JASON GRAAE PERFECT HERMANY (THE SONGS OF JERRY HERMAN) erry Herman is the reason I got love Jason Graae. There, I’ve said it pecial Thanks to Bruce Kimmel, into this Business. I don’t know and I’m glad. I fell in love with him the who begged me, on his knees, to do Jwhether to hug him or to hit him. I Ifirst time I met him, when he recorded a Sthis CD and for his extremely will NEVER forget the first time I heard track for Unsung Sondheim. We laughed hands-on guidance and love and expert - “Some Enchanted Evening” and my life and laughed, and just when we thought ise, to Musical Director extraordinaire was changed. Oh wait – that was we could laugh no more, we laughed John Boswell who is a complete delight to Rodgers and Hammerstein! I knew again. And so it has been, through a mul - work with, to my director Lee Tannen for that. I have always loved Jerry’s titude of songs we’ve recorded over the his supreme passion, creativity, and loyal scores, and come on – WHO years, as well as two previous solo al - friendship, to the amazingly generous and DOESN’T? bums. Jason has the uncanny ability to enthusiastic Sir Michael Kerker and make you fall out of your seat screaming ASCAP for a really grand tour of Hello, I started piano lessons when I was 9 – with laughter one minute, and the next to Jerry! , to the incredible Don Pippin for his my piano bench was filled with Grieg, have you misty-eyed (and not because invaluable collaboration, stories, and Beethoven, Mozart, Claire de Lune he’s playing his oboe). He’s a singer’s tempi, to the wonderful Alex Rybeck for and the vocal selections from Mame . singer and an actor’s actor. And when being Alex Rybeck, to the suave and Guess which one I practiced the most? he’s matched with a songwriter’s song - deboner Michael Sterling and Vitello's, to “It’s Today,” “Open a New Window,” writer like Jerry Herman, well, magic hap - my partner Glen Fretwell of Inside/Out “You’re My Best Girl” were my hymns. I pens, as you’re about to hear on this CD. Landscape Design – “if you need your grew up in the Bible Belt so that was… So, close your eyes, imagine you’ve just bushes trimmed they’re the guys to do it!” interesting. I was definitely different been seated in the first row of the Colony to my Momma, who encouraged me to than most of the other children. Theatre because it’s show time. play oboe over clarinet because I’d get — Bruce Kimmel more solos, and to everyone at the beauti - I’ve been so lucky to have worked ful Colony Theatre, closely with Jerry over the last 10 especially gorgeous, classy Barbara years. When you’re with him it’s so Beckley for her wonderful leadership and easy to forget that he’s Broadway roy - for bringing Jerry Herman, The Grand alty – he’s quite unassuming, has twin - Tour and me to Burbank. kling eyes and a smile like the — Jason Graae Cheshire Cat, and he’s just plain fun to be around. He is also unbelievably generous, has an INCREDIBLE sense Jason instinctively knows of humor, and has impeccable taste in just about everything. And to top it all off, he is so supportive of singers per - how to find the smile forming his material – as long as it still SOUNDS like his material! S or the tug at the heart be - I couldn’t be happier that you’re listen - ing to this CD , celebrating a Broadway Superstar. Oh, and also Jerry Herman. hind my music and lyrics. — Jason Graae How I love Jason Graae singing my songs! — Jerry Herman.