Search - Jerry Orbach :: Off Broadway

Yes, The Man Can Sing As Well As Act!

05/02/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Most people recognize Mr. Orbach from his role as a world-weary detective on NBC's "Law & Order". Prior to that famous role, the character actor played in a series of good and so-so films, always turning in a strong performance no matter how fine or flimsy the material. He even had a short-lived TV series, spun off of his popular recurring role on "Murder She Wrote". Yet it seemed as though he came from nowhere to star in "Law & Order". What was he doing during his 20's and 30's? The answer: He was starring in musical theater. And surprise---the man can sing! Told at the tender age of 20 that his shot at achieving film stardom would require his getting a nose job, Mr. Orbach went to the theater instead. There he expended his considerable talent in a series of potent performances. This recording shows the range of his remarkable vocal abilities. No, he's not Sinatra, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Mr. Orbach is a vocal chameleon, adapting to the style of each song while not quite losing the New York edge to his voice. This CD makes it much easier to believe that Lennie and Lumiere really are the same actor.The songs on this CD vary in style, from brassy to ballad, wise-guy to tender. Our personal favorite was his rendition of "Mack the Knife" with its slowly building tension and hints of black humor. We also enjoyed the lighthearted "King of the World" and the glitzy "Portofino", with its tongue-in-cheek take on the nouveau riche. He adeptly handled faster tunes like "Once In A Blue Moon", and showed vocal sensitivity on the slow "Lazy Afternoon". Mr. Orbach originated the role of El Gallo in "The Fantasticks" and turned in an excellent version of "Try To Remember" for this recording. None of the songs on this CD is a disappointment.A minor gripe is the poor quality of the recording. This set was done in 1962, so there's a lot of unwelcome sounds woven into the music, including the performer's breathing on a few of the songs. It would be nice if that could be fixed somehow; with modern technology, this sort of shortcoming ought to be fixable. Other than that, however, this CD is a fine example of Mr. Orbach's life work before he achieved fame as a detective on "Law & Order". We highly recommend it for fans of musical theater and anyone who's a fan of Mr. Jerry Orbach."

All around entertaining CD

Hoc Stercus | Hudson, NY USA | 08/27/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Jerry Orback recorded the material on this CD back in 1963 at a time when he was considered one of the better performers in musical theater. He has a fine, mellow baritone with great command of his instrument. Whoever did the digital mastering on this CD knew his/her business; because the sound quality is first-rate. The dozen songs in this collection is a good combination of the familiar and unfamiliar. I'm glad I got this CD; and I can tell after one run-through it's one that will get repeated spins. Highly recommended."

Could this be Lennie?

07/31/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I knew this man could sing, but i had no idea just how easy it would be to listen to him! His voice is pure...he never once goes off key...it's almost as though his voice is too good to be true. At first, I thought I heard a little Sinatra there, but you know what? I'm a fan of ol' Blue Eyes, but Mr. Orbach is in a class by himself and at least as good as Sinatra. Is there any more out there? Anything recent? The selections are wonderful...great Broadway classics. Please Mr. Orbach...sing!"