Marking Barbra Streisand’s 79th birthday, the amazing singer Liza Pulman has released an EP of her Liza Pulman Sings Streisand show. Having played to sold out houses including London’s Cadogan Hall, Wilton’s Music Hall, The Other Palace and the Lyric Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, now audiences can hear six legendary songs from Liza and her band from the comfort of their own homes.
Liza is joined by the multi-award winning Brighouse And Rastrick Brass Band in two tracks on this remarkable EP – The Way We Were and Like You Don’t Bring Me Flowers. In The Way We Were Joseph Atkins’ clever orchestration of Marvin Hamlisch’s song allows the glorious instruments to bring so much heart to this new arrangement. As with all of these rereleased tracks, producer Chris Porter has breathed new life into the music with his loving remixing and remastering.
The only live recording on the EP is the wonderful A Sleepin’ Bee. Liza says, I was walking through Brixton market once, in the old days, when we used to listen to CDs, and I heard this wonderful jazz guitar coming from one of the stalls. This old fella was selling CDs and he was playing a track from the legendary Kenny Burrell’s 60’s album, Soul Call. The song was Sleepin’ Bee and ever since then I have always wanted to do a version of that Harold Arlen song that was just voice, guitar and bass. I am lucky enough to work with one of the most talented guitarists I know, Andy Taylor Vebel and here he is happily joined by Tom Mark on bass.
While Liza never set up to impersonate Streisand you can certainly hear a little of Streisand in her voice in Evergreen. Listening to this soulful classic, it is clear how much of an impact Streisand’s relationship with line and sustained singing has had on Liza. The well-known and hugely powerful song comes from the 1976 film A Star Is Born and was written by Barbra Streisand and Paul Williams. The following year Streisand won an Oscar for best actress and for best original song making her the only woman in history ever to do so.
Also on the EP are New York State Of Mind, a magnificent duo between Liza and Rich Pardy on saxophone, and The Way He Makes Me Feel, surely the most precious gem from Yentl by Michel Le Grand with lyrics by Alan and Marylin Bergman.
The new EP is available to purchase here.
