CURTIS STIGERS - Gentleman
Emarcy/Universal Records (tba)
Curtis Stigers (vcl,tnr), Larry Goldings (pno,org), John "Scrapper" Sneider (tpt), Jody Ferber (cello), David Pitch (bs), Austin Beede (drs), Doug Yowell (perc).
From his first self titled, platinum selling album in 91, Curtis Stigers has been one of the classiest male vocalists on the planet, drawing comparison with some of the real giants of the vocal art, Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme and Tony Bennett. Born in Boise, Idaho some fifty four years ago, his highly recognizable voice and easy laid back style have wowed sell out audiences across the world for decades. Maybe from a pure jazz point of view he does not process the invention or improvisational ability of a Mark Murphy or Kurt Elling, but nevertheless he certainly more than adequately fulfills the vast market for a modern recreation of The Great American Songbook, and much more besides. Long gone are the Billboard singles hits of the nineties and a UK top five position with his self penned song "I Wonder Why", replaced by a mature approach to the great composers of the past, alongside his own increasingly strong contribution to modern song writing. Although he has always had one foot in the "popular entertainment" category he has shared stages and concert bills with jazz icons, The Brecker Brothers, Gerry Mulligan, John Schofield, and Wynton Marsalis, to mention just a few. His 2017 album "One More For The Road",with The N.D.R. Big Band, a recreation of the Frank Sinatra, Count Basie album and concert at The Sands in Las Vegas from 1966, was a sensation the subsequent tour, including five nights at Ronnie Scotts, a complete sell out.
For this, his thirteenth album Curtis has assembled a fine group of supporting musicians, all with experience at the highest level, including the great Larry Goldings who also co-produced the session with him. They get underway with a pair of blues tinged numbers, Nick Lowe's melancholy Lately I've Let Things Slide, followed by the old standard After You've Gone, written way back in 1918 by Turner Layton and Henry Creamer. A couple of originals partly written by the vocalist follow, a brief but beautiful ballad A Lifetime Together followed the title track Gentleman, an up-tempo swinger but still approached in a laid back manner by the vocalist who also showcases his not inconsiderable talent on tenor saxophone. There are some fine performances throughout the set from Larry Goldings both on piano and organ while John Sneider's trumpet adds much needed colour to proceedings and could perhaps have been used more liberally. The highlight of the album for some will be Tom Hall's Shame On The Rain, a fine lyrical and smokey piece with some excellent conversations between piano and voice. Overall with only a couple of more well known tunes included, plus a general ambiance of sad reflection this is not a recording that makes a great impact at the first listen even although the high musical quality is without doubt . A European tour, including another five nights at Ronnie's is planned for later in the year, and if it goes ahead is most likely to play to full houses once again in front of this artist's loyal and enthusiastic following. As far as the album itself is concerned, not quite up to the very high standards that Curtis Stigers has set over recent years.
Reviewed by Jim Burlong
Emarcy/Universal Records (tba)
Curtis Stigers (vcl,tnr), Larry Goldings (pno,org), John "Scrapper" Sneider (tpt), Jody Ferber (cello), David Pitch (bs), Austin Beede (drs), Doug Yowell (perc).
From his first self titled, platinum selling album in 91, Curtis Stigers has been one of the classiest male vocalists on the planet, drawing comparison with some of the real giants of the vocal art, Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme and Tony Bennett. Born in Boise, Idaho some fifty four years ago, his highly recognizable voice and easy laid back style have wowed sell out audiences across the world for decades. Maybe from a pure jazz point of view he does not process the invention or improvisational ability of a Mark Murphy or Kurt Elling, but nevertheless he certainly more than adequately fulfills the vast market for a modern recreation of The Great American Songbook, and much more besides. Long gone are the Billboard singles hits of the nineties and a UK top five position with his self penned song "I Wonder Why", replaced by a mature approach to the great composers of the past, alongside his own increasingly strong contribution to modern song writing. Although he has always had one foot in the "popular entertainment" category he has shared stages and concert bills with jazz icons, The Brecker Brothers, Gerry Mulligan, John Schofield, and Wynton Marsalis, to mention just a few. His 2017 album "One More For The Road",with The N.D.R. Big Band, a recreation of the Frank Sinatra, Count Basie album and concert at The Sands in Las Vegas from 1966, was a sensation the subsequent tour, including five nights at Ronnie Scotts, a complete sell out.
For this, his thirteenth album Curtis has assembled a fine group of supporting musicians, all with experience at the highest level, including the great Larry Goldings who also co-produced the session with him. They get underway with a pair of blues tinged numbers, Nick Lowe's melancholy Lately I've Let Things Slide, followed by the old standard After You've Gone, written way back in 1918 by Turner Layton and Henry Creamer. A couple of originals partly written by the vocalist follow, a brief but beautiful ballad A Lifetime Together followed the title track Gentleman, an up-tempo swinger but still approached in a laid back manner by the vocalist who also showcases his not inconsiderable talent on tenor saxophone. There are some fine performances throughout the set from Larry Goldings both on piano and organ while John Sneider's trumpet adds much needed colour to proceedings and could perhaps have been used more liberally. The highlight of the album for some will be Tom Hall's Shame On The Rain, a fine lyrical and smokey piece with some excellent conversations between piano and voice. Overall with only a couple of more well known tunes included, plus a general ambiance of sad reflection this is not a recording that makes a great impact at the first listen even although the high musical quality is without doubt . A European tour, including another five nights at Ronnie's is planned for later in the year, and if it goes ahead is most likely to play to full houses once again in front of this artist's loyal and enthusiastic following. As far as the album itself is concerned, not quite up to the very high standards that Curtis Stigers has set over recent years.
Reviewed by Jim Burlong
