Customer Reviews

My Romance

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My Romance is wonderful, in the true meaning of the word.
Kevin's voice fits the standards better than anything I've listened to in a long time. It's warm and soft, tender and strong, even dark all at the same time.
But much more than that, Kevin makes each one of these songs his. He is generous, pleads for forgiveness, wants to know about his ex' new boyfriend, asks for his girl's love and with all that he offers you, the listener, more than you could ever imagine.
Each song is painted like a short story and Kevin adjusts his voice perfectly to every single emotion - much the same as an oscar winning actor.
I bought this record as it came out and played it hundreds of times.
It still hits me as Kevin's emotions move me like the first time.
The arrangements are extremely well done. If strings (one song only), just a little, never too much. The solos perfect, making you wish there'd be more.
The musicians: marvellous: Bob James - piano, Charles Fambrough - bass, Billy Kilson - drums, Kirk Whalum - tenor sax, Michael Brecker - tenor sax

Kevin Mahogany's "My Romance" album is a delight and a wonder. Not only does he take some classic torch songs ("I Apologize" and the title song among others), but he treats us to some wonderful songs that are rarely found even in the complete discographies of Sinatra, Bennett, Torme, etc. For example, he takes the song "How Did She Look?" and spins it into one of the most incredible gut-wrenchers, a song to rival Joe Williams version of "Here's That Rainy Day." One of my students brought me the CD and I could not stop playing it for three hours. I am awed by this talent. Cabaret singing has gone out of style, with the exception of Bobby Short and a few others. Too quiet, is my guess. And that is a real loss. Because I can remember when Chicago clubs did nothing but this kind of music: London House; Mister Kelly's; Blue Note; Black Orchid; and so forth. Now it is all amplifiers and deafening sound. What a loss! But what a joy to find Kevin Mahogany. May he have a long and storied career.

Kevin Mahogany is a brand new find for me. Saw him on Public TV at the Newport Jazz Festival and decided to pick up My Romance. Mahogany is super smooth on this one. Performs numbers made famous by others and tops them - adds a couple I've never heard before but now love. This guy has got it all, superb vocal quality, a romantic smoothness that makes a girl's knees grow weak and that unique very, very special quality that makes someone a star. I prefer Mahogany even to the great Joe Williams. Once you have My Romance you will definitely want to have others.

Kevin Mahagony is a rare bird. A deep, great voice that knows to sing. This album is fine, with great interpetations of teach me tonight, everything is yours, can i come in and even the overdone (though really great) lush life. The sound of the album is sparse, very "cool", exactly right for a late night listening. I admire Kevin's changing from CD to CD, broadening his repetoire. Let him keep them coming!

This is one of his best releases. The CD creates a complete mood and transforms you. You are drawn into this musical world for an experience you will want again and again.

Kevin Mahogany's voice totally embraces the music giving true meaning and sincerity to each line. The deepness and richness of his voice continues to make him one of my favorite jazz vocalists.

My Romance is more than mood music. He melds true jazz styling with a richness and class.

I truly agree with the reviewers on the merits of the album. Kevin's voice and the instrumentations of the songs makes this a rare collectors item.. "I apologize" is a version I like better that Billie's Eckestine, and he is the Man.

As a travelling salesman on the road here in Venezuela, I had the occasion to play this cds while giving the lift to rural people in the lonely roads, they were all curious as to who sings so well.. so it has the transcendental touch

this album is as relaxing as it can get.. Kevin's got a great voice and the arrangements are just as they should be: with good taste. If you want to forget about your stress, have some wine and listen to Kevin... you won't have to go elsewhere

Kevin Mahogany's voice is sooooo smoooth that I have trouble concentrating on other things when MY ROMANCE is on the CD player. The guy is the ultimate New York crooner. I picture myself sitting at a quiet booth at the Carlysle or the Algonquin curled up with a VSOP cognac and my honey, spellbound by Kevin's magic. It's awesome!

"The harmonies and style of these interpretations are in the jazz tradition, and they're done with taste." ~ John Janowiak, Down Beat ~

For the longest time James Taylor's "My Romance" is my number one favorite male vocal rendition of this Rodgers and Hart's treasure of a song until I heard Kevin Mahogany's retire-the-trophy interpretation on this Warner Brothers-produced-album, "My Romance." In 1998 after this album was released, the readers' poll of Down Beat and JAZZIZ magazines named him as "Male Vocalist of The Year" and "Best Male Vocalist of The Year," respectively.

The singer with an ear-catching, mellow, cool and bluesy baritone voice takes a lovely set of ballads and rendered each one with utmost confidence turning them into one gem of an album with the support of some of the greatest names in the jazz scene - the likes of Bob James (piano), Michael Brecker and Kirk Whalum (tenor sax), Billy Kilson (drums), Charles Fambrough (bass) among others. Mr. Mahogany is privileged to have this top-of-the-line team of musicians for this impressive project. Collectively, they have recorded one of the grandest vocal jazz albums of our time.

I'm very pleased with this well-produced eleven-year-old album with a top-notch sound quality. The choice of material is simply wonderful. It is a mix of standards with a few contemporary songs from the pens of James Taylor, Lyle Lovett and Van Morrison.

It's very nice to listen to time-tested standards, but it's always a listening pleasure when they are rendered with new flavors and beguiling re-workings like Burton Lane/Harold Adamson's "Everything I Have Is Yours," Parish/Malneck/Signorelli's "Stairway To The Stars," Billy Strayhorn's "Lush Life," Goodhart/Hoffman/Nelson's "I Apologize," Sammy Cahn/Gene DePaul's "Teach Me Tonight" and of course the title track which is the centerpiece of this enchanting album. It is one of Mr. Mahogany's most defining musical moments.

Kevin Mahogany's cool voice is just the perfect listen on warm summer nights. Give it a listen and enjoy! I would also recommend "You Got What It Takes," an ideal companion to this lovely album. You'll surely love both of these selected recordings from his discography.

This is an excellent CD. Kevin's versions of "Teach Me Tonight", "Everything I Have Is Yours", and "Stairway to the Stars" are especially good.