Customer Reviews

How About Me

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If you've had a bad day at the office or with the kids, you can mellow out with one of the true vocal legends of Los Angeles. Going back to the Central Ave. days in LA more than 50 years ago, Ernie is still happily singing and swinging and has a way of putting just the right melodic spin on the words.

Adding interest and color to this wonderful album is the soulful Houston Person on tenor.

I love relaxed, low-keyed jazz albums as an antidote to a sometimes frantic world - ones with an unforced swing that aren't boring, and Ernie sings what he's lived in his long, joyful and productive life. (Many years ago I had the privilege of sitting in with him at Alphonse's Restaurant on Riverside Dr. and I'll never forget the thrill.)

When I ordered this CD it was paired with "This Is Ernie Andrews", which I didn't realize until it arrived was a 2005 remaster of a 1964 recording. Turned out to be an inspired pairing. On the 1964 recording, a younger Mr. Andrews sings mostly contemporanous songs (including several Broadway showtunes) in a strong, resonant voice that occassionally reminded me of Lou Rawls, and there are also moments of that crystaline enunciation that put me in mind of Della Reese. Superior musicianship, a great showing. But there also a couple of cuts, "Parker's Mood" and "Human" that suggest what will happen on "How About Me". And what happens is remarkable. Even if the older Mr. Andrews's voice has lost some volume, and quavers a bit on longer notes, he doesn't just sing these songs, he gets inside them. I don't know if he owns the songs or the songs own him, but it doesn't matter. This is singing as art. And it is thrilling to hear a great singer somehow turn into a great artist who happens to sing. And as an added bonus we get Houston Person on tenor. Just wonderful stuff.

Wonderful choice of material, performed competently instrumentally, and mixed and mastered unlike most recordings whereas the piano and guitar are given simultaneous equal presence in volume, while remaining intact and audible separately. Ernie Andrews has a voice suited to the material and interprets the words and melodies with a distinct character that takes it beyond the usual take on these songs. It suits any mood but is terrific dinner music if you're looking for night club ambiance.