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Renaldo THE (nee Renaldo the Great) and his band of vaudevillian goof-balls (The Maid, the Valet, the Scientist, the Priest & Gary) clearly understand that an efficacious cabaret show is about VARIETY. Since a CD doesn't carry images of the show "Why Are You?" must convey both the variety of the show and be evocative enough to convey a good chunk of the story. On both counts this collection is a success.
Each piece does its job of being entertaining and telling its little story, and since each tune has its own sound each and every one sounds distinctive...
"Moliendo Cafe" kicks the album off with a latin swagger, this cocky attitude returns on the ramshackle rock of "Up". Elsewhere (on "Prendi") the sound is clarinet and vocal driven, being equal parts carnival and opera. On "Una Furtiva L'Agrima" the oompa sounds positively sexy, "Sands in the Glass" is a nice bit of lounge.
And "A Fool's Prayer" finds the band making like Spike Jones and his City Slickers backing a Shakespeare soliloquy.
My favorite piece is "Good Cry", a delightful bit of pop sparkle replete with hand claps!
"Why Are You?" is a nice outing by a band whose ring-leader clearly has the soul of a clown.
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The Renaldo THE Ensemble~
http://www.therenaldotheensemble.com/
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