The Best Male Voice on Broadway- Page 4

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 2/3/09 at 5:47am

Aaron Lazar would have no trouble being heard without a mic and ditto for Kudisch.

When I think of great male Broadway voices, here are some of the people I think of, in alphabetical order: Len Cariou, Jack Cassidy, Stephen Douglass, Alfred Drake, Wilbur Evans, Larry Kert, John McMartin, Ray Middleton (if only he'd recorded more!), John Raitt. Some of those guys get in there mostly on vocal splendor and some on the ability to communicate lyrics. And some get in there on both counts.

[TheresaG]

Posted: 2/3/09 at 9:23am

I sort of agree with the person who started this thread - Constantine Maroulis is an outstanding tenor. His voice is very well trained and has an excellent range. People who saw him do "Jacques Brel is Alive and Living and Paris" can attest to that.

As much as I enjoyed him in Rock of Ages, I don't think that role is the type that will move him into this Best Voice title. It will for rock musicals, though. But he will get that role someday where he will originate songs and he will be said to be one of the best Broadway has heard.

Updated On: 2/3/09 at 09:23 AM

[Jesus]

Posted: 2/3/09 at 11:56am

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Billy Porter, while he's no longer in his prime,he could sing to high heaven. Yes it is true he could sometimes go a little overboard with his styling, but he certainly made every song he sang his own. He had, and still has an incredible range, and is always emotionally connected to what he sings. But what always got me with him was that, for the most part, I'd say 90% of the time, his stylings were in service of the song. They reflected whatever was happening emotionally, on a musical level...his interpretations are always arresting. Certainly not a traditional broadway voice...but an incredible one none the less.

[jasonf]

Posted: 2/3/09 at 12:21pm

I agree with many said above (especially Norm Lewis and Anthony Warlow if we count him), but I haven't seen anyone mention Alexander Gemignani -- he absolutely blew me away in Les Mis.

Though I'm not the biggest fan of the show, I thought Matthew Morrison was fantastic in Light in the Piazza.

As for old school Broadway, I have to go with John Cullum - his performances of "Molasses to Rum" and the Meditations in Shenendoah are nothing short of brilliant.

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 2/3/09 at 12:32pm

Hands down...Steven Pasquale.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 2/3/09 at 12:58pm

Pasquale and Lazar are easily the best "young" voices to come along in the last several years. I'm also very impressed with Gavin Creel. All three of these gents have a naturally beautiful ease and richness in their voices.

Mitchell is a wonderful actor, but his voice is a bit too covered for me. He has learned well, but it isnt the best out there, imo.

The best ever was Alfred Drake. Harve Presnell is another favorite of mine.

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 2/3/09 at 1:15pm

SporkGoddess -- just remember that voice teachers are just like anyone else, they have their own opinions and likes and dislikes when it comes to voices. Just because they are teachers and have experience in vocal training, doesn't always mean their opinions are exclusive.

The reason I say this is because I have had similar experiences as well. My voice professor in college LOATHED Colm Wilkinson, and always went out of his way to remind me of this. Now granted, Colm isn't for everyone, but I personally love Colm's voice, even if it isn't your trademark classically trained one. Another teacher of mine thought that Kathleen Battle was a hack...so it just goes to show that to each his own.

[cab832]

Posted: 2/3/09 at 9:33pm

I think Jeff McCarthy, James Barbour, and Howard McGillin have beautiful voices.

[beltingbaritone]

Posted: 2/3/09 at 10:06pm

Give me a meaty baritone voice over a tenor any day.

James Barbour
Norm Lewis
Terrence Mann
...I'm drawing such a blank right now. Ugh!

[breakfree303]

Posted: 2/4/09 at 12:15am

Paulo Szot* as of right now.
When he sang "Some Enchanted Evening" I nearly melted in my seat (and not just because it was boiling hot in the city that day)

*I'm not 100% sure about that spelling.

[heo1128]

Posted: 2/4/09 at 12:45am

Some people have said Brian D'arcy James. Agreed!! I LOVE his voice. I hope they use him for the N2N recording...but they probably won't.

[jasonf]

Posted: 2/4/09 at 9:56am

I forgot John Barrowman -- everything he sings sounds amazing.

