Perry Beekman got my attention with his last release where the singer/guitarist did a homage to Cole Porter that was disarmingly simple and effective. He revisits the winning formula with the Nat Cole-ish combo of himself with Peter Tomlinson/p and Lou Pappas/b by delving into the Rogers and Hart songbook with his easy swing and John Pizzarelli-toned voice. Easy swingers such as “I Wish I Were in Love Again” and “Falling in Love with Love” are putty in this guy’s hands, and he has an earnestness on material like “Mountain Greenery” and “There’s a Small Hotel” that is irresistible. On the instrumentals, he goes Bachlike on “Blue Room” and bounces like it’s New Jersey on ”Have You Met Miss Jones?” like he’s on a street corner serenade marathon. Gotta like this guy!
Bill Cote’ waited until now for a debut recording, and you’re gonna wonder where he’s been. His voice hints at Johnny Hartman-molasses thick. He’s teamed with Tamir Hendleman’s trio of Hendelman/p, Martin Wind/b and Joe LaBarbera/dr with supplementations by Graham Dechter/g and Bob Sheppard/fl-ts. Cote’ sounds dreamy rich with the ensemble on “Where Or When” and “Indian Summer” and even better on the duets with Hendelman as on “Where Do You Start.” Sheppard’s flute is an excellent friend on the melancholy “My Funny Valentine” and La Barbera’s cymbals are wonderfully conversant on “”Satin Doll.” A bluesy and hard hitting “Teach Me Tonight” shows what Cote’ can do with a standard and a crisp “Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most” features a swinging Dechter on guitar. Look out for this cat!