Gary Crawford: In Love with Love (CD Review)
GARY CRAWFORD
In Love with Love
August 12, 2014
Reviewed by John Hoglund for Cabaret Scenes
Some people just do things big. Musically, the results are sometimes mixed. And, sometimes, it all somehow works out, thanks to great arrangements, musicianship and a good song list.
This musically refined disc echoes varied influences from the past. Old-fashioned crooner Gary Crawford’s debut release, In Love with Love, featuring the Barry Levitt Trio and lush strings, recalls an era we’ll never see again, in addition to some newly-found gems. The selections are in the best of taste and include evergreens from the American Songbook. Combining this well-chosen mix from Broadway, jazz and pop, with scat and a tiny hint of scooby-doo, Crawford handles each song with a natural flair reminiscent of big-voiced band singers from yesterday. A rousing opener of “I Can See Clearly Now” in medley with “A Cock-Eyed Optimist” slides into a wonderfully well-paced (rarely heard) ballad, “I’ll Be Easy to Find,” which is one of the album’s finest cuts. While he can swing out and belt with the best of them, Crawford particularly shines on warmer, more intimate ballads with his deep, well- rounded baritone that too often sings full voice (and occasionally unevenly) when a bit less might be called for. When he flirts with an occasional scat, he makes it work. So, it’s quite a mix.
The album has brilliant orchestrations by Levitt and engages some of the top musicians in the business today performing at their best. This is especially so on a beautiful reading of “So in Love.” The chemistry here between the singer and those exceptional musicians makes for a great union. Such carefully crafted orchestrations enhance this cut (and others) immeasurably. Another highlight is “Now That We’re Sure,” a wistful song of lost love with music by Levitt set to Johnny Burke’s lyric, including a exquisite, lethargic solo that haunts by Bob Magnuson on sax. (The other musicians are Ray Marchica on drums, Jon Burr on bass, Jack Cavari on guitar, Andy Stein on violin, plus a six-person string ensemble.)
Crawford has a naturally big voice with an occasional fast vibrato. With more focus on careful phrasing, as aforementioned, and softer vocals, he is the most effective. And, he’s got it. He proves this in spades on a sweet “That Old Feeling” in medley with John Bucchino’s tender “If I Ever Say I’m Over You.” Here, he is most vulnerable, and, it simply works best for him. Once more, he is more at home with material that exposes the heartfelt side of a warm-hearted singer. He resurrects Barry Manilow’s almost forgotten hit “Could It Be Magic” fused with “It’s Magic” (a big hit for Doris Day) in a seamless medley that becomes another highlight.
He closes with “Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home” and then belts “You’d Better Love Me,” two garrulous warhorses that suit his big, bouncy delivery. When Crawford swings, he swings hard. But the real strength lies in the feeling he pours into gentler tales of the heart.
Category: Music, Music Reviews
