Cheyenne Jackson • I'm Blue, Skies

I don't know what it is about early summer, but there is always a bunch of music released, making it hard to keep up. This includes the music of some outstanding LGBT artists, and I am still catching up on them! Just this two weeks, I posted reviews of new albums by Levi Kreis and Eric Himan, as well as singles from Eli Lieb, Tom Goss, Kazaky, Adam Joseph, SIRPAUL & Armand Deluxe, and Darren Ockert! We can also add Cheyenne Jackson's name to the list, for he released his first Pop album at the end of June. 'I'm Blue, Skies' hit the shelves on June 25, 2013, and while I had several of the songs already - with early singles and music videos, I was still quite excited to for it. I've been a fan of Jackson since first seeing clips of him performing off-Broadway in "All Shook Up", where he wowed the audience time and time again. He also garnered some attention for playing 911 hero Mark Bingham, the gay passenger on the flight who helped lead the fight against the hijackers in the movie 'United 93'. In 2008 I finally had the opportunity to see him live in the New York City Center Encores! production of 'Damn Yankees', and he was remarkable. I also enjoyed his work with Michael Feinstein on the 'Power of Two' CD, and would have killed to see the two performing the music live. Cheyenne has a gorgeous voice, and in person is about as charismatic as any one person could be. Oh, yeah, he is also very handsome and has a good-looking husband, too. With all this in mind, I couldn't wait for the album to be released.

Needless to say, I couldn't wait to get to iTunes and purchase the 'I'm Blue, Skies', and I wasn't disappointed. It is true, I had already seen the music videos for "Before You", "Don't Wanna Know" and "Drive", that left plenty of new songs to get to know. The first track, however, is "Before You", the fluffy Pop confection released earlier in the year. The song marks the beginning of something very special - written by Cheyenne Jackson & Stevie Aiello, we finally see Jackson had a hand in co-writing every song on the album, making 'I'm Blue, Skies' a true labor of love. "Before You" has a sweet charm, a laid-back attitude personified by Cheyenne's easy vocals and the sound of the ukelele strumming. You can find my post featuring the music video here. Next up is the title cut, the second of four written with Stevie Aiello. "I'm Blue, Skies" has a big and bold feel, allowing Jackson's voice to soar high and wide in the chorus. As the music video was released this weekend, why don't you check it out for yourself.

Toward the end, I am still getting goosebumps when I listen. "Any Day Now" starts off with a quiet and simple feel, with Cheyenne's voice being laid in the bed of an acoustic guitar. Written by Jackson, Australian Sia Furler and Chris Braide, there is a wonderful introspective feel, giving me a bit of Joni Mitchell for a new age. The song has such great range, showing off the richness of Cheyenne's voice, from the top down. There is a real honesty in the song, and it reaches out and touches me. Next, we have another song by Jackson, Furler, and Chris Braide, with Stevie Aiello also adding in wisdom to "She's Pretty, She Lies". There is a wonderful feel to this one, but why not let the intriguing music video let you discover it for yourself.

This song puts me in mind of the wonderful indie band KEane, and their ability to have sweetly layered music that never becomes dense. Then comes the first song I remember hearing off this album, "Drive". The song, written by Jackson & Aiello, nicely balances between a quiet detachment and power. It was the first video I saw, with the sleek animated visuals. You can see my post featuring the music video here. "Mr. Lonely Boy" is up next, a big aching ballad written by Jackson with the New York-based production team, The ELEV3N. The song has a a strong emotional base, allowing Jackson freedom in his vocals. That is followed by the delicious "Don't Wanna Know", with words & music by Jackson & Aiello. The song has a great sound, and the video a flirty cheekiness I cannot resist. You can find my post featuring the music video for "Don't Wanna Know" here. "Back Pocket" begins with a soulful Cheyenne and a piano, and there is a quick switch to a some Pop sweetness. The song, written by Jackson, Igloo, and Tyler Lyles, slips and slides a bit, adopting different styles over the course of three-and-a-half minutes, floating from Pop to Reggae to Diva to Emo with ease. That is followed by "Not Ready To Let You Go", a song written by Jackson & Jay Levine, sounding like a young Lennon-McCartney song, with a timeless elegance with love at the heart. Next, Cheyenne offers a song so introspective and real, the isolation is almost palpable. See for yourself, with the music video for "Don't Look at Me", with music & lyrics by Jackson, Sia Furler and Chris Braide.

