and enjoy over the next few months. A fine return to the world of musical theatre and show tunes.
Ian D. Hall