BWW CD Reviews: THE NEW PICASSO (Original Concept Cast Recording) is Stirring but Familiar

With Broadway favorite Max von Essen returning to The Great White Way later this year in AN AMERICAN IN PARIS at The Palace Theatre, it's the perfect time to dig up the concept cast albums for Jonathan David Sloate's award-winning concept musical THE NEW PICASSO. The ambitious theatrical piece tells the story of a young artist whom a temptress and deceitful art dealer lure down a path of destruction; however, along the way he finds his self, true love, and redemption. Spanning two discs, the music to this fantasy piece is equal parts stirring and familiar.

I won't lie. When these albums first appeared in my inbox and I saw the musical was written by the same guy who crafted the scores for the Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm (a 1996 cartoon series) and the 1999 spacey, sci-fi flop Beowulf, I was pretty sure that there wouldn't be much to find here. Yet, with his score for THE NEW PICASSO, Jonathan David Sloate doesn't disappoint. Each of his compositions sound familiar in the fact that none of them really sparkle with a novel sound; nevertheless, he plies the emotions of the listeners with smartly constructed chord progressions and beloved, cliché modalities to give us insight into the characters.

Naturally, what really draws Broadway babies to the album is the cast he has assembled. The starry eyed hero, Jon Bernard, is expertly sung by Max von Essen. His spirited lyric baritone/tenor vocalizations charm on numbers like the hopeful "From My Mind's Eye," the undulating and angst-ridden "Lost At Sea," and the breathy ballad "All the Lonely People." Robert Cuccioli sings the villain of the show, powerful art dealer Jules de Medici, with poised power. With robust, tangible bravado it is easy to see how he entices Jon with "Art Gives You Immortality," but we see a darker and more sinister side of him when he sings with ferocious fervor on songs like "Kingmaker" and "I'll Destroy Him!." Brooke Sunny Moriber gives life to his childhood sweetheart Jennifer Robbins, singing sweetly on songs like "I Believe." With the same seductive vocal quality as Linda Eder, Ashley Amber brings the siren Alexandra Laurent to life with jazzy sensuality on numbers like "Wind Up Doll" and "Tell Me With You Heart."

The largest drawback to THE NEW PICASSO's concept albums is that each act is sold as a stand-alone album. In his defense, Jonathan David Sloate offers listeners more music than a standard CD can hold; however, I'm not sure what the justification is for not releasing it as a dual album. THE NEW PICASSO: THE MUSICAL (Act One) [Original Concept Cast Recording] clocks in at roughly 51 minutes long, and THE NEW PICASSO: THE MUSICAL (Act Two) [Original Concept Cast Recording] clocks in at roughly 48 minutes long. Thus, two discs are certainly justifiable for space issues on pressed CDs, but to have two separate purchases for one project in the iTunes store does seem excessive.

At the bottom line, THE NEW PICASSO is in the same vein of romantic fable that makes pieces like Moulin Rouge! so appealing to audiences. The penniless and creative everyman struggles to accept his identity and along the way finds storybook love and romance. The moving music on the albums swell with emotionality and is sung by a cast of cherished Broadway stars. Is this the type of musical you'll be dying to listen to over and over again? Probably not. Will you enjoy it a handful of times and be curious to see it staged? Most likely.

Black Forest Productions released both albums on March 19, 2014. THE NEW PICASSO: THE MUSICAL (Act One) [Original Concept Cast Recording] can be purchased from iTunes and Amazon. Also, THE NEW PICASSO: THE MUSICAL (Act Two) [Original Concept Cast Recording] can be purchased from iTunes and Amazon. For more information about the musical, please visit http://www.thenewpicasso.com.

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