Customer Reviews

Real Emotional

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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American singer/saxist Curtis Stigers is plenty more than the easy-listening artist it's easy to typecast him as, though this album - mixing originals and classics by the likes of Emmylou Harris, Tom Waits, Randy Newman and Mose Allison - may be the first of his to prove it beyond doubt.
His laconic, sandpaper tones are complemented by his funk-sax sound and deft contributions from soloists including trumpeter John Sneider and keys-player and arranger Larry Goldings, the latter transferring a role he has powerfully played for Madeleine Peyroux.
Stigers' eloquence with a heartache song is oddly enhanced by the unexpected accordion on "I Only Want to Be With You"; he follows Goldings' Hammond-funk intro with a performance of haunting inflections and curling high notes on Emmylou Harris's "I Don't Wanna Talk About It Now"; and delivers some effective soul-sax lamenting in Tom Waits' "San Diego Serenade".
The offhand ambiguities of Paul Simon's "American Tune", and Randy Newman's "Real Emotional Girl" show how far Stigers has come.

Not a bad mix of jazz and pop-music; something like a modernized Frank Sinatra, but with a more emotion in the voice and a bit more variety in arrangements (not better than Sinatra-only different).

The choice of songs is excellent and this is really highly recomended music for romantic evenings or as background for a dinner-party. I would personally prefer a bit more spice and swing, but this is still nice.

This was my first purchase of a Curtis Stiger CD. It has not been my last. I love the guy, he is an original Jazz Singer in the best sense of the word "JAZZ". He is probably the only white male singer I know with SOUL. His light and lively delivery of I'll Be Your Baby Tonight, Night Owl and the Standard and Bette Davis' favorite song, "Star Dust" are devilish, romantic, and sexy. He congers up memories of Thomas "Fats" Waller's "Your Feets to Big", with his song "Your Mind Is on Vacation and Your Mouth is Working Overtime". While most male singers of this age are aping Frank Sinatra, Curtis is Original. Great singer and entertainer.

This is Stigers best outing since You Inspire Me. I Think it's Going to Rain Today was a major disapointment to me,the album didn't flow,some songs felt out of place. Now this CD has the flow back that was evident on Secret Heart and You Inspire Me. When it comes to finding material that suits himself, Curtis has a gift and man these songs are sooo soulful.There are three Curtis Stiger composistions on here that really sound awesome,the songs fit everything by the other composers, like a fine wine his writing just keeps getting better. I'm glad he pulled this one out of his hat cause I love his voice and arrangements and the band is so tight around him.