Adrienne Warren and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith in Tina – The Tina Turner Musical. Picture: Manuel Harlan
The West End’s Ike Turner, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith features on ‘The Hunter’, the second single release from the eagerly-anticipated original cast album, Tina – The Tina Turner Musical ahead of its Friday 29 March release via digital download and streaming.
Customers who pre-order the digital album will immediately receive a download of ‘The Hunter’, along with the first single, ‘River Deep – Mountain High’ featuring the show’s first leading lady, Tony Award nominee Adrienne Warren.
Presented by the show’s West End producers and Ghostlight Records, the album was recorded in January at Angel Studios and produced by the show’s musical supervisor Nicholas Skilbeck.
Commenting on ‘The Hunter’, Skilbeck said: “ ‘The Hunter’ was originally recorded by Ike and Tina Turner at the end of the 1960s and saw Tina’s first R&B Vocal Performance Grammy nomination.
“Ike Turner was a music revolutionary, considered by some, to be the father of rock n roll. In Tina – The Tina Turner Musical we repositioned the song to be performed by Ike Turner (Kobna Holdbrook-Smith) and The Kings of Rhythm live at Club Manhattan in St. Louis in the 1950s, showcasing Ike’s musical genius and his role in creating the sound of tomorrow.
“When recording, the idea was to give this song a vintage quality but as though it had never been heard before. The listener is thrust back in time, into the raw energy of an early rock‘n’roll gig, as if witnesses at the birth of the music revolution. Like our ‘River Deep-Mountain High’ recording, it’s very much about feeling you are in the room with the music, Kobna, Adrienne, the band and having that visceral connection to it.”
The producers of the crowd-pleasing musical which will enter its second year at the Aldwych Theatre next month recently announced the show’s West End run has been extended into December 2019.
US stage star Warren and Holdbrook-Smith will continue starring as Tina and Ike Turner until 13 April 2019 with newcomer Nkeki Obi-Melekwe and Ashley Zhangazha taking over in the hit show from 15 April.
Directed by Phyllida Lloyd and written by award-winning writer Katori Hall with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins, the show’s creative team includes choreographer Anthony van Last; set and costume designer Mark Thompson; musical supervisor Nicholas Skilbeck; lighting designer Bruno Poet; sound designer by Nevin Steinberg, projection designer Jeff Sugg and orchestrator Ethan Popp.
Tina is produced by Stage Entertainment, Joop van den Ende and Tali Pelman, in association with Tina Turner.
Angela Thomas
‘RIVER DEEP, MOUNTAIN HIGH’ – Adrienne Warren (Ghostlight Records – downloads)
Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
It is always quite a tall order bringing out a recording that is so well-known by such a legend as Tina Turner. This is a single track from the forthcoming original cast album of Tina – The Tina Turner Musical. And, since I haven’t seen the show, if this is any indication of what is coming, then I can’t wait.
Friends lucky enough to have seen the show have told me what a revelation Adrienne Warren is and that she absolutely blew them away. Now, listening to this single track, I can fully understand what they are talking about. With a powerhouse voice she absolutely nails this version of the classic ‘River Deep, Mountain High’. However, I do have to say that a lot of the praise must also go to the person/people responsible for the production of the track. All in all, this is a wonderful aperitif to the main meal that is being released at the end of the month. Can’t wait!
Nick Wakeham
Tickets for Tina the Musical are available HERE
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