Dwayne Britton
Run Away With Me
The Duplex
New York, NY
It's really just this simple: when Dwayne Britton opens his mouth to sing, he also opens up his heart. A willingness to honestly reveal feelings and struggles did not wander into self-indulgent or self-pitying territory in his May 26 show at The Duplex (superb James Followell on piano; video clips on Youtube.com). A truly disarming manner, optimism, and bubbly enthusiasm for the songs were endearing. Dwayne's focused, intent, nuanced interpretations of lyrics revealed a thoughtful, convincing actor who can find the intimate cabaret communication quotient in a pop song. Comic relief leavened things. The focus: selections from his exquisite self-titled CD (label: LML Music) — songs like "Why" (wow!) and "Pure Imagination" (his sweetly unspoiled sense of awe could make you believe in Santa Claus — or even true love). He and guest Lee Lessack did a powerful duet of Wicked's "For Good." The mix: down-to-earth personality and heavenly voice: ideal!
Rob Lester
Cabaret Scenes
May 26, 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org
Additional reviews for Dwayne can be found at the following:
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&friendID=193352216
"This album is too good to be simply played in the background..."- Mark Ritchie, THE STAGE (UK)
"...An artist sure to become one of (LML Music's) brightest shining stars." -
LAStageScene. com "Dwayne Britton's debut CD is terrific. His vocals are expressive, emotional and beautifully sung. He has put together a marvelous collection of songs with intimate, elegant arrangements and I am delighted that his touching rendition of "Go The Distance" is among them." - David Zippel ("City of Angels," "The Woman in White" and Disney's "Hercules" & "Mulan"
"*** (out of four stars). This crooner's beautifully light tenor is built for cabarets and show tunes. . .lovely, delicate, and slightly tremulous. . .the freshest interpretations are stark readings of Annie Lennox's "Why" and, especially, Tori Amos's "Baker Baker." - Dan Loughry, Frontiers Magazine
"Please thank Mr. Britton for his excellent rendition of my song, "More Than This..." - Stephen Schwartz (Academy Award Winning Composer of "Wicked," "Godspell" & "Pippin,")
"I can understand why Stephen Schwartz, when he first spoke to me about (Dwayne Britton), was reaching for superlatives to describe (his) talent. I've played "More Than This" for many, many friends and visitors and have created, I hope, a few more fans to add to (his) legions. Of which I am one." - Dean Pitchford: "Fame," "Footloose"
"Britton's delivery is precise and powerful, as best exemplified in his winning rendition of Tori Amos' "Baker Baker." -
OUT. com"We were honored to have "Run Away With Me" included on Dwayne Britton's debut album . . . Mr. Britton's intimate, heartfelt performances are young and fresh, and imbued with his own sense of style and personality. We can't wait to hear what comes next." Kait Kerrigan and Brian Lowdermilk ("The Unauthorized Biography of Samantha Brown")
"Dwayne Britton's self-titled debut is a wonderful collection that compliments Mr Britton's expressive and heartfelt delivery on each song . . . I can only look forward to hearing what songs he compiles for the next chapter." - Scott Alan ("Piece")
"...A solid solo debut." - New England Blade
"Dwayne's interpretations come out as communicative rather than navel-gazing self-involvement... He sounds equally convincing on songs that hark back to simple child-friendly innocence and hope, connecting to "The Rainbow Connection" from The Muppet Movie, and to the more complex, like the very grown-up "Baker Baker" by Tori Amos.... Sincerity is the key word here all around, but it isn't insincere sincerity that feels like artificial sweetener... an intimate introspection... an impressive first album." - Talkin Broadway
"It's really just this simple: when Dwayne Britton opens his mouth to sing, he also opens up his heart. . .A truly disarming manner, optimism, and bubbly enthusiasm for the songs were endearing. Dwayne's focused, intent, nuanced interpretations of lyrics revealed a thoughtful, convincing actor who can find the intimate cabaret communication quotient in a pop song. Comic relief leavened things. The focus: selections from his exquisite self-titled CD (label: LML Music) — songs like "Why" (wow!) and "Pure Imagination" (his sweetly unspoiled sense of awe could make you believe in Santa Claus — or even true love). . . .The mix: down-to-earth personality and heavenly voice: ideal!" - Cabaret Scenes
"To quote a Billy Joel song from his debut album, Dwayne Britton 'has a way about him. . .and he's got a way of pleasin',' especially on a beautiful ballad. His sensitivity and sincerity shine through in each song, and the rewarding result is a heartfelt CD that's as mellow as it is mellifluous."
-Wayman Wong
NY DAILY NEWS(the same organization reviewed Dwayne's NYC Debut in May -- Look for the current issues of C.S. in NYC bookstores)
"...Compelling... The listener is swept on a journey of story songs by this weaver of dreams... an expressively warm, lyric baritone that he uses tenderly, recalling balladeers of another decade like Judy Collins, Gordon Lightfoot and the late Dan Fogelberg. Britton has a tendency to twist melodies just enough to personalize them, giving each lyric an imperative that fuses gently into something bucolic. This is his strength and the end results are spellbinding interpretations from a singer who is emerging as one of today's serious new male vocalists... an exercise in drama, restraint and minimalism that is hard to top..."
-John Hoglund