Bob Stewart Did I Remember CD

Bob Stewart has long referred to himself as a "saloon singer," so the material on this compilation, drawn from four earlier CDs for his VWC label should come as no surprise. A gifted vocalist with a just a touch of vibrato, Stewart explores a number of popular standards and a few songs that have unjustly fallen out of favor. His best moments occur when he is backed by a small jazz group including pianist Hank Jones (a notable accompanist for many different singers), Frank Wess (flute and tenor sax), bassist Michael Moore, and drummer Mel Lewis, especially on "Don't Misunderstand" and "Every Time We Say Goodbye," though the addition of the Perricone Strings tend to overwhelm these tracks. He's also backed by Lewis' orchestra on two live tracks, though there is an annoying echo caused by the venue chosen for the performance. The remaining tracks are of less interest due to the bland arrangements and syrupy strings, while there is an annoying reverb added to his vocal on most tracks. ~ Ken Dryden

"Bob Stewart is one of Bing Crosby's musical offspring along with Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Arthur Prysock and Dick Haymes" writes Gary Giddins in his best selling biography, "Bing Crosby - The Early Years". Robert B. Parker writes "Sinatra, Hartman, Jo

Personnel: The Perricone Strings, The Mel Lewis Jaxx Orch, Angelo Dipippo & the Orion Strings, The Hollywood Sound Stage Orch, Frank Wess, Hank Jones , Mel Lewis, Michael Moore .

Photographer: Dan John Miller.

JazzTimes (p.130) - "Stewart still ranks as a solid, jazz-tinged stylist....[He] sticks to gentle ballads....[With] a beautifully haunted reading of Rodgers and Hammerstein's 'Love Look Away'..."