Album Review: Parade by Jason Robert Brown

After seeing the musical Wicked in Los Angeles this week, I have been listening to and thinking about the art of the musical. Today I wanted to expound on one in particular of which you might not be aware: Parade.

This musical is by Jason Robert Brown. Anyone that goes by all three of their names catches my attention right away (i.e. Andrew Lloyd Weber and Winnie the Pooh). But to me the strength of Parade isn't in the composer's name but rather in the story told and the umph that the music gives it.

The story is one of great tradegy. It is based on a true story taken from the events of a real trial held in the early 1900's. The opening song sets the scene for the time period (post-Civil War in the South). We are introduced to Mr. Leo Frank, a Jewish American educated in the North. He moves to Atlanta, Georgia and becomes the owner of a sweat shop factory (they were common). After a mysterious murder of a 13-year old girl employed by the sweat shop, prejudice turns the public against the "foreign" man from the North. He is put to trial and the testimonies of many are sung. For complete details on the outcome of that trial, I would recommend listening to the musical. (I'm not much for spoilers).

The music is probably the most excellent (pardon the Bill & Ted adjective) music produced for a musical that I know of. It has a great early Jazz feel (as it should, considering the setting). The actors/resses portray great emotion, thus bringing the tragic events of the musical to life. Listen for great uses of bitonality and disonance which greatly enhance the stresses and downright sadness of the story.

In the shell of a nut, this is a great step for anyone interested in the modern art of the musical. The issues that the story brings to light are both of historical and contemporary importance while the music brings together both early and modern Jazz, Classical, and pop techniques.