Betty Buckley Sings From her Soul in 'Ghostlight'

When you've been in demand for 40 years, you might think it's time to slow down. Not so for Tony Award winner, recording artist and star of film and television Betty Buckley who is still realizing lifelong dreams after such a celebrated career in entertainment.

Her latest album release "Ghostlight" is one of those dreams that has been a longtime coming. Reuniting with longtime friend and producer T-Bone Burnett, "Ghostlight" finds Buckley singing songs from her soul. "I think this one probably reflects my soul more purely than any of my other recordings," Buckley says of "Ghostlight".

The original Grizabella from "Cats" on Broadway, Betty Buckley doesn't limit her love of storytelling to the roles she plays on the stage, in a film or on television. Buckley admits that she love of "visual lyrics" that tells stories and performing those songs.

Working with T-Bone

"Ghostlight" is a menu of songs from the Broadway Songbook, standards from the 60s, and some new contemporary music that capture the art of storytelling. Burnett has done a fine job in capturing Buckley's deeply emoted performance in a recording that could easily be experienced in a live performance setting. Such an opportunity takes place at the Nikko in San Francisco, November 13-16, where Buckley will be singing songs from the CD as part of her latest show "The Lyricist."

EDGE: A couple of years ago when we last spoke, you were touring with your stage show 'Ah Men! The Boys of Broadway' (from the album of the same name) and now you are touring with 'The Lyricist,' which includes songs from you recently released album 'Ghostlight' (September 16) The album reunited you with one of your longtime collaborators the legendary T-Bone Burnett. How was it for you working with T-Bone again on this project, one you have said is a dream come true?

Betty Buckley: Oh, yes! I love T-Bone so much and (he was) such a gift in producing this record, a real joy and wonderful.

Sound phenomenal

EDGE: Other than your partnership with T-Bone on 'Ghostlight', why is this a dream project?

Betty Buckley: It has a lot to do with T-Bone and I knowing each other all of our lives, and having a rich and common history together. He really knows who I am as a person and he wanted to get that on recording. The songs come from the Broadway Song Book, great standards from the 1960s when we grew up, and some contemporary songwriters we both love as well. I've done 16 CDs and I've loved them all, but I think this one probably reflects my soul more purely than any of my other recordings.

EDGE: Even though many of the songs on 'Ghostlight' go back a ways, there is a certain freshness to the sound of the recordings. They don't sound dated.

Betty Buckley: I agree with you. It's due to the phenomenal musicians T-Bone surrounded me with. They were inspiring recording sessions. Honestly, I've never felt so profoundly and deeply respected and loved than when making that recording.

EDGE: You sound phenomenal! Even after years of doing what you do, you still have that freshness and crispness in your voice. You've been able to maintain your instrument.

Betty Buckley: Thank you, BeBe, thank you.

Keeping it fresh

EDGE: As you talked about how the musicians played a big part in making 'Ghostlight' sound so fresh, I began to think of your upcoming 4-show run at Feinstein's here in San Francisco beginning November 13 and how that intimate room doesn't allow for a large number of musicians on stage. Any concerns that performing these songs with a downsized backing band will not produce the same feeling as on the album?

Betty Buckley: We just finished seven sold out shows at Joe's Pub in New York with a 5-piece band which included some fantastic musicians. At Feinstein's at the Nikko, we will only have a trio, pianist Christian Jacob, and two San Francisco musicians, Alan Hall on drums, and Daniel Fabricant on bass. We will be performing several songs from 'Ghostlight' to celebrate the record. T-Bone said when we made the record that he wanted it to be a story about a girl in this little band that told stories about a true life in the city and relationships. It has that affect. So whether we do them with a large group or small group of musicians, it's really about the stories themselves.

EDGE: The last solo show you toured with was built around songs from the vixen characters of Broadway ('The Vixens of Broadway') which obviously has a different vibe than the music of 'Ghostlight.' In contrast, how is it for you to perform these 'Ghostlight' songs that you say are of your soul than others?

Betty Buckley: Well, I really love performing those type of songs. I have a slogan on the wall in my bedroom that says 'music is love in search of words,' so I based my show on that in calling it 'The Lyricist.' I love beautiful songs that have very visual lyrics that tell stories of love and relationship.

EDGE: You are a multitalented person that seems to find time to do it all stage, film, television and recordings. Do you ever have the thought of slowing down?

Betty Buckley: Oh, God, I hope not! I like getting rest between (projects) but I love my work deeply. It's an honor to sing and create music for people and tell stories whether it be by film, television or the theater.

Tony Award winner Betty Buckley will be performing her solo show 'The Lyricist' with songs from her new album 'Ghostlight' at Feinstein's at the Nikko from November 13 through November 16. www.ticketweb.com.

For more on Betty Buckley visit Betty Buckley's website.