Customer Reviews

But Beautiful, Standards: Volume 1

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Many rock singers have released albums of standards with varying degrees of success. Where Nelson Riddle's big band arrangement perfectly suited Linda Ronstadt, who belted out the song "What's New?" for all she's worth, the small jazz combo backing Boz Scaggs perfectly suits his laid back vocals on that song. He sings the classic "Sophisticated Lady" as though Duke Ellington had written it for him to perform. Boz sings "For All We Know" with a world weariness that perfectly matches the mood of the lyrics. "So love me tonight; tomorrow was made for some. Tomorrow may never come, for all we know." No singer's voice is better suited to singing standards than Boz Scaggs. The musicians backing him are superb and the production is perfect. The subtitle of this album is Standards, Volume One. Personally, I can't wait to hear Volume Two!

This is Boz Scaggs' first album of standards and he handles them well. He's backed by a straight-ahead jazz quartet led by pianist Paul Nagel. They perform skillfully enough, but the proper center of attention is Boz, whose lithe and graceful singing glides over the notes. The arrangements feel relatively conventional, but are actually daring in subtle ways, such as the hint of bossa nova on "Never Let Me Go" and the soft yet fast and steady percussion that carries through "But Beautiful." The sound quality is superb on this recording -- Boz sounds like he's singing right in the room with you.

As far as pop singers doing the jazz standard thing, Boz performs naturally and convincingly. His phrasing is deluxe, and the song selection is well suited to his talents. I especially like the versions of "Sophisticated Lady" and "I Should Care." There are many others I can name who completed the crossing much less successfully. I will be glad when his next rock/pop CD comes out, but this is an entirely pleasing collection in the interim. Hard core jazz vocal fans should give it a try too. If a Volume 2 ever comes out, I'll buy it too.

Jennifer Simpson, a big Boz Scaggs fan, wants to know what I think of his latest CD, But Beautiful. Here, Boz breaks away from his rock and blues menu and gets into jazz and American standards. Wait a minute - he's copying Larry Ching (the artist whose CD I just produced)! Thing is, Boz has always traversed the great American musical landscape, from blues and soul to country and rock to jazz and pop. On Fade Into Light, a 1996 CD released in Japan, he did a gorgeous version of "Harbor Lights." And in recent years, he's captivated audiences with a silky reading of "My Funny Valentine." Unfortunately, that chestnut is not in this collection, but "What's New," "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered," "Sophisticated Lady," and a lucky seven others, are filtered through the singular Scaggs voice. If you've dug Boz through the years, and understand that, in a sense, he's always been a jazzer-improvisational, eclectic, spare, and capable of making the voice a musical instrument, part of the ensemble-you'll find the new recording a little different. But beautiful. --from my column at asianconnections.com

Boz Scaggs applies his considerable and unique vocals skills to this warm collection of classic tunes in a way that gives one a new appreciation for his musical range. He sounds quite comfortable, thank you, with the talented musicians who wander with him through these clever and inspired arrangements. In paticular, I love his tone of wise, world-weariness in "Sophisticated Lady." Perfect to relax to at the end of a long day or to enjoy by the fire on an autumn afternoon, this is one of those CDs that brings a fresh discovery with each listening. I dare you to get through the first three tracks without kicking off your shoes, laying back on the couch and enjoying the sunset. Believe me, I've tried. It can't be done. Just sit back and enjoy this relaxed, jazzy drive. Nice work, Mr. Scaggs et al and thank you. More like this, please!

This album is great, and gets better with every listen. If you don't love jazz, and standards, then maybe get your Boz elsewhere, but if you do: get this today.
Boz's vocals sound natural (and mellow). As in all really good jazz interpretations he stretches subtly in many moments, and keeps it VERY personal. Because of this I heard a lot of the lyrics anew. These are now among my favourite versions of these songs. Oh, and the PLAYING is so fine: I can't wait to hear these guys live, with or without Boz. hope this is vol 1 of many.

I consider this album to be the finest collection of standards I have ever heard recorded by a pop/rock singer, better even than the famous ones by Linda Ronstadt and miles ahead of the grating ones by Rod Stewart. But I am convinced that the earlier reviewers who hated the drums on Boz's album (one person said "the world's worst drummer"!!) have never heard music like this and thus have no idea how the drums are supposed to sound in a collection of jazz ballads. Jason Lewis is one of the very best drummers in the San Francisco Bay Area, and his playing on this CD is absolutely spot-on perfect. Please ignore the ignoramuses who say otherwise, for they clearly don't know how to listen to this style of music.

I bought this album yesterday and couldn't wait to write a review for it. Every song in this album has a special meaning for me. I hang my head in shame when I think that Boz and I lived in the same City (San Francisco) and I never bothered to check him out because I was mooning over Kenny Rankin. Sorry Boz, I won't make the same mistake twice. I have played this CD five times in a row and all I can say is BUY IT, it is so good you'll fall in love with him, I did.

I first heard this album on the local TSU jazz station. I have not been a fan of his music, I am now. His interpretations and superb side men make this album one I listen to time and time again.

The recording is excellent, a cut above the average CD. I use a high end system that immediately separates the good recording from the average.

I have listened to this album many times and never tire of it. As I listen each time I hear something different.

I hope he comes out with another one soon.

I was pleasantly surprised by the first single "What's New?", but as the other singles marched on I had the feeling that they sounded alike. The saxophonist, Eric Crystal, is very good; the album sounds reminiscent of the John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman album. I think there was a good attempt at making these songs his own, which is very difficult since it's easy to compare them to Sinatra, Fitzgerald, etc... The album didn't knock me out, but it's good, and it does get better each time I listen to it. Worth the money, let's face it, there's not too many people currently making anything even close.

As I read the reviews of this album, and most of them were not completely positive, I had to remind myself that the subtleties and nuances of Boz' music were never noticed by the masses. I am glad that he still has the touch to go over the head of most listeners - that is what makes him special. Boz' vocals seem to amazingly improve with age and this album is no exception. The fact that he decided to do a standards album may have more to do with his lack of tolerance for the music industry than anything else. This is Boz' label and Boz' CD. Give us more like this as often as possible. Ignore the naysayers, they never knew you anyway.