If you have any discs my Michael Bubbles, but not of Curtis Stigers, please do me a favor and get rid of the former, and fill up with the latter. Like, start with this one. BUBLE’ IS A POSER!! HE SOUNDS LIKE EVERYONE AND YET NO ONE. Stigers, who’s been in this game for awhile, sounds like himself. If he were an athlete, he’d be the veteran pitcher who gets by on guile, spit, changing speeds and craft. This latest album of his has his wonderful voice planed and sanded down like a project from wood shop, and he uses it in mix of tunes ranging from Steve Earle to Tin Pan Alley.
The second and closing set team of Matthew Fries/p, Keith Hall/dr, Cliff Schmitt/b Matt Munisteri/g and John Sneider/producer-tp sound like it’s just about time to fold up the chairs on “Love Is Here To Stay” and “That’s All” as Stigers is laconic, avuncular and with his hands in his pockets. A four beat guitar strut is super hip on “Hooray For Love” while a cozy “You Make Me Feel So Young” has Stigers pitch the woo with Cyrille Aimee by the fireplace. Stigers makes James Taylor seem hyper-caffeinated on “The Way You Look Tonight” and wears his heart on his ruffled sleeve on “You Don’t Know What Love Is.” This is how a singer is supposed to sound; with a story to tell. Stigers tells it right.
Concord Records
www.concordmusicgroup.com.