Oh Moon of Alabama...

It’s always great to see people you know achieve success. Whether it’s to act in movies, sing on the Broadway stage, earn a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for eating the most hot dogs, producing a CD, or becoming an expert cake decorator, the fact that they pursued their dream is something to admire. And when they truly succeed it deserves a huge celebration.

My friend A. J. Teshin has just achieved a wonderful milestone in his musical career. Today he released his first CD: “The Kurt Weill Project.” It’s a sterling collection of songs by the 20th Century German Composer Kurt Weill (1900-1950). The arrangements are new, edgy, and fresh, while maintaining the essence of Weill.

Prostitution, anti-war rage, loneliness, murder, and love are the themes explored.

Teshin sings in English, German, and French. The CD booklet contains the German and French lyrics with their English translations.

Here’s the song list:

Lonely House
Nanna’s Lied
The Alabama Song
Complainte de la Seine
Arbeiterlied
Marterl
The Ballad of the Soldier’s Wife
Je Ne T’aime Pas
Le Train du Ciel
Ballad-Tango 2008
Speak Low
It Never Was You

The iTunes collection includes “Surabaya Johnny.”

My favorites are “Lonely House,” “The Alabama Song,” “Je Ne T’aime Pas,” “Le Train du Ciel,” and his exquisite reading of “It Never Was You.”

If you love the songs of Kurt Weill and love when singers successfully breathe new life into the material then this CD demands your attention.

Bravo A.J.!

“The Kurt Weill Project” is available through iTunes, amazon.com, and LML Music (www.lmlmusic.com).

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