The song is so haunting, the video captures it well. Cheyenne's voice is so expansive, he is able to go huge at times, feeling like he is pushing you away while he lets you in to his heart and mind. I love this song. The next song was written by Jackson and Jay Levine, along with the singer/songwriter featured in the single. "You Get Me" has Charlotte Sometimes joining Cheyenne, adding a new dimension to the sound. There is a wonderful retro feel at times, as the song gives Bacharach/David realness. The final cut on the album is a remix of the first single. "Drive (Conaire Remix)" takes the song written by Jackson and Aiello and adds some additional juiciness by Kim Ålander to make it ready for any dance floor. You can find a video featuring the Remix here.

The album is a gooey Pop candy, perfect for the summer. This has already been playing when I'm outside doing some work on the yard, and great to play as you drive. The diversity allows us all to experience the amazing depth and breadth of Cheyenne's voice, stepping off the Broadway stage to make some excellent Pop records. From fluffy Pop sweetness to introspective singer/songwriter fare, 'I'm Blue, Skies' allows Jackson to show he not only can do Pop, he SHOULD be making music like this for years to come. I love the way he sounds, and I feel what he has to say. His voice is a welcome one, and I can't wait to hear what he will has to say for a long time to come. This will be an album that will be on my playlists this summer, making me very happy. You can purchase 'I'm Blue, Skies' on iTunes and Amazon. To learn more about Cheyenne Jackson, to find out what he is up to at the moment, visit his official website. You can also 'like' him on Facebook, and 'follow' him on Twitter.

New Albums from Levi Kreis, Eric Himan, Cheyenne Jackson, & Buffalo Tales Released

New albums featuring fresh material from Levi Kreis, Eric Himan, Cheyenne Jackson, and Buffalo Tales is now available online for your listening pleasure. I have been long awaiting for all of them to be released, so this is an exciting time, indeed. While I will have reviews of all four coming soon, I thought I would give the everyone the information to preview or buy them for yourself. So below, you will find links to listen and purchase the albums, and I would strongly advise you to do so for all four. From what I have hear so far, both Levi and Eric are producing their best music to date, while Cheyenne makes an impressive solo debut. And Aussie Buffalo Tales offers up some gorgeous guitar-driven music that makes me very happy.

Levi Kreis released 'Imagine Paradise', and it is now available on iTunes, Amazon, and CD Baby.

Eric Himan has released his 10th solo studio album when 'Gracefully' became available on iTunes and should be on Amazon soon!

Cheyenne Jackson shows the Broadway star is also a gifted singer/songwriter with the release of his solo debut 'I'm Blue, Skies', available on iTunes and Amazon.

Australia's Buffalo Tales, which features the talents of Wes Carr, releases their first full album with the beautiful 'Roadtrip Confessions' available on iTunes and Amazon.

January 2013 Playlist • Various Artists

Clockwise: Cheyenne Jackson; Kris Searle; David Geftakys; and We The Ghost.

To be honest, I have been under the weather lately, now suffering from a common cold, which is making it tough to focus and write. I have a couple of new albums I need to get out for everyone to hear and love, but I just haven't gotten it together. In lieu of posting nothing, I quickly put together this post, which includes the first four songs on my January 2013 playlist that I have already listened to several times. So I will start with the latest single from the sexy and talented Cheyenne Jackson, "Don't Wanna Know". I think it is a great video, and a sensational song. I fell in love with it the moment I heard it.

You can purchase "Don't Wanna Know" from iTunes and Amazon.

Next up is another favorite of mine. Just before Christmas, or Krismas, as Searle tagged it, Kris Searle made two new singles for FREE! The best part is, they are both great songs, but only one made it on my January playlist. "Cry To Dream" features an amazing collaboration with Laura Evans, one that touches deep down in my heart. This particular version is dubbed the 'Minimal London Mix', but I am betting this song would sound amazing no matter the mix.

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You can acquire "Cry to Dream" from FREE by joining Kris' email list. Check it out on Noisetrader.

I have made no mystery how much I love the music of We The Ghost. The Tulsa-based band recently released a new EP, 'White Noise', which is not a good description of what you find when you listen. The sound is tight and bold, with five amazing songs. I picked "Let Me Know" to add to the playlist, and I am thrilled every time it comes on.

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You can purchase "Let Me Know" from iTunes and Amazon.

And, last but not least, I have a new song off the 'Games We Play' album from talented musician David Geftakys. And while the title cut was my first introduction to David's music, I picked "And You", the first cut on the album, to be a part of my playlist. I think there is such inherent charm on the track, it is irresistible.

