After a long, long wait, Weymouth's Brian De Lorenzo finally gets his CD release concert
Weymouth native Brian De Lorenzo is not only an award-winning singer and actor, and a respected cabaret artist, he’s also a patient person.
The release concert for De Lorenzo’s new CD, “I Know More Now,” was originally scheduled for March 18, 2020. Two and a half years and a pandemic later, the long-awaited CD release concert is now set for Nov. 19 at Boston’s Club Café.
“My first CD, ‘Found Treasures,’ which came out in 1999, is a collection of lesser-known songs from Broadway including ‘Why Should I Wake Up?’ from the original production of ‘Cabaret,’ and two numbers from ‘Angel,’ a 1978 musical based on ‘Look Homeward, Angel,’” De Lorenzo said by telephone from his home in Boston.
From the team of Tony Award-winning lyricist and book writer Peter Udell and composer Gary Geld, “Angel” was shown no mercy by either critics or audiences in New York, and closed after only five performances at New York’s Minskoff Theatre.
“On the new CD, I do one song from ‘Angel’ called ‘I Got a Dream to Sleep On,’ which I’ve done in concert for years,” says De Lorenzo, who has performed in cabaret rooms, nightclubs and concert halls from Boston and Provincetown to Chicago, London, New York, Puerto Vallarta and beyond.
While he’s not always onstage, of course, thoughts of music are never far away.
“The new CD is the result of 20 years of collecting songs and thinking, ‘One day, I’m going to record this,’” De Lorenzo said.
With this running list, De Lorenzo and music director, accompanist and collaborator Doug Hammer went into the recording studio in 2019, working a few hours at a time between February and August of that year to get each song just right.
“Most of the songs on ‘I Know More Now’ show a knowledge of life, relationships, love and also humor,” De Lorenzo said. “Music is an essential part of life. We wouldn’t want to live in a world without it, and laughter is essential too, which is why I wanted this CD to have a fun, up-tempo feel to it.”
The title aptly describes De Lorenzo’s evolution as a singer and an artist who takes great care with his song selections.
Three of the songs on the recording, including “Listen to My Heart" and "I Finally Let Go," are by award-winning New York-based composer and author David Friedman, who is known for his collaborations with the late Nancy LaMott, a New York cabaret legend, and for his regular appearances on NBC-TV’s “Today” show.
More:Hollywood at home: Marina Studios makes movie magic in Quincy and Canton
“Most of David’s songs are very personal and yet anyone can identify with them,” De Lorenzo said. “One of David’s songs on the new record is ‘Trick of Fate’ from the 1999 movie ‘Trick,’ which is about two guys who meet and fall in love.
“I heard it on the soundtrack of the film not long after I first met my husband, John Amodeo,” De Lorenzo said. “And I started singing it in concert back then.”
De Lorenzo will likely perform that song and others from “I Know More Now” at Club Café, while other selections may include songs by Marvin Hamlisch, Diane Warren, Johnny Mercer, Rodgers & Hammerstein, William Finn and Frank Loesser.
And also one by composer Marc Shaiman and lyricist Scott Wittman that fans of the NBC-TV series “Smash” will remember.
“I do ‘Second Hand White Baby Grand’ from ‘Bombshell,’ the musical within the series. It was sung by the Marilyn Monroe character, who was a big star but could be difficult because of her own insecurity,” De Lorenzo said. “It’s a really beautiful song about vulnerability.”
Growing up in Weymouth, De Lorenzo attended St. Francis Xavier Elementary School, South Junior High and Weymouth South High School. He hadn’t even had a double-digit birthday when he gave his first public performance.
“One of the nuns from St. Francis Xavier suggested to my parents that I start singing in choirs. The first was Weymouth’s Christ Choir School, later renamed New England Children’s Choir. I got my first semi-pro gig with Weymouth’s Fine Arts Chorale at age 9.
More:Movie review: Horror-comedy 'The Menu' serves a meal to die for
“I was one of three boys who did Benjamin Britten’s ‘St. Nicolas' cantata in a concert at the old Weymouth North High School,” said De Lorenzo, who for the past 18 years has sung with the choir of the Parish of the Good Shepherd in Newton.
And while he has spent much of his life singing the music of others, that has changed in one of the few positive outcomes of the pandemic.
“Like almost everyone, John and I were stuck at home during COVID. And I discovered a latent interest in writing songs, so I enrolled in The Songwriting Academy,” De Lorenzo said. “I’ve written the music and lyrics for a song called ‘Things Will Get Better,’ which I look forward to doing in concert.”
If you go ...
What: Brian De Lorenzo “I Know More Now” CD Release Concert
When: Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Club Café, 209 Columbus Ave., Boston
Tickets: $23.50
Info: www.clubcafe.com/events/brian-de-lorenzo/
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Weymouth's Brian De Lorenzo finally gets his CD release concert
