I Was Playing Their Song Paperback – January 24, 2023

FOREWARD BY MICHAEL FEINSTEINWorking with Steve Sondheim, Jerry Herman, Marvin Hamlisch Larry Blank describes growing up in the NY Theatre of the 60's till the present. He shares his experiences of being mentored by music business legends and with time, achieving the ability to pay it forwardBarbara Cook addresses seasonal music in a variety of moods and settings on Count Your Blessings. Cook is backed by an orchestra in detailed orchestrations by Larry Blank that support her voice well.COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS, vocalist Barbara Cook creates a charming addition to the Christmas music catalog. Teamed up with an orchestra and a small choir, Cook evokes the true spirit of the holiday. Larry Blank’s orchestrations are lush, colorful, and warm.Barbara Cook’s Count Your Blessings Christmas CDExcellence abounds in Casey Nicholaw’s sparkling direction and showstopping choreography, Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison’s enchanting score, David Gallo’s charming scenic design, Gregg Barnes’ stylish costumes, Ken Billington and Brian Monahan’s beautifully textured lighting, Phil Reno’s spry music direction, and Larry Blank’s crackling orchestrations.Review for Broadway Show The Drowsy ChaperoneSpecial kudos also should go to Larry Blank the musical director who carefully supported each of the performers with his orchestra ensuring that they always played to the artists’ strengths.Review for Memorial Tribute for composer Cy ColemanThe large ensemble and the solid orchestra, under Larry Blank’s baton, function meticulouslySweeney Todd at the Ahmanson Theatre 1999However, mention must go to Larry Blank, who created those immaculately clean, concise additional orchestrationsReview for La Cage Aux Folles Broadway RevivalOrchestrator Larry Blank — a protege of irv Kostal — is one of the few people in the field who understand that an orchestration can dress a song, in the same way that a costume dresses the singer. (For illustration, listen to “When You Got It, Flaunt It,’ one of the songs Blank orchestrated for The ProducersReview for Miss Spectacular CD - Music by Jerry Herman Read more