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You can purchase "And You" from iTunes and Amazon.

I hope you have a great week, and I will be able to bring you some great new music very soon. With music from Fontaine James and Ezra Axelrod waiting fro a clearer mind, I am excited because I really love it.

Cheyenne Jackson • Don't Wanna Know

Cheyenne Jackson has released another single off the album scheduled for release in 2013. "Don't Wanna Know" is a Poptacular song, with an amazing video that showcases all that makes Cheyenne Jackson a star worth watching. He sings, he dances, and he looks smoking hot! He also shows a wonderful sense of humor, taking on infidelity with a smile and a wink. I have been a fan of Cheyenne for some time, and think he is such an amazing talent, and a great representative of the out and proud artists making music.

It was also great to see Broadway's Nick Adams in the video. He was most recently seen on Broadway in the musical 'Priscilla, Queen of the Desert'. He was the hot guy on the scaffolding. Need more? The hot guy in blue plaid. Check him out, I'm sure you remember him from the video.

I know I couldn't wait to add it to my iTunes play list, and listen to it often! You can purchase "Don't Wanna Know" on iTunes. To learn more about Cheyenne Jackson, visit his official website. You can also 'like' him on Facebook, and 'follow' him on Twitter.

Mixed Drinks At The Club

Clockwise: Francine Reed & Lyle Lovett; James Taylor & Carly Simon; Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gormé; and Michael Feinstein & Cheyenne Jackson.

I wasn't sure what I was going to do for the Saturday evening post, but was inspired by the amazing Lyle Lovett to come up with more duets that have a more contemporary feel. I still wanted the music to be perfect for that smokey club we all go to in our dreams, with a classic Jazz feel. So when I focused in on the first entry, even I had to laugh at my ability to bend my own rules. You see, I picked Lyle singing with the talented Francine Reed on "What Do You Do," written by the Lovett, and recorded for his 1989 album, 'Lyle Lovett & His Large Band'. Well, it might not be a time-tested classic, but it sure has that feel to it. So enjoy as Lyle and Francine sing "What Do You Do."

the next song was written in 1963, but most likely had the most familiar cover a decade later, when the husband and wife team of Carly Simon & James Taylor sang "Mockingbird," a song written and recorded by Inez and Charlie Foxx. The song appeared on Simon's album 'Hotcakes,' and went to #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1974. The two sag it together on tour in 1974, but it was an exciting performance at the 1979 'No Nukes' concert that many will have on their minds when they thing of the song. And here it is.

The song "I'm Nothing Without You," written by Cy Coleman and Chris Zippel, was written for the 1989 Broadway musical, 'City of Angels'. The song appeared on the 2009 album 'The Power of Two'. In fact, the song opened the album, immediately letting the listeners know they were in for some spectacular duets from the two very talented artists.

It's kinda funny, but when I think back to my youth, I remember one couple in particular who was always on the television, whether it was the variety program 'The Carol Burnett Show,' or the wonderful 'Mike Douglas Show,' featuring entertainers from all walks of life. And the married couple were also on just about every Christmas collection I remember hearing. So here they are singing "Something's Gotta Give," written by the great Johnny Mercer in 1954, and first performed by Fred Astaire in the 1955 musical, 'Daddy Long Legs.'

Hope your weekend is a great one!

Dark Monday • From Dust to Dreams

Cheyenne Jackson kisses Laura Osnes, that lucky bitch.

I happened across these clips from the upcoming PBS special From Dust to Dreams, to be televised in September 2012. As a big Cheyenne Jackson fan, I couldn't resist checking it out, and then sharing it with the readers. In the first clip, I was nearly giddy with the thought of Cheyenne singing the role of Tony in West Side Story. He takes on "Tonight", with Laura Osnes singing the role of Maria. The legendary show has music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.



the also tackle another great Sondheim show, Merrily We Roll Along. Cheyenne, Benjamin Walker, Sherie Rene Scott, Laura Osnes, and Montego Glover sing "Our Time" from the musical, first produced in 1981.



Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!

