Steve Tyrell New Standard CD

Personnel: Steve Tyrell (vocals); Bob Mann (arranger, guitar, programming); Robbyn Kirmsse (vocals); Plas Johnson, Bob Sheppard (tenor saxophone); Clark Terry, Harry "Sweets" Edison (trumpet); Bill Watrous (trombone); Charlie Loper, Jerry Hey, Dan Higgins, Larry Williams, Bill Reichenbach, Gary Grant (brass); Toots Thielemans (harmonica); Joe Sample, Ralph Grierson, Alan Pasqua (piano); George Doering (guitar); Chuck Domanico, Bob Magnussen, David Carpenter (bass); Peter Erskine, Louie Bellson, Gregg Bissonette, John Guerin, Ed Smith (drums).
Recorded at Tyrell Studios, Los Angeles, California. Includes liner notes by Burt Bacharach.
Personnel: Robbyn Kirmsse (vocals); Bob Mann (guitar); Plas Johnson (tenor saxophone); Clark Terry, Harry "Sweets" Edison (trumpet); Dan Higgins, Jerry Hey, Larry Williams , Bill Reichenbach Jr. , Charles Loper (brass); Joe Sample, Alan Pasqua, Ralph Grierson (piano); Ed Smith, John Guerin (drums).
Audio Mixer: Bill Schnee.
Photographer: William Claxton.
Arrangers: Joe Sample; Alan Pasqua; Bob Mann.
Although he's achieved most of his success as a producer and songwriter, Steve Tyrell's debut album A New Standard chooses not to showcase his skills at the latter, instead offering Tyrell's vocal versions of twelve standards (including three that appeared in the film Father of the Bride Part II). They're not really exceptional, but they are well done; the main problem is that these songs have been done before so many times, and while pleasant, Tyrell's versions don't really offer anything new. Still, it is nice to hear musicians like Toots Thielemans, Joe Sample, and Harry "Sweets" Edison. ~ Steve HueyEntertainment Weekly (2/16/01, p.99) - "...Tyrell swings elegantly, offering a fresh take on 17 classic gems..." - Rating: A-
Down Beat (12/00, p.86) - 3.5 stars out of 5 - "...[He] delivers Tony Bennett heartiness, Jack Sheldon mashed-potatoes wit, Tom Waits gravel and Frank Sinatra phrasing, all with an intriguing measure of warmth and expansiveness..."