On Happy Songs, McDonald focuses primarily on numbers popularized in the '30s and '40s, from such composers as Arlen, Ellington, and Rodgers & Hart. U.S. News and World Report says, "The Broadway star wraps her plush voice around upbeat tunes … The music's a delight."
Following the birth of her daughter, Audra wanted to do an album that expressed the joy she was feeling. She decided to devote a CD to songs from the 1930s and early '40s: a time when music provided the kind of uplift and optimism that people so badly needed.
The new album includes selections by such classic songwriters as Harold Arlen, Vincent Youmans, Rodgers & Hart, Irving Berlin, Duke Ellington, and George & Ira Gershwin, with new arrangements that evoke the era. Continuing her longstanding commitment to new composers, Audra has also included songs by Michael John LaChiusa and Jay Leonhart. Happy Songs follows two previous widely successful releases for the label, How Glory Goes (2000) and her label debut, Way Back to Paradise (1998).
Audra made her Carnegie Hall solo debut on November 2, 2002, performing selections from Happy Songs with a full band. An earlier New York performance had prompted New York Times critic Stephen Holden to proclaim Audra “a meteoric talent with a promise comparable to that of the young Streisand.”
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Produced by Tommy Krasker
Recorded by Joel Moss
Recorded August 2001 at The Hit Factory, New York City
Assistant Engineers: Michael McCoy and Richard Johnson
Additional recording May 2002 at Sound on Sound Studios, New York City
Assistant Engineer: Bart Migal
Edited by Jan Folkson at Avatar Studios
Mixed by Tom Lazarus at Classic Sound Inc., New York City
Mastered by Scott Hull at Classic Sound Inc., New York City
Music Preparation: Donald Oliver, Chelsea Music Service, Inc.; and Emily Grishman Music Preparation
Orchestral Contractor: John Miller
Design by Jeri Heiden, SMOG
Cover image: Original Photograph: Washington, D.C., Greyhound Bus Terminal on the Day Before Christmas in the Waiting Room, 1941 by John Vachon; Photograph of Audra McDonald by Katie Murray; Digital composite by Showbran; Bruce Fizzell, consultant
Executive Producer: Robert Hurwitz
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MUSICIANS
Audra McDonald, vocals
Ted Sperling, conductor
Violin: Suzanne Ornstein, concertmistress; Cecelia Hobbs, Laura Oatts, Andrew Stein (soloist on 6, 7, 11), Belinda Whitney, Xin Zhao
Viola: Michael Nicholas, Debra Shufelt
Cello: Adam Grabois, Clay Ruede
Bass: Peter Donovan
Woodwinds: Lawrence Feldman, clarinet, alto saxophone, flute; Rick Heckman, clarinet, tenor saxophone, oboe, English horn, flute; Paul Sundfor, clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute, piccolo; Mark Thrasher, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, baritone saxophone; Walter Weiskopf, clarinet
Trumpet: Craig Johnson, Larry Lunetta, Brian O'Flaherty
Trombone: Michael Boschen, Mark Patterson, Jack Schatz
French Horn: Chris Komer
Drums/percussion: William Hayes, David Ratajczak
Harp: Grace Paradise
Guitar/banjo: Kevin Kuhn
Piano/celeste: Lee Musiker, Ted Sperling
Vocal trio: Leo Daignault, Steven Freeman, David Engel