Cheyenne Jackson • Before You

I am totally a fanboy when it comes to Cheyenne Jackson. Of course, there is no reason not to be, for he is tall, dark and handsome, and so very, very talented. As an actor he has recently shown off his comedic talents on shows like 30 Rock and GLEE. As an actor/singer, he has taken New York by storm via shows like Finian's Rainbow, Damn Yankees, and Xanadu, among others. As a singer, he is a natural in front of an audience, and has performed live and recorded with Michael Feinstein. And, thankfully, he is getting to make his own music. A couple of months ago, I featured a video for "Drive". Now, I can let you in on his latest music video for the song "Before You". It is a delightful Pop confection, sung charmingly by Jackson. It has that slightly-retro-yet-very-today feeling that has been captured by Jason Mraz, Colbie Callait, and others. And the video is adorable, with a sweet feel of 1960s television shows like the Addams Family and The Munsters. And most importantly, it has the smiling face of Cheyenne.



You can purchase the single "Before You" from iTunes and Amazon. I am hoping there is a full album on the way, for I could sure use a lot more Cheyenne in my life and on my iPod. You can find out more about Cheyenne on his official website. You can also 'like' his fanpage on Facebook, or follow him on Twitter.

Cheyenne Jackson • Drive

Cheyenne Jackson has released a new video for "Drive," the single off his soon to be released EP. The incredibly talented Jackson, who has gotten great reviews for roles on the Broadway stage, film, and television, including in a New York City Center Encore! Production of Damn Yankees, when he stole the show. Well, he did for me, for he was so good, sang so beautifully, and was, well, so strikingly handsome, you just can't not watch him. I had also purchased The Power Of Two, the album he did with Michael Feinstein (whom I also love!), following a sold out run at Feinstein's at Lowes Regency in a show of the same name. In preparation to releasing the new EP, "Drive" is a surprising Pop song, and Jackson is in excellent voice. I love it. Check out the video now.



I will mention I was surprised not to see Jackson in the video, but I was so intrigued with the animation while it was happening, it didn't occur to me he wasn't in it until later. There is some cool graphics, and it fits the song so well. You can purchase "Drive" on iTunes or Amazon. You can also find out more about Cheyenne Jackson on his official website. You can also find him on Facebook and Twitter. When the EP is released, I will be sure to let everyone know! And if there are any live shows, I'll also report that. I would love to to see him performing a Pop show!

Dark Monday - Happy Birthday Cheyenne Jackson

I'd like to wish a very happy birthday to Cheyenne Jackson. The talented singer/actor turns 35 today. I will say I was lucky enough to see him in Damn Yankees in 2008 and damn, he was great in the show. I'll start with the obvious, the boy is a stunningly handsome man. But, to add to it, he is a good actor, more than holding his own with Jane Krakowski and Sean Hayes. And when he sang, it was just magic. Here he is singing A Change Is Gonna Come, showing off that amazing voice of his.



Jackson was born in Idaho, and raised in a small town. At 19, he came out to his family, which caused a rift with the Christian evangelicals that has since been healed. He was taught to sing by his mother, who often played piano and sang with her children. While living in Seattle, Washington, he was working in publishing and discovering theater, soon deciding that is what he wanted. He moved to New York, and by 2004 he was cast in a leading role in the Off-Broadway music Alter Boyz at the New York Shakespeare Festival. That lead to 2005, when Cheyenne had the leading role in All Shook Up, a tribute to Elvis Presley. Here he is in rehearsal footage singing C'Mon Everybody.



Another song from All Shook Up, Cheyenne has sung If I Can Dream on several different occasions, from telethons to rallies for marriage equality. It is a beautiful song, and he is spectacular singing it.



Back in January, I mentioned one of the things I wanted to do was to see Jackson in the revival of Finian's Rainbow, a glorious show with a gorgeous score. Unfortunately, it closed before I got the chance to see it for myself, but luckily, there are some videos on YouTube. Here he is with Kate Baldwin singing Old Devil Moon. Oh, it does my heart good to hear this!



Jackson is on a bit of a career high at the moment, with guest roles on Ugly Betty and 30 Rock, as well as the upcoming season of Curb Your Enthusiasm. He also recently released an alarmingly good album with Michael Feinstein called The Power Of Two, inspired by a sold-out appearance the two made at Feinstein's. Cheyenne has been with his partner since 1999. Sounds like good things do come to good people. For more on Jackson, check out his official website here. You can also follow him on Twitter here.

Dark Monday - Xanadu

Xanadu opened on Broadway in the summer of 2007, the musical adaptation of one of the classic movie flops of all time. The original cast included James Carpinello in the leading male role, only to have him go down with a leg injury due to a fall in a roller skating rehearsal and be replaced by Cheyenne Jackson. Jackson received rave reviews for his performance, yet come time for the Tony nominations, he was left off the roster in what some saw as a snub. Prior to the announcements, many made him a shoe in for the win.