[toomeytwopiece]

Posted: 2/4/09 at 12:33pm

I love Aaron Lazar's voice, but then I went to school with him, so I am a bit biased LOL. I also LOVE Billy Porter's voice; as well as Stephen Pasquale's. I have a lot of love for John Raitt's, and Mario Lanza's. Brian Stokes Mitchell's voice has a unique and emotive tone. Brian d'Arcy James' voice is similarly unique and he's one heck of an actor.

The rest are ok.. but they are musical theater stylists... not singers in the all-encompassing sense of the word. Furthermore, Constantine is a rock singer. Gavin Creel can sing his own brand of pop-rock, but he is mostly a contemporary musical theater singer.

I think of Kevin Cahoon as being more of a singer though than someone like Gavin. Kevin is more versatile, and is great in each style. Gavin is a great example of what the current state of musical theater crowns as a great tenor. I don't know if I agree with that. He's a great sort of tenor, but there are so many sorts now, and the theater is so forgiving that the standards by which we judge singers have changed. A guy's looks, now more than EVER, count toward a singer's status. That seems to be the number one reason anyone is thought of as good nowadays, whether we want to admit it or not.
Updated On: 2/5/09 at 12:33 PM

[CourtedLikeAQueen2]

Posted: 2/4/09 at 4:03pm

My vote is for James Barbour.

[taylor_kras]

Posted: 2/4/09 at 5:13pm

I'd go with Gavin Creel and Cheyenne Jackson

[heatha1017]

Posted: 2/4/09 at 8:20pm

I would have to say James Barbour and Douglas Sills. Both of their voices have this distinct quality that just completely moves you. James Barbour put me to tears when he sang I Can't Recall. Ugh, get both of them back on broadway!

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 2/4/09 at 9:10pm

To be honest, I'm not into that whole operatic vibrato sound, all of those guys that sing that sound exactly the same to me. I'm more on the Adam Pascal, Norbert Leo Butz, John Groff ect. side. But Raul Esparza...he is the bridge between the "new broadway sound" and the "big vibrato sound". Raule is THE BEST...hands down.

[tazber]

Posted: 2/5/09 at 9:00am

Orfeh, hands down.

[Tevye the Dairyman]

Posted: 2/5/09 at 9:23am

what exactly do you mean by "big vibrato sound"? All the actors you mentioned are trained singers and have vibrato in their voice, butz and pascal having very distinct ones (not to mention Raul's...). It's not as if they straight tone everything.

[LotteTBS138]

Posted: 2/5/09 at 10:20am

>>Give me a meaty baritone voice over a tenor any day.

James Barbour
Norm Lewis
Terrence Mann
...I'm drawing such a blank right now. Ugh! <<

Yeah, maybe because I'm a tuba player I'm biased but to add to the non-Broadway list: Philip Quast, Anthony Warlow and John Barrowman!

And Tevye, "big vibrato sound"... I love Michael Ball but read my sig below...

Updated On: 2/5/09 at 10:20 AM

[nicole neumann2]

Posted: 2/5/09 at 12:02pm

my favortive male voices are: Raul, matthew morrion, norbet leo butz, patrick wilson, hunter foster, jonthan goff, john galger jr,chenne jackson, hugh jackman, adam pasgal, guys from Taboo. ...nicole

[wonkit]

Posted: 2/5/09 at 6:59pm

From the past - Alfred Drake. Although I also like the recordings I have heard of John Raitt, Drake has such a lovely and unique sound that he in a class by himself.

Current Broadway voices - and these are my "favorites", and not necessarily "best" - Raul Esparza, Norm Lewis and Terence Mann. I am looking forward to hearing Douglas Sills in "Encores!" this weekend, as I liked him a lot in "Scarlet Pimpernel".

[Kelly2]

Posted: 2/7/09 at 12:34am

Tazber-

Why are you so obsessed with Orfeh? Seriously, it's a little disturbing...

[A Director]

Posted: 2/7/09 at 4:00am

He has never appeared on Broadway, but Nathan Gunn puts of the men listed to shame. He is stunning on the new Allegro recording.

[pants2]

Posted: 2/7/09 at 11:40am

Aaron Lazaar. That kind of really refined legit singer in males i hard to come across these days, but its sooo good.