Jazz voices for the mainstream…
Manhattan Transfer vocalist Janis Siegel joins with pianist Yaron Gershovsky and guests incliding Boris Kozlov-David Finck/b, Cliff Almond/dr and some guest vocalist and strings for an album of Cy Coleman compositions. A bit of the Transfer comes in on the rich harmonies of the hip “Playboy’s Theme” and poppish “I’m Gonna Laugh You Right Out Of My Life” wihel a piar od duets go deep between the leaders on a richly striding “Witchcraft” and reclining “Why Try TO Change Me Now”. There’s a late night read of “Being With You”, some swagger on “The Best Is Yet To Come” and a dash of Broadway for “The Colors Of My Life”. An nice heave and a Cy.
Allyson Briggs teams with a core of James Navan/b, Michael O’Brien/b, Peter Traunmueller/dr and Andy Warren/tp along with some guests for a fun and nostalgic collection of Burt Bacharach tunes. She sounds a lot like mid sixties Peggy Lee, clear and collected on a festive “Do You Know The Way To San J ose” and vulnerable during “Walk On By”. She can coo with the best on “The Look Of Love” and is whimsical on pieces such as a bouncy “I’ll Never Fall In Love Again” and “Promises, Promises”. These boots were made for walkin’.
Backed by a Vegas style band, warm toned tenor Jeff Harnar sings the Sammy Cahn Songbook like he’s trying out for the Rat Pack. He gives a Broadway feel to “All The Way” and is boy next door fun on “Come Fly With Me “ with Nicole Zuraitis” and a hoot of “Bei Mir Bist Du Schon” with Moipe. He’s quite the class act on a ”Saturday Night (Is The Loneliest Night Of The Week)” and assuring for “Time After Time”. Lounge lizard lover.