The female lead was played by Kerry Butler, who received a Tony nomination for her work. At one point, Whoopie Goldberg played the part of one of the muses, a chorus on stage, as it were. I would try to explain the story, but Lily Tomlin did a much better job on the Tony Award broadcast.



Jackson is gorgeous, looks great in the cut offs, and has a fantastic voice. He is rumored to be joining the cast of 30 Rock on NBC. I certainly that doesn't prevent him from doing more dates with Michael Feinstein, or from opening soon in a revival of Finian's Rainbow. He had played the lead earlier in an Encores! performance run at City Center. Hearing Jackson sing That Old Devil Moon is something I would definitely want to experience!





You can find out more about Finian's Rainbow at the website here.

Update - News, Michael Feinstein & Cheyenne Jackson

OK, I have been a bit MIA here on the blog as I get ready for the parents 50th Anniversary surprise party. I am working on a video/slide show I thought would be 4 or 5 minutes that has turned into a 14 minute short film - LOL. I have been working on scanning the pictures, culling through cabinets of them, picking out music that is appropriate for them, not me... The surprise party is on Saturday afternoon on the 29th, a full two weeks before the actual date, so we might really surprise them. Hopefully that will be under control soon, and I can be back to internet fun!



Meanwhile, I wanted to take the opportunity to welcome follower Steve A to the blog. Steve has his own blog called Long Haired Boy, which can be found here. I can identify with Steve when he writes that he sometimes is social, and sometimes antisocial. I tend to just say sometimes I don't like people. Stop by and see the blog, it is quite nice! Also, thanks to everyone who comes here, the blog is approaching 8,200 hits, which is just so surprising to me. I never would have thought anyone would be interested in the musings of a 50ish gay man rambling about music that didn't involve Cher, Celine or Whitney. And also several of the artists featured here have been very kind, stopping by to comment or Tweeting me some appreciation. That list includes Derek Nicoletto [of Telling On Trixie], Casey Stratton, Aiden James, Christopher Dallman, Jimmy Adams and Angel Adams. If I forgot anyone, sorry - been working on about 3-4 hours sleep a night.


Photos by Linda Lenzi/BroadwayWorld.com

In other noteworthy news, After Elton reports Cheyenne Jackson and Michael Feinstein are heading to the studio to record an album together. I was very excited to hear they worked together in NYC, playing at Feinstein's at Lowe's Regency. In June, they performed a show called The Power Of Two, and by the time I heard about it, tickets were sold out. I first saw him on Braodway in 1988 in concert, called Isn't It Romantic, and again in 1990, in Piano And Voice. Feinstein has released 23 albums, and I have 18 of them. I am a freak, I can't help it. And I find him to be very hot.





OF course, my appreciation of Cheyenne is well-documented on this blog (click here), but I will do a quick recap - he is gorgeous, tall, handsome, charismatic, and beautiful. So put the two together, and I was weeping I couldn't get a ticket. So when this album is released, I am so there!



You can find out more about Michael Feinstein at his website, and Cheyenne Jackson at his website.

Great Music - Cheyenne Jackson

OK, so Cheyenne Jackson doesn't have a CD of his own out, but he is gorgeous, talented, and very out, and that is enough for me. He is 6'3" and built, with striking good looks, a beautiful voice and he can act - what's not to love? I saw him in Damn Yankees last year at New York's City Center, and he was great. He played in a cast that included Sean Hayes and Jane Krakowski.

Jackson has also roller skated in Xanadu, starred in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Altar Boyz, and played openly gay hero Mark Bingham in Flight 93. This year, he has teamed up with Michael Feinstein in a nightclub act called The Power of Two and I would kill to see it. He has also appeared in Ugly Betty and will be in the premier episode of Glee in the fall.

The above clip was Cheyenne Jackson performing the song I've Got Your Number at Broadway Under the Stars in Bryant Park, June 14, 2005. The song is from the Neil Simon musical Little Me, with music and lyrics by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh.



The following is Cheyenne Jackson performing Surrender on January 7, 2008. The song was written by songwriter Scott Alan. This performance was at a CD Release Party for Scott Alan's Dreaming Wide Awake CD.

On a personal note, Cheyenne and his partner have been together for 10 years. To find out more about Cheyenne, visit his website here. He also has music available for purchase on iTunes.