Album Notes

ESTHER the musical
Book, Music & Lyrics by J. David Crosby

ESTHER is the romantic musical drama based on the Bible's Old Testament story. It takes place in a pre-Islamic, ancient Persia when the Jewish people were scattered and those in the region were held captive. When the King divorces Queen Vashti for her indiscretions a new queen is sought among the young virgins throughout the country while Haman, the Prime Minister, has his own plans for Persia's future. Esther is a poor, orphaned young Jewish woman living with her adoptive father Mordecai. Due to circumstances beyond her control she becomes the Queen and is able to stop the genocide of her people.

Initial work on the musical began in 1992. The first demo recording was produced in 1995. This promo CD was recorded in 1999 with a studio cast starring Randy Brooks (The Promise), Stephanie Holderman (Les Miserables), Kathie Lactis, Bill Brooks, Terrie Carter and Jonathan Brooks. It was originally released by Temptress Records in 2003. This re-release contains ten newly remastered tracks and new material including the never heard before song "You'll Not Remember" from the 1995 demo as a bonus track.

According to the composer, "Esther has been in a never ending developmental stage. This version will bring something different, original and unique to the story...I have to because Esther is no longer the fresh idea it was several years ago after other productions on the same topic have sprung up everywhere. So consequently, I'm constantly reworking the show, the benefit is we will end up with a better show because of it. I'm taking an alternate approach to this Bible based epic and its presentation will be dramatic, entertaining, and unapologetically moving. The original story of Esther is such a thin plot with one dimensional characters, we don't know anything about them. There's a lot of unanswered questions in this historic tale. We're not just telling a story, but trying to tell their story as it might have been...Esther will be an intimate story told on a grand scale".

- J. David Crosby, composer/producer

David's music has been heard off off Broadway (STRAIGHT TALK, ABOVEBOARD) and in the films EMPATHY, ALEX VENINO: DIARY OF A HITMAN and the scores for RAPID EYE MOVEMENT starring Kansas Carradine and COLD BLOOD CANYON starring Lulu Brud. He's written songs and music for various directors and producers in Los Angeles and New York including Dreamworks and Jon Daly (Platoon, Terminator).