On his debut album with Club44 Records – an independent label that highlights the music of Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and the American Songbook – #1 Billboard jazz/pop singer and songwriter Spencer Day puts his own signature spin on a selection of twelve favorites from such legendary musicals as South Pacific, Oliver!, My Fair Lady, and more, opening and closing with two big numbers from A Chorus Line. Just released today, Broadway By Day, co-produced by Day and bassist Alex Frank, features his unique stylings of familiar showtunes that break new ground with an eclectic mix of original arrangements, encompassing everything from Latin to swing.
After years of writing his own chart-topping songs, Day thought it was time for his first album dedicated to classic Broadway. “The world of Broadway has always fascinated me,” he said. “The first show I saw as a kid in Utah was Guys and Dolls, and it made me want to visit Havana. Then I grew up with touring productions of Miss Saigon and Les Mis. When I got to New York and made a conscious effort to attend theater – as I started seeing newer shows like Caroline, or Change and Follies with Bernadette Peters – that’s when I was knocked out by the real power and range of musical theater.”
By adding his own special rhythms, unexpected turns of phrase, and inventive interpretations, Day noted, “I’ve been able to put my individual stamp on these selections yet stay true to the original material.” He went on to explain that “Alex and I did our research and listened to many contemporary theater writers as options, but the traditional Broadway sound just sat right with my voice. It’s the best fit for a lyric baritone like mine. And we went out of our way to choose selections that hadn’t been overdone in a jazz context.”
The album includes an upbeat duet on Jerry Herman’s “It Only Takes a Moment” from Hello, Dolly! with Grammy-nominated guest vocalist Jane Monheit (another resident artist with Club44); a musical solo with a bossa nova beat on the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic “If I Loved You” from Carousel by nine-time Grammy-nominated saxophonist and long-time friend Dave Koz; and an exciting new rendition of “I’d Be Surprisingly Good for You” from Evita by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, featuring Mexican guitarist Eduardo Leon – all adding to the album’s diversity of sound and style.
Spencer Day, Broadway By Day, from Club44 Records, is available now on popular streaming platforms (Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, iTunes Store, Pandora, Tidal, Deezer, and YouTube Music) and in stores in physical CD format.
