Before David Campbell dazzled Australia with his turn as Johnny O’Keefe and his swinging standards, he was wowing crowds on Broadway. So it makes sense that he’s returned to musical theatre with his latest album, David Campbell Sings John Bucchino.
I consider myself a bit of a musical theatre nut, but I must admit that I wasn’t familiar with John Bucchino’s work. This album provides the perfect introduction to his music though. David didn’t simply take his songs and run with them. He enlisted John to play piano on all the tracks and the duo shares production credits.
There are a few other names in the album sleeve, but this album feels like a two-hander. If you were expecting big Broadway embellishments, you’d be disappointed. Personally I appreciate the simplicity of the delivery. Without frills, with only a tinkling piano as accompaniment, David’s voice and John’s lyrics shine. It’s a perfect marriage. Sometimes it can be difficult for an artist to inhabit someone else’s songs, but David’s connection to the material is obvious.
I felt invited into the intimate bond of these musicians as each track unfolded. I was captivated from the opening track “Sweet Dreams,” a tender ballad about a chance meeting between two broken-hearted souls and the different paths they ultimately take. It remains one of my favourite numbers on the album, but I was also swept away by the unbridled enthusiasm of “Taking the Wheel” and the romance of “Unexpressed.”
I don’t expect David Campbell Sings John Bucchino to set the charts on fire the way David’s swing albums did. He made a name for himself singing familiar songs, and it’s going to be tough to convince music lovers to work a little harder and embrace something new to them. But anyone who does will be richly rewarded, because the pairing of these stellar artists is truly something special.