“On the surface, David Yazbek the indie-rock prankster has little in common with David Yazbek the writer of brash, witty show tunes. But below the bright exterior lurks an attitude of brutal sarcasm.”
—The New York Times
“Yazbek’s music and lyrics capture not only the romance between the Egyptian stars…but also the romance of every audience member who longs for reconciliation rather than constant conflict.”
—American Songwriter
“David Yazbek’s beautifully-judged music manages to balance his highbrow and lowbrow tendencies.”
—Hits Daily Double
“Yazbek’s voice is lovely, his lyrics are witty, satirical, off the beaten path, and detailed; they clearly demonstrate his writing prowess.”
—AllMusic
ECR Music Group is proud to welcome Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award-winning musician David Yazbek to its Meridian imprint. Yazbek’s career as one of this century’s most accomplished Broadway composers is matched only by his successes off The Great White Way—he’s won an Emmy Award for his work on Late Night with David Letterman, co-written the beloved theme to Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?, and released five celebrated, full-band solo records.
Now, following his recent multiple successes from behind the curtain, Yazbek returns to center stage himself, releasing the unique Four Songs From Dead Outlaw EP. These full-band recordings of beloved songs from his Tony-nominated Broadway hit Dead Outlaw offer a powerful and fresh take from Yazbek, co-writer Erik Della Penna, and distinguished producer Dean Sharenow. Now rendered by the actual recording artists behind them, these cult-classic songs have never sounded like this before.
“Dead Outlaw originally started as a concept album performed by me, Erik, and producer Dean Sharenow,” explains Yazbek. “In a way, these are the purest versions of the songs that became the show, recorded by three close friends in the middle of COVID—full of joy, fear, and an urgent appreciation of life.”
The powerful dichotomy expressed by Yazbek—a joy of life on the one hand and, on the other, writing a set of songs which are about death—was a duality he and Della Penna not only embraced, but ran toward eagerly. About “Dead,” the lead track of the EP and a cornerstone song of the musical itself, Yazbek says, “Death is going to happen. Realize it, own it, and life is sweeter. The story of Dead Outlaw begins and ends with this song and man, do we love singing it.”
The New York Times writes, “David Yazbek is a daredevil juggler catching spiked pins in the traveling carnival of his imagination.” AllMusic describes his songwriting as “witty, satirical, off the beaten path, and detailed.” Hits Daily Double proclaims his work as “beautifully-judged music.”
For the millions of listeners who love David Yazbek’s work for TV and Broadway, this new release will provide a newfound understanding of the length and breadth of Yazbek’s songwriting, singing, piano playing, and artistry. For those who’ve cherished his recording artist catalog from the start, Four Songs From Dead Outlaw is exactly what so many have been hoping